Message from Scripture: 07/5/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Luke 12:15. “Then He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.’”

 

Some time ago, I heard a motivational speaker give a talk to a group of young people.  In the course of the speech, reference was made to a specific occupation, and describing the people that have chosen this career, the speaker said, “They are very successful.  They make big, big bucks!”

 

In a brief, yet succinct way, this person communicated that having lots of money is what makes one successful in life.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with having a good job and a good salary.  But there is more to life than this.  When one expands his/her view of life to consider eternity, then success must be measured by a different standard.  To His disciples Jesus asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

 

Success from a worldly standpoint is one thing, but in view of heaven and hell, success must be viewed from a spiritual perspective.  Nothing can compare to the glory, beauty, and joy of heaven.  Nothing can compare to the pain, suffering, and eternity of hell.  In the final analysis, success must be defined in light of God’s judgment.

 

There is nothing wrong with being viewed a success by your peers, whether in a career, finances, or lifestyle, if Christ is Lord of these things in your life.  Without Him, none of these things can be regarded as success.  With Him, there is promise for today and tomorrow.  Let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior today in all confidence, that His being Lord of our lives offers us His best for everything, now and forever. God bless.

 

 

Robert

 Message from Scripture: 6/29/2021

Today, our message from Scripture comes from Rom. 12:15. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”

I received word yesterday of a good preacher friend who is in Good Shepherd ICU with COVID pneumonia. Of course, my first thoughts raced back to what Karen faced when she was there for the same problem. That quickly faded as I knew of what he was struggling to overcome, and of his dear wife, who along with her family are dealing with it as well in recovering from COVID themselves, along with the emotions she is going through. My prayers are for everyone in her family, that they might all get well and return to their normal lives again. I was so gladdened in heart to know he was going to be able to be moved to a more "regular" room, and that all the family is making slow, but sure, progress.

COVID is still a “thing” people have to deal with, but there are so many other issues people have to deal with as well. There are health issues besides COVID. There are emotions that seem overwhelming to people who are struggling with them, no matter the cause from which they come. There are relational issues, fears, temptations, and a host of other problems we all must face as we go through life. Satan tosses everything against us he can to discourage us and to bring us to our knees in despair. While we’re on our knees, it’s a good place in humility to pray to God for His help and strength, for healing, for courage, for wisdom, for understanding, for His blessings. If nothing else, every hardship we face reminds both of how wicked Satan is, as well as how good God is to offer us all His blessings through Christ.

We all have matters, issues, and questions, to face. Some are minor, while others bring us to the very core of who we are, shaking us and trying to break our faith. Don’t let go of God and His Son. Know He has a perfect purpose in mind in it all, and that no matter the disappoints of today, there is something so much better waiting for us later. Let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even in our doubts and fears, knowing He will help us through them all. God bless.

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 6/28/2021

 

Today, our message from Scripture comes from Matt. 7:7. “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

 

The story is told of a young boy trying to move a rather large rock, but just couldn’t do it, as the rock was firmly embedded in the ground. After various attempts, he went in the house, tired and dejected. When his dad asked if he had done everything he could to move it, his response was, “Yes, dad.” “Are you sure?” his dad responded. “Dad,” the boy said, “I tried pushing it, pulling it, and I even tried to pry it out of the ground...I did everything I could do!” His father said, “No you haven’t! You didn’t ask me to help.”

 

There is a progression to the verbs Jesus uses in our verse for today; ask, seek, and knock. All three indicate an attitude of persistence, something one should continue to do. Jesus tells us, if God is an integral, constant part of our lives, we can depend and rely on Him.

 

No matter what comes our way, we know our Lord is there to help, strengthen, encourage, and provide. There are times when He may allow tough times to drive us to Him, it’s to remind us we can’t succeed in life without His power and help and strength. Paul reminds us regarding his own issues in the flesh, “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

 

Today, let’s trust in God’s help, and go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in confidence He goes with us all the way. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 6/25/2021

 

Today, our message from Scripture comes from John 15:14. “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.”

 

A friend, by definition, is “one attached to another by affection or esteem,” and to be a friend means “to show interest and goodwill in the life of another.”  To know someone  you can genuinely call a friend is truly special. How special it must have been for Abraham, then, to be called the friend of God (Jas. 2:23).  Abraham was a friend of God because of his commitment to God, his faith in Him, and his obedience to God's will.

 

How special it is for us to know that we, too, can be friends of our Lord.  The words we’ve read from Scripture today were spoken by Jesus before He would be sacrificed for the sins of the world. We are the objects of Jesus' love, the reason He came to this world. By His sacrifice we are offered the opportunity to have life in Him. Just as Jesus came to do the will of the Father in dying for our sins, we are called to do the will of our Lord as those beloved by Him, those attached to Him, those who are genuinely committed to Him, to submit in loving obedience to His will, where we find His blessings for our lives.

 

The most familiar passage of Scripture to most people in the world emphasizes this deep love the Father and the Son have for us; “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  It is that same kind of commitment and love that we should exhibit to the Lord, to truly be His friend.  Our submission in obedience to His will is a reflection of our relationship to Him as a friend.  “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3). Today, let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, showing what true friendship really is. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 6/24/2021

 

Today, our message from Scripture comes from Psa. 56:8. “Put my tears in Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?”

 

Everyone, at some time in his or her life, experiences problems.  This is part of sharing the human experience, of living in a world of sin.  Few of us, however, have experienced the kind of trouble David knew.  Some of his trouble was self-induced, as with his sin involving Bathsheba, but sometimes David suffered at the hands of others, through no sin of his own.

 

In this passage, David speaks of God putting his tears in a bottle, or large wineskin. More than a tiny receptacle, God is able to take note and remember all of David’s sorrows, all of his pain and grief. Knowing God has such intimate knowledge of his situation in life, He is confident to go on and say, “In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can man do to me?” (Psa. 56:11).

 

isn’t it comforting to know God is aware of where we are, of what we have to face?  Doesn’t it encourage you to realize God’s promises are constant, no matter where we are in life? God has a bottle for all our tears, too, because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).  No circumstance of life is greater than the God who knows our needs, who goes with us through any condition we will meet.  In understanding His concern for us, we too when afraid, can put our trust in Him (Psa. 56:3), and praise His word for its assurance and hope (Psa. 56:10).  If we seek His will for us, and live for Him, there is nothing we will face that He will not face with us.  What problem of life is greater than our God?

 

Let’s always go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, knowing He goes with us, through thick and thin. In Him, we are enough. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 6/23/2021

 

Today, our message from Scripture comes from John 18:36. “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

 

While Jesus emphasized to Pilate His kingdom wasn’t of this world, He didn’t mean that He had no kingdom over which to reign. That He now reigns is seen in His having all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18), and that He is at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3).  John can write confidently of Christ, “These will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Rev. 17:14).

 

Jesus is King over His kingdom, the church (Col. 1:13-14). His concern is for the welfare of those for whom He died, to offer the promise of eternal life. While He will judge everyone on the last day (Acts 17:31), right now His desire is for everyone to be part of His kingdom and have salvation through Him (Eph. 5:27).  His reign is based on love, providing all spiritual blessings (Eph. 1:3), and everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3).  In Him we have grace and peace (2 Thess. 2:16-17). Truly, there has never been another king as concerned with His subjects as Christ is for us.

 

Since Jesus is king over His kingdom, the church, our response to Him must be one of love, of submission, of expectation of what lies ahead when we’re all joined together in God’s presence. Today, let’s go out to serve our Lord, Savior, and King, and remember all His blessings and benefits for today, for eternity. God bless.

 

Robert

 

Message from Scripture: 6/22/2021

 

Today, our message from Scripture comes from Mark 10:43-45. “But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

Sometimes, we hear phrases such as “great,” “vibrant,” “alive,” or “on fire” to describe congregations. Such adjectives can be freely tossed about in conversation, but what they mean varies from one person to the next.  Just what is it that really makes a church great? Or, perhaps worded more accurately, what kind of congregation pleases God?

 

Some might suggest size.  The church in Philadelphia, however, was not big, as it had only a “little strength” (Rev. 3:8).  Size notwithstanding, God set before them an open door. Others might suggest prosperity. The church in Laodicea was financially secure (Rev. 3:17), but God counted them “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”  Obviously, how we count greatness is not always how God counts greatness.

 

When Jesus’ disciples were arguing which one of them was the greatest, He responded, “For whoever is least among you – this one is great" (Luke 9:48).  Similarly, Jesus also taught, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matt. 23:11).  Great churches consist of members who are seeking to please God. Those who are pleasing to God are those who humble themselves as servants of the Lord.

 

How can we, as individual Christians, and collectively as members of His body, the church, be great, be pleasing to the Father and His Son? We must humble ourselves before God, yield ourselves to His will, and seek in love to live obedient lives for Him by faith (1 John 5:4). Today, let’s go out and serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, showing what the power of the gospel can do in us if we yield our lives to Him. God bless.

 

Robert