Tag: the words of Jesus Christ

All Glory to God

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor Me. And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who speaks and judges. Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see Death.” (John 8: 48 – 51)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Jesus was accused by some of being demonically possessed. He responded by reminding them of His perfect commitment to honoring God. He said, “I do not seek My own glory:” thereby insinuating that genuine faith can be discerned in the lives of others based upon whether they are seeking to bring glory to God, rather than themselves. All of our kind actions and loving behaviors are meant to direct others toward our eternal Father (and His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.)

Many years ago I journeyed to an orphanage in Mexico to assist with improving their dilapidated facility. After some hard work, we eventually departed, driving toward the crowded border crossing on our way home. As we waited in traffic, someone in need approached our vehicle, begging for money. I pulled out some cash and handed it to them. I said, “This is from Jesus Christ;” giving God all of the glory for this act of kindness. Sometime later I bumped into a girl at the Church bookstore. Apparently she had been with me in the car that day. She told me that what I had said seemed strange to her at the time. And yet, after she had grown in her faith, she had finally understood what I was doing. I was giving the honor and glory to God.

Those who are faithfully committed to following Christ must avoid seeking glory for themselves; but rather, they must seek to glorify God in every good work they accomplish. We read in Colossians 3: 17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” May we all learn what it means to be selfless, and to render unto God all of the glory and honor He is due.

“Lord Heavenly Father, pour out Your Spirit into our hearts and minds, that we might seek to accomplish many good works in Your name, while giving You all of the glory and honor and praise. May we practice genuine selflessness as we continue to lay down our lives in service to others. 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!

God is in Complete Control

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JESUS SPEAKING

Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all over Me unless it had been given to you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19: 11)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

During His interrogation by Pontius Pilate, Jesus remained silent. In response, Pilate reasserted his authority to sentence Jesus to death, or to set Him free. Jesus corrected the Governor, reminding him that his authority came from God alone, and thus the outcome would occur in complete conformity to God’s will. Pilate’s control was merely an illusion. Indeed, Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world; (the greatest blessing mankind has ever known.)

Like Jesus, those who walk according to the Spirit, will often encounter hardships and difficulties that can cause momentary suffering. And yet these struggles will eventually lead to a glorious and beneficial end. When we submit to God, He numbers our days and controls our steps. We endure as precious instruments in His hands. There is a scripture that all Christians should consider and remember during hard times. In Romans 8: 28, we read, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and are the called according to His purpose.”

All things, even apparent setbacks, will eventually work together for Good to those who love God. As we follow Christ we can be confident that the Lord is leading us toward a glorious end. His provision is perfect, and His plan for us is magnificent. If we remember that God is in control of our lives, we can avoid fear, and worry, and uncertainty; and instead be joyful no matter the circumstance. May we always trust in the Lord and never doubt His guidance and direction.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we trust in You with all our hearts. Fill us with faith, and hope, and love. May we continually rest in the knowledge that You are in control of our lives, no matter the circumstance. With this knowledge, may we encourage others to follow You without hesitation or doubt. 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!

Why We Love Others

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JESUS SPEAKS

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And he will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25: 31 – 40)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

According to Jesus, loving and serving others is equivalent to loving and serving God Himself. When we feed the hungry, we are feeding the Lord; when we visit the sick, we are visiting the living God. Because we share Christ’s heart, we can avoid being cruel and focus on loving our fellows. This supernatural affection is the product of our genuine faith. Words can be deceptive; but actions rarely lie.

Superman is one of the most well known comic book characters of all time. He is essentially invulnerable to physical harm. And yet his relationship with his parents (who are weak) renders him susceptible to pain and heartache. Thus his enemies remain fixated on discovering his identity so that they might harm his loved ones and make him suffer. Similarly, the One True and Living God is all powerful and cannot be diminished, defeated, or harmed in any way; in turn Satan attacks those He loves; tempting mankind to sin, which leads them into suffering and pain; this grieves the Spirit of the Lord. For this reason all genuine Christians seek to spread the gospel and to provide for those in need; because this is pleasing to God.

If we truly share God’s heart then we will strive to love and to serve others. May we show compassion as we seek to provide for those in need. As we reach out to the lost, may we speak the truth without compromise, knowing that every kind act we accomplish is a display of God’s genuine affection for mankind. May all those we meet feel the love of God and be drawn toward Your Son and the joy of eternal salvation.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we thank you for Your unmerited provision and kindness. As we walk through this world may we love others with Your heart and see them through Your eyes. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we might better accomplish Your will at all times. 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!