Tag: the words of Jesus Christ

Moving Forward

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

            “Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.  And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.  Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.  Now about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.  And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.  But immediately He talked with them, “Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.”  Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.  And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled” (Mark 6: 45 – 51.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            The Lord, desiring solitude, sent His disciples to the other side of the lake.  However, a great wind began to oppose them and they were unable to reach their destination.  Filled with compassion, Jesus walked across the sea to meet them.  After a fearful exchange, He was received into the boat.  Immediately the wind and the waves ceased, and the disciples were finally able to move forward.  Like that boat, many human beings can also become trapped.  Reaching a point of stagnation, they are no longer able to move forward.  Sadly, most are unaware that the key to progress is to receive Jesus Christ.

            In the 1890’s, Melvin Trotter had reached just such an impasse.  The son of a drunken bartender, he began drinking and gambling at an early age.  After marrying, he started a career as a barber.  However his rampant alcoholism made it difficult for him to hold down a steady job.  Eventually he began leaving his family for weeks at a time.  One day, upon returning home, he was informed that his two year old child had died.  Believing he was responsible, he considered suicide.  As he stood beside the coffin he vowed never to touch another drop of alcohol.  Two hours later he was drunk.  He proceeded to steal the shoes off of the body of his lifeless child and headed to Chicago, where he sold them for another drink.  Drunk and penniless he was nudged into the Pacific Garden Mission, where he accepted Jesus Christ into his heart.  His life was suddenly transformed.  God gave him the ability to work, to love, to live, and to stay sober.  He was finally free to move forward.  He began leading others to Christ and he eventually started his own rescue mission.  Melvin would later say, “I had taken cure after cure.  I had taken everything known to science, and had made resolution after resolution.  But just one glimpse of Jesus Christ, and I have never wanted a drink from that instant to this!”

            Many, like Mr. Trotter, will come to experience periods of stagnation.  Facing obstacles that seem immovable, they will struggle to find a solution.  However, the only real remedy is to receive Jesus Christ and to allow Him to eliminate the obstacle.  Upon entering the heart, He causes the winds to cease and the waters to calm; by His power those who are trapped can finally move forward.  May we all receive Jesus and be transformed by His mercy and grace.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, please soften the hearts of those who are suffering, that they would receive Your beloved Son.  By Your power may they grow, and learn, and be transformed.  As every obstacle is removed and every barrier is destroyed, may they be healed and free to continue moving forward.  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. 

Follow Me

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

            “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Mathew sitting at the tax office.  And he said to him, “Follow Me.”  So he arose and followed Him” (Mark 9: 9.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            The calling of Mathew is among the shortest conversion stories recorded in the bible.  As a tax collector, he was hated and despised by his own people.  Still Jesus saw something in him worth saving.  As the Lord passed by He uttered two simple words that would forever transform Mathew’s life; “Follow Me.”  His response was concise, immediate, and unwavering.  Mathew arose, abandoned his position, and began following Jesus Christ.  

            During the 1880’s, a famous baseball player named Billy Sunday had a similar experience.  One day, he and his teammates entered a saloon and began drinking.  Upon exiting, Billy spotted a group of Christians singing hymns and preaching about God’s salvation and forgiveness.  As tears rolled down his face, he turned to his teammates and said, “Boys, I’m through!  Going to turn to Jesus Christ.  We’ve reached the parting of the ways.”  Some mocked him, while others encouraged him.  He then entered the Pacific Garden Mission and gave his life to the Lord.  Later he said, “I called upon God’s mercy.  I staggered out of my sins into the outstretched arms of the Savior.  I became instantly a new creation in Him.  The next morning at practice, my manager, Mike Kelly, greeted me and said, ‘Billy, I read in the paper what occurred yesterday.  Religion isn’t my long suit, but I won’t knock you, and I’ll knock the daylights out of anyone who does.”  Billy Sunday went on to become one of the greatest evangelists of the early 20th century.

            Like Mathew, and like Billy, God is still calling many to follow Him today.  Jesus Christ desires that all would come to know Him and submit to His discipleship.  Some respond to His call; still others do not.  How can you respond to God’s call and receive salvation?  First, go to a quiet place, and ask God to enter your heart.  Turn away from sin, and profess a faith in Jesus Christ.  Get involved at a local church and be baptized.  Request an easy to read version of the bible (read it every day; beginning with the gospels.)  As you grow in the knowledge of God and submit to His commandments, you will experience a transformation.  You will feel the old things pass away; for behold, God will make “all things new.”

            “Lord Heavenly Father we thank You for calling us to be Your disciples.  May You always dwell within our hearts and minds.  Give us the strength to turn away from sin and death, that we might embrace the new life we have in You.  Teach us, guide us, be our Father and we will be Your children.  Give us Your Holy Spirit that we may lovingly serve You and our fellows.  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 supremacy of necessity

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

            Now it happened that He went through the grain-fields on the Sabbath; while they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  But He replied saying, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:  how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”  And He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.  Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath” (Mark 2: 23 – 28.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            God commanded that the seventh day of every week be observed as a day of rest.  When the Pharisees witnessed Jesus and His disciples casually plucking and consuming wheat on the Sabbath, they accused Him of violating God’s commandment.  Jesus asked them to consider an illustration from the Old Testament.  As a youth, David spent many days and nights fleeing from King Saul (an evil man who sought to kill him.)  On one occasion, he and his companions were so malnourished that, in desperation, they entered a temple and ate the showbread from the altar (a bread set aside solely for the priests.)  God did not punish David for eating the bread because he was starving and needed nourishment.  On rare occasions, necessity can supersede the legalistic application of certain biblical laws.

            Recently, I became aware of a child in Pakistan who desperately needed a hernia operation.  A large portion of his intestines had begun to protrude from the walls of his abdomen.  His family could not afford the surgery.  After praying for God’s wisdom, my wife and I decided to use a portion of our tithe money to pay for the operation.  Although we understood our biblical obligation to give ten percent of our income to the church, we also understood that a young child’s life was at stake.  We chose to forgo one law in order to embrace another.  The need to preserve life was the greater need [By God’s grace the boy is now healthy and doing well.]

            Following biblical law is essential.  Every statute is righteous and good.  However, as Christians we must never submit to extreme legalism (a strict adherence to the law that leaves no room for exceptions.)  Occasionally we will be asked to bend in order to accomplish God’s will.  May we always remain flexible; may we be sensitive too the needs of others; and may we seek to fulfill and apply the teachings of Jesus Christ in every area of our lives.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we are thankful that You continually provide for our needs; use us to provide for the needs of others.  Soften our hearts that we might never be too rigid or legalistic.  May You continue to show us favor and aide us in knowing and doing what is right.  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.