Category Archives: ‘Come unto me

Weariness Is Real??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #362

08 Tuesday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, I Can Do All Things?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I will lift up mine eyes, I Will Never Leave You, IN HIS TIME!, In The Beginning, Renewing or Reviewing, Resting In Jesus, Resting Or Wrestling?, Restoration, Revive us O God!, Salvation, Sanctuary

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Weariness Is Real???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #362

“And the apostles gathered themselves together

unto Jesus,

and told him all things,

both what they had done,

and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them,

Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,

and rest a while:

for there were many coming and going,

and they had no leisure

so much as to eat.

32 And they departed into a desert place

by ship privately.”  Mark 6:31 

Here we have Mark recounting the death of John the Baptizer, and his (John’s) disciples took care of his body, and the Apostles also came to Jesus to share what had been done (for if you remember, many of Jesus’ Apostles had been followers of John before they followed Him).  Jesus understood the weariness of not only ministry but of grief, disappointment and stress, so He called them to come and “rest a while”!  Their spiritual tanks were empty, and the demands of ministry had been so constant that Mark tells us that “they had no leisure so much as to eat”!  Ever been there?  I think we all have in one way or another, and as Jesus was God “in the flesh”, He knew the limits of human strength, endurance and the need for rest.

If you remember Matthew also gives us an account of Jesus resting when His disciples became frantic and were apparently distressed that their Master was asleep when they were about to die!  Ever been there?

“Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him,

he gave commandment to depart

unto the other side.

19 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him,

Master, I will follow thee

whithersoever thou goest.

20 And Jesus saith unto him,

The foxes have holes,

and the birds of the air have nests;

but the Son of man hath not where

to lay his head.

21 And another of his disciples said unto him,

Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

22 But Jesus said unto him,

Follow me;

and let the dead bury their dead.

23 And when he was entered into a ship,

his disciples followed him.

24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest

in the sea,

insomuch that the ship was covered

with the waves:

but he was asleep.

25 And his disciples came to him,

and awoke him, saying,

Lord, save us:

we perish.

26 And he saith unto them,

Why are ye fearful,

O ye of little faith?

Then he arose,

and rebuked the winds and the sea;

and there was a great calm.

27 But the men marvelled, saying,

What manner of man is this,

that even the winds and the sea

obey him!”  Matthew 8:18-27

I don’t know if you can relate to this, but I feel that I can; I come from hurricane country, and while you have notice, you never know how severe it will be.  I now live in tornado country and they seemingly, can just drop down out of the sky! This can cause great fear and consternation to we who live in uncertain weather locations.  And just this week we have seen the disaster that can come from the flood waters; we can’t understand the massive tragedy that Texas has suffered this week; and like us Jesus’ disciples were afraid that they were about to meet their end.  Yet, Jesus was asleep in the boat!  Oh, to learn to trust to the care of my Heavenly Father this much!  Jesus simply arose when they awakened Him, questioning their lack of faith in the safety that they had with HIM!  How about us?  Satan uses fear like a stick and beats us up with it, and we, like the disciples forget that we are with the Master of all creation.  And in case you didn’t know that Jesus was/is/and ever shall be the creator, let me share a few scriptures to enlighten you on this subject.  (Jesus IS the WORD! —the living WORD and the breath of the written Word!)

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made by him;

and without him was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness;

and the darkness comprehended it not.”   John 1:1-5

Paul also wrote of this creative nature of our Lord!

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet to be partakers

of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be

thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before all things,

and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body,

the church:

who is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead;

that in all things

he might have the preeminence.”                 Colossians 1:12-18

And if you are one of those who say that Jesus never claimed to be God, let me share Jesus’ own words with you today.

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”  John 10:27-30

So where do we go when we are weary to the bone (and I get that way frequently, as you probably do as well!)?  And just by way of a comment, if the people of Jesus’ day rejected Him, don’t be alarmed, discouraged or distracted when people around you and I reject Him.  Our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ, master of all and redeemer of those who will come to Him in repentance of our sin, and belief/faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice on Calvary, not on those around us—whether they be genuine believers, nay-sayers, or antagonists!  Keep your eyes on the prize—JESUS!

“At that time Jesus answered and said,

I thank thee, O Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

because thou hast hid these things

from the wise and prudent,

and hast revealed them

unto babes. 26 Even so, Father:

for so it seemed good in thy sight.

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father:

and no man knoweth the Son,

but the Father;

neither knoweth any man the Father,

save the Son,

and he to whomsoever

the Son will reveal him.

28 Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden,

and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you,

and learn of me;

for I am meek and lowly in heart:

and ye shall find rest

unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy,

and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:25-30

Oh, my friends, if I only had time to share with you all the many times that Jesus in His mercy, grace and love had been my total strength, rest and restoration to service, health and peace; that very peace that Paul told us about.  Are you resting in Jesus or trying to carry the whole load alone?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, the Master is holding out His arms to lift you up.  Don’t run away or deny The One who loves you and died that you might have life, “more abundantly”!

“Rejoice in the Lord alway:

and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing;

but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds

through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:4-7

Let Jesus have those burdens and weariness—He is more than able!

Amen and Amen!!! (and don’t forget to read verses 8-9!) 

If Not Now??? When??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #361

27 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, Living For Jesus, Living TODAY!, Looking Unto Jesus, Love, Love Is Action, Lovest Thou ME?, Speaking, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Procrastination, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today IS Today!, Too Late To Call?, Touch them while you can?, Train up a child....

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If Not Now???  When???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #361

 

“Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying,

On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,

24 The LORD bless thee,

and keep thee:

25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace.

27 And they shall put my name

upon the children of Israel;

and I will bless them.”  Numbers 6:23-27

God called Moses to call the spiritual leaders of Israel, the Levites, to call God’s blessing over the people.  How much more should we as parents call God’s blessings over our children; not just in our spoken words, but in our life style.  Our children will follow much more of our actions than just our words.  What are you speaking to your children, over them, before them?  Oh, please, my friends, I implore you to not miss today!

My heart has been heavy of late for the words unspoken.  While I often told my children that I loved them, and I still do, how much more time could I have spent putting in positive guidance, and not just being the disciplinarian (and discipline is essential for a well-balanced life!)?  As most of you know, I lost my daughter some five and a half years ago, and it has been heavy on my heart and mind to remind each of you to take advantage of today!

Our children are a blessing from God—be they natural born into our family, adopted, fostered, or just accepting those who are neglected into our circle.  God expects us to share His love with them and count them as a blessing and not a burden.  Enjoy the days that you have—you don’t know what tomorrow holds.

I will simply leave you with a word from God, may you be reminded of the short time we have to influence those precious gifts from God.  Not just in their childhood, but to be a spiritual guide in their lives by example, leading them to the cross.  What kind of heritage are you leaving for those who come after you?

“Except the LORD build the house,

they labour in vain that build it:

except the LORD keep the city,

the watchman waketh but in vain.

2 It is vain for you to rise up early,

to sit up late,

to eat the bread of sorrows:

for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:

and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;

so are children of the youth.

5 Happy is the man

that hath his quiver full of them:

they shall not be ashamed,

but they shall speak with the enemies

in the gate.”  Psalm 127:1-5

May you be blessed to hear from God today!  May you spread the love of God and that “peace of God, which that passeth all understanding”; and may you share it, spread it around and don’t let those “I love you’s” go unsaid!  May we spread the love of God as we go—at home, at work, in the store, on errands, even driving!  Have a blessed day my friends, I’m praying for you.

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

Amen and Amen!!!

Ready Or Not??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #360

25 Wednesday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Are you ready for Jesus' return?, Are you ready?, Are you training your children, Blood of Jesus cleanses us, Born Again, Consider Your ways, Contentment, Deceit or Discernment?, Not Ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ., Not Of This World, Someone is following you!, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spread the GOOD news!

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Ready Or Not???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #360

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart,

My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants,

and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day

when he looketh not for him,

and in an hour

that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder,

and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:

there shall be weeping

and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 24:48-51

We are living in a day when truth is exchanged for a lie, often because it’s more convenient to accept the excuses of the world for bad behavior, bad language, worldly dress, deceiving and corrupting entertainment—the philosophy of “If it feels good, do it—who can it hurt?”  Well, my friends, it can hurt you, and can be even more harmful to those young eyes, ears and minds which are following your lead.  Jesus said more than once, in my own paraphrase, “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!”  Are you just using the name of Jesus, the church, the Bible for your own justification without ever bowing the knee before The Lord who died for sin—and yes, my friends, sin IS the issue.  What have you done with yours?  Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 7 also, that “Saying so, doesn’t make it so!”

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes of thorns,

or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:13-23

This is the same thing that Jesus was making clear to Nicodemus, the religious leader in John 3.  What we must understand is that it’s not about playing church, or being religious, or even doing good deeds; the people that Jesus describes in Matthew 7 did good deeds and they equated what they had done, to be enough to get them into heaven—into God’s kingdom.  Yet Jesus tells these same people, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”!  There is only one way to God, and His name is Jesus Christ The Lord, and we must be “born again” into His kingdom by the Spirit of God—not our own works!  What are you doing to get to heaven?  Let’s look at some scripture and then see what Jesus has to say!   I pray that these passages will speak to your heart and bring you to the cross, or if you already have been born again, I pray that it will encourage you to draw near to Jesus and lead others to the truth of the Gospel rather than the easy-believe-ism that so many purport as truth. May we stand with Paul!

“So, as much as in me is,

I am ready to preach the gospel

to you that are at Rome also.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed from faith to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.

18 For the wrath of God is revealed

from heaven

against all ungodliness

and unrighteousness of men,

who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God

is manifest in them;

for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him

from the creation of the world

are clearly seen,

being understood

by the things that are made,

even his eternal power

and Godhead;

so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God,

they glorified him not as God,

neither were thankful;

but became vain in their imaginations,

and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise,

they became fools,

23 And changed the glory

of the uncorruptible God

into an image made like

to corruptible man,

and to birds, and fourfooted beasts,

and creeping things.”  Romans 1:15-23

What did Jesus say about being ready, let’s see.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3

“Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

   he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:5-7

“He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.”  John 1:11-13

And continuing Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”  John 3:14-21

The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test—and Jesus IS coming soon.  I pray that you are ready in Jesus’ eyes—don’t depend on the eyes of men!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

In Our Own Eyes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #359

23 Monday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Lead them to Jesus., Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Making a difference, Marginalizing God, Righteousness, Righteousness exalts a nation, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Who are YOU following?, Who are you listening to?, Who will you believe and follow?, Who's following you?, Who's in your heart?, Who's Listening Anyway?, Who's Your Father?, Whom are you trusting?, Whose Sheep are You?, Witness, Your Momma Ain't Enough

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In Our Own Eyes??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #359

 

I was reading in Judges this morning, it’s a great book, but one most people kind of skim over, but it is full of lessons that are so apropos for us today.  I had planned on writing on another subject but feel clearly lead to share just a few things from this book of Judges.  First of all the name of the book often leads people to think is a book of legality, but rather it’s a record of a willful people and those whom God raised up to not only “judge” the sin of the people, but to deliver them as the judge led them back to God, usually in a great feat of physical deliverance.  I can’t think of a time in our history when we lived in such a time of willful disregard for God, deliberate disobedience to God’s Word, and not only disobedience, but a complete mindset on doing it “our way”—what’s right “in our own eyes”!  This is the thread that goes throughout the book of Judges.

“In those days there was no king in Israel, but

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 17:6

“In those days there was no king in Israel:

every man did that which was right

in his own eyes.”  Judges 21:25

While the “king” isn’t the problem, the people later used that as an excuse to ask God for a king “like everyone else had”!  Rather, the problem was a generation who knew God but apparently failed to share their love and obedience toward God with their children.  Again an amazing parallel to where we live today.

The problem wasn’t God’s faithfulness, but the people’s faithlessness; and apparently a failure of parents and grandparents who failed to pass on their faith. Perhaps taking it for granted that these children would pick it up by osmosis—theirs didn’t and neither have nor will ours.

“And the people served the LORD

all the days of Joshua,

and all the days of the elders

that outlived Joshua,

who had seen all the great works

 of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

8 And Joshua the son of Nun,

the servant of the LORD,

died, being an hundred and ten years old.

9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance

in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim,

on the north side of the hill Gaash.

10 And also all that generation

were gathered unto their fathers:

and there arose another generation after them,

which knew not the LORD,

nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

11 And the children of Israel

did evil in the sight of the LORD,

and served Baalim:

12 And they forsook the LORD God

of their fathers,

which brought them out of the land of Egypt,

and followed other gods,

of the gods of the people

that were round about them,

and bowed themselves

unto them,

and provoked the LORD to anger.

13 And they forsook the LORD,

and served Baal and Ashtaroth.”  Judges 2:7-13

Oh, how it grieves my soul that we (I relate to Paul’s claim to being the greatest sinner and failure—but praise God for grace!) have failed to point our children and grandchildren to the cross of Christ and holy living, instead of friendship with the world.  We are to be a witness to the world of the power of the cross and the blood of Jesus to save and transform lives; yet when we look just like the world, we talk just like the world, we dress just like the world, we take their style, living and especially entertainment instead of the holiness and godliness of scripture.

God gave us the greatest plan for teaching and leading the young ones to Him, if we will but heed and obey.  For simplicity and time I’m going to print portions of Deuteronomy chapter 6, and I encourage you to read the entire chapter and pray it over your life and witness to those who are following in your steps.  I pray that God will speak through His Word to those who have “ears to hear”!

“Now these are

the commandments,

the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD your God commanded

to teach you,

that ye might do them in the land whither ye go

to possess it:

2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God,

to keep all his statutes

and his commandments,

which I command thee,

thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son,

all the days of thy life;

and that thy days may be prolonged.

3 Hear therefore, O Israel,

and observe to do it;

that it may be well with thee,

and that ye may increase mightily,

as the LORD God of thy fathers

hath promised thee,

in the land that floweth

with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God

with all thine heart,

and with all thy soul,

and with all thy might.

6 And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:” Deuteronomy 6:1-6

Point number one: we must love God ourselves, being “born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God…”. (See John 1:11-14 & John 3:16-19)!  We must know Jesus through our own salvation by faith through grace, by repentance and belief in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary!  We can only share what we possess!  Let’s continue with God’s insight into parenting.  Remember children learn way more from what we “do”, than from what we “say”!  Especially if they don’t match!

“And these words,

which I command thee this day,

shall be in thine heart:

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently

unto thy children,

and shalt talk of them

when thou sittest in thine house,

and when thou walkest by the way,

and when thou liest down,

and when thou risest up.

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign

upon thine hand,

and they shall be as frontlets

between thine eyes.

9 And thou shalt write them

upon the posts of thy house,

and on thy gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:6-9

If I may presume and paraphrase a bit, God, through Moses, is telling these adults that it’s their job to make ‘Jesus’ followers!  First of all—Jesus must be in “my” heart—

Then—I must diligently teach what is in my heart to my children-

How? By—talking about and walking with Jesus—

                      Sitting around, walking around, relaxing,

                             Going about—

       By—living Jesus

with what we do with our hands—

what we watch, view, and focus on with our eyes-

With Godly décor that speaks of godliness, and the beauty

Which God provides by creation—

That others (children included) will be pointed to the things of God rather than worldliness!

But it doesn’t stop there, God tells us that there is a consequence to living this way.  Let’s observe!  Obedience will provoke good questions and teachable moments with those we love most.

“Ye shall diligently keep

the commandments of the LORD your God,

and his testimonies, and his statutes,

which he hath commanded thee.

18 And thou shalt do that

which is right and good

in the sight of the LORD:

that it may be well with thee,

and that thou mayest go in and possess

the good land which the LORD sware

unto thy fathers,

19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee,

as the LORD hath spoken.

20 And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying,

What mean the testimonies,

and the statutes,

and the judgments,

which the LORD our God hath commanded you?

21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son,

We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt;

and the LORD brought us out of Egypt

with a mighty hand:

22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders,

great and sore,

upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh,

and upon all his household,

       before our eyes:

23 And he brought us out from thence,

that he might bring us in,

to give us the land

which he sware unto our fathers.

24 And the LORD commanded us to do

all these statutes,

to fear the LORD our God,

for our good always,

that he might preserve us alive,

as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness,

if we observe to do

all these commandments

before the LORD our God,

as he hath commanded us.”            Deuteronomy 6:17-25

God promised that if we would live this way before our family, there will come a time that they will ask (in our vernacular), “Why do we live this way…do these things…talk about God all the time…?” And we are to tell them why!  Not someone else’s testimony, but our testimony about what God IS doing in our lives past, present and future.  If we’ll live it, they will ask; but so many today live one way at church and another way at home.  Stop it—let’s get on the right track, obey God, and live the way HE calls us to.  Peter says it better than I can (in fact He’s quoting God too!).

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-15

Will we heed and follow our God and look for His provision, or watch our children be flushed down the toilet of the world?  And just FYI, “conversation” here means our lifestyle, not just our words!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Carrying? Or Being Carried??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #358

20 Friday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Father's Love, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, A Witness--Good or Bad???, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Bow Before our God, Building up or Tearing down?, I Know Whom I Have Beleived, I will lift up mine eyes, Idolatry, If not now? When?, IN HIS TIME!, Iron Sharpening Iron, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Jesus Built A Bridge

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Carrying?  Or Being Carried??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #358

Sometimes we are quick to criticize those who would bow down to a statue or an idol, yet we erect our own “idols and figures” that are no ‘gods’; for believe it or not there is only one God, The Lord God Almighty, Jehovah, Creator and sustainer of all things, Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit, who is imparted to all who come to Jesus in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  Yet the thing I want us to consider is how foolish we can be when we rely on our own wisdom, knowledge and ideas in our choices for life, success and so-called ‘happiness’!  There is only one God—three-in-one, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/Spirit, and until we assess all things by His Word, His Will and His wisdom, we are subject to find our own substitutions.  Daniel gives us one of the most precise descriptions of who and what our God is!  I pray that you will take his words to your heart and pray with the Psalmist each day.

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139:23-24

May we pray for God’s help and directions, for we so often fail to see how wicked our own hearts are.

“Blessed is the man

that trusteth in the LORD,

and whose hope the LORD is.

8 For he shall be

as a tree planted by the waters,

and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

and shall not see when heat cometh,

but her leaf shall be green;

and shall not be careful in the year of drought,

neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

9  The heart is deceitful

above all things,

and desperately wicked:

who can know it?

10 I the LORD

search the heart,

I try

the reins,

even to give every man

according to his ways,

and according to the fruit of his doings.”                Jeremiah 17:7-10                                                              (And for another most beautiful contrast, see Psalm 1)

Yet Daniel, a young man who had set his heart on being undefiled by the circumstances around him, found God’s faithfulness to be more than sufficient; and here is one of his prayers of thanks for answered prayer!

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel

in a night vision.

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

20 Daniel answered and said,

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever:

for wisdom and might

are his:

21 And he changeth the times

and the seasons:

he removeth kings,

and setteth up kings:

he giveth wisdom

unto the wise,

and knowledge

to them that know understanding:

22 He revealeth

the deep and secret things:

he knoweth

what is in the darkness,

and the light

dwelleth with him.

23 I thank thee,

and praise thee,

O thou God of my fathers,

who hast given me wisdom and might,

and hast made known unto me now

what we desired of thee:

for thou hast now made known unto us

the king’s matter.”  Daniel 2:19-23

 Will we choose to be a Daniel or walk in our own ways?  Isaiah gives us an amazing picture which we ought to take to heart and use to measure our lives by God’s plumbline.  I pray that this will touch your heart, and lead us all to depend on The God, who IS God, not the works of our hands, whatever that might be!

“The carpenter stretcheth out his rule;

he marketh it out with a line;

he fitteth it with planes,

and he marketh it out with the compass,       

and maketh it after the figure of a man,

according to the beauty of a man;

that it may remain in the house.

14 He heweth him down cedars,

and taketh the cypress and the oak,

which he strengtheneth for himself

among the trees of the forest:

he planteth an ash,

and the rain doth nourish it.

15 Then shall it be for a man to burn:

for he will take thereof,

and warm himself;

yea, he kindleth it,

and baketh bread;

yea,

he maketh a god,

and worshippeth it;

he maketh it a graven image,

and falleth down thereto.

16 He burneth part thereof in the fire;

with part thereof he eateth flesh;

he roasteth roast,

and is satisfied:

yea, he warmeth himself, and saith,

Aha, I am warm,

I have seen the fire:

17 And the residue thereof he maketh a god,

even his graven image:

he falleth down unto it,

and worshippeth it,

and prayeth unto it,

and saith,

Deliver me;

for thou art my god.

18 They have not known

nor understood:

for he hath shut their eyes,

that they cannot see;

and their hearts,

that they cannot understand.

19 And none considereth

in his heart,

neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say,

I have burned part of it

in the fire;

yea, also I have baked bread

upon the coals thereof;

I have roasted flesh,

and eaten it:

and shall I make the residue thereof

an abomination?

shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?” Isaiah 44:13-19

What are you depending on?  Who are you bowing down to?  What have you created for yourself?  Let’s be found faithful before our Lord!  Let’s keep our eyes on the prize—Jesus!!!

And just a comment on this passage; the reference of being “compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses” is not a reference to a stadium where we are being cheered on, but rather a reference to the preceding chapter of faith, the testimony of those gone before us who finished their race with honor by faith, not sight or popularity before the world.  May we not seek the applause of men but rather pursue the pleasure of The Lord Jesus in all things!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run with patience

the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author and finisher of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 For consider him

that endured such contradiction of sinners

against himself,   

lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

And remember, you only need to run your race, with your eyes on Jesus, not anyone else’s race!  We must learn to listen to the voice of our master, not the crowd.  I pray that this will be a word of help and encouragement to you.  Blessings on you today.

Amen and Amen!!!