Tag: the words of Jesus Christ

Discipline

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7: 13-14)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

In ancient times, cities were surrounded by protective walls; necessitating the creation of access gates that could be shuttered during enemy attacks. A wide gate is easy to enter; it’s much quicker, more convenient, and requires very little restraint. A narrow gate however, is harder to access, more time consuming, far less convenient, and demands selflessness. Thus the path to eternal life necessitates great discipline and control.

Concerning discipline, we need only examine an illustration from the Old Testament. During Israel’s war with the Midianites, Gideon commanded an army of thousands. Following God’s direction, 22,000 soldiers were sent home; leaving only 10,000 men. And yet God instructed him to reduce the number of his forces even further; thus granting God greater glory for their victory. The Lord insisted the remaining men be tested. And so Gideon was ordered to bring his troops down to the water to drink. All those who dropped to their knees or lapped up the water like dogs were sent home. Those who showed discipline and restraint by using their hands to bring the water to their mouths were chosen by God to continue fighting. This test yielded a group of only 300 men. And still God used this small force to defeat thousands of Midianites.

Like Gideon’s 300 men, we as Christians are commanded to live disciplined lives. We must show control and restraint over our fleshly desires and appetites. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can grant us victory over our enemies and give us the strength to follow Christ through that narrow gate. May the Lord Jesus live and reign in our hearts and minds forever.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we desire to enter through the narrow gate. Give us more of Your Holy Spirit, that we might withstand the temptations of the flesh and exhibit discipline and restraint. May we choose what is good and avoid what is evil. To You be all honor and glory, forever. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Avoid Covetousness

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JESUS SPEAKING

Then one from the crowd spoke to Jesus saying, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”  But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”  And he said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  (Luke 12: 13 – 15)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Jesus openly rebuked a man for coveting his brother’s wealth. Covetousness is defined as a strong desire to obtain the possessions of others. This jealous instinct is so pervasive that God issued the tenth commandment, which reads, “You shall not covet your neighbors house; you shall not covet your neighbors wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbors.” (Exodus 20: 17)

In the Old Testament, King Ahab strongly desired a piece of property that belonged to another man. He attempted to purchase the parcel, but Naboth the owner rejected his offer. As a result, Ahab became depressed and upset. He retreated into isolation and refused to eat. All of this displeasure, despite owning many lands and an abundance of property. In response, the King’s wife Jezebel sought to acquire the vineyard at any cost. Using lies, she plotted evil against Naboth and had him murdered. Despite knowing how Naboth had died, Ahab arose and took possession of the vineyard. In turn, God sent the prophet Elijah to proclaim a punishment against Ahab and Jezebel for their treacherous behavior. Both of them would eventually die in horrific ways.

If not quickly corrected, covetousness can lead to suffering and punishment. How then do we avoid breaking the 10th commandment? By taking pleasure in and enjoying all of the blessings and possessions that God has given us. When we stop being grateful for what the Lord has provided in the present, we may succumb to jealousy. Ultimately, a spirit of continual gratitude is the cure for covetousness. May we all enjoy and be grateful for what we have been given.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom and knowledge to avoid covetousness. May we never be anxious to acquire the possessions of others. Create purity in our hearts, and extinguish any evil desires that might arise in our minds. May we experience continual gratitude for all of the things that you have so graciously given us. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

The Greatest Treasure

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13: 44 – 46)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

In this parable a man finds a treasure hidden in a field and immediately recognizes its value. Without hesitation, he sells all of his possessions and purchases the plot of land. The treasure found in this field is meant to represent the Gospel message. As followers of Christ, if we have been reborn and truly understand the value of salvation, then we will seek to share this message with those who are lost.

Jim Elliot was a man who understood the power of the Gospel message, and the need to help others discover the treasure of salvation. In the 1950’s, he felt called by God to journey to the jungles of Ecuador, where he married his wife (a fellow missionary.) In 1956, they sought to make contact with a warlike, and godless tribe of natives known as the Auca/Waodani. Understanding the risks, Jim and four other Christian men attempted to make contact with the tribe. All four men were speared to death by the savages and died as Martyrs. Although their bodies were buried, obviously these men are not dead, but alive with Christ. Prior to his physical death, Jim Elliot wrote an inspiring sentence in his journal. It reads, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” (Through the continued efforts of Jim’s wife and other missionaries, many of the Auca/Waodani tribe eventually converted to Christianity.)

If you have never discovered the gift of eternal salvation, then I encourage you to ask God to reveal Himself to you. The Spirit of our living Lord is prepared to enter the hearts and minds of all those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. If you desire this everlasting treasure, you can receive it at any time and be reborn. May all those who seek the truth find their Savior.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of Your mighty works. May we comprehend the value of Your gift of salvation and eternal life. May we receive You in a worthy manner, and spread Your gospel to the ends of the earth. You truly are an awesome and amazing God. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!