Category Archives: Trendy Or Truth

Still I Will Trust HIM??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #372

06 Wednesday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, God's got you and me!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's Mercies Are New every morning..., God's provision, God's Righteousness Not mine, God's Time, God's ways are not our ways, Godliness will be opposed, Pop Quizzes Happen, Prayer or Panic?, Press ON!, Reflecting HIS glory, Responding Rightly, Resting Or Wrestling?, Treasure here or in heaven?, Trendy Or Truth, Trials, Tried by FIRE!, Troubles, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Tuned In To Jesus, Turn to God's Word

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Still I Will Trust HIM???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #372

Job is one of my favorite books, and that’s a little unusual, for it is a difficult book to read, especially the first time through; but after several times through you begin to gain insight and hope from this precious account of God’s unseen hand at work as He patiently works in His saints.  I want to look at one main passage today and hopefully give some encouragement to those who are hurting and perhaps questioning God’s work in their personal situation.

“Though he slay me,

yet will I trust in him:

but I will maintain mine own ways

before him.

16 He also shall be my salvation:

for an hypocrite

shall not come before him.”  Job 13:15-16

Where is your confidence?  Is it in the sovereign Lord God Almighty or your own resources?  Are you in a time of trial, sorrow or testing?  Paul understood this and he also encourages us to “hangeth thou in there”, remembering that our God is ever at work conforming His own into the image of His Son, Jesus.  Let’s take a look at scripture, don’t take my word for it (though I can stand with Job and say, “yet will I trust HIM”!)

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth

take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you

but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer you

to be tempted

above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape,

that ye may be able to bear it.”  1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Oh, please don’t miss the message dear friend, God didn’t say He would remove it, but that He would lead you and me into ways that will help us to be able to bear it, for as long as God is at work—which is always!  Paul also shows us this work of God in his letter to the believers at Rome—don’t miss verse 29!

“And he that searcheth the hearts

knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,

because he maketh intercession for the saints

according to the will of God.

28 And we know

that all things

work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called

according to his purpose.

29 For whom he did foreknow,

he also did predestinate

to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn

among many brethren.

30 Moreover

whom he did predestinate,

them he also called:

and whom he called,

them he also justified:

and whom he justified,

them he also glorified.

31 What shall we then say to these things?

If God be for us,

who can be against us?”  Romans 8:28-31

If you’re on God’s side (by being born again, by the Spirit of God), then remember, my friend, God IS on your side—always.  Don’t let the lies of the enemy distract you, or misdirect you away from The One who saves, keeps and delivers us on the other side of the trial.  Paul again confirms this for us.

“Being confident of this very thing,

that he which hath begun a good work in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

And in closing another word of encouragement from Job; his experience is a great encouragement to me, and I pray that you’ll dig into the book of Job—it won’t be an easy read, but it will be one full of reality, truth and hope, as well as the beauty of God’s faithful provision!

“Behold, I go forward,

but he is not there;

and backward,

but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand,

where he doth work,

but I cannot behold him:

he hideth himself on the right hand,

that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take:

when he hath tried me,

I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps,

his way have I kept,

and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back

from the commandment of his lips;

I have esteemed the words of his mouth

 more than my necessary food.”  Job 23:8-12

What are we esteeming: God’s words or man’s; God’s words or the lies?  Look up to The One who loves you and died to save and complete His own!  Remember, brothers and sisters We Win!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

No Riches??? Man’s Opinion??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #345

28 Monday Apr 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, Advice for the journey, All About Jesus!, Almost But Lost, Born Again, Bow Before our God, In hell it's too late to be a witness?, Jesus' standard?, Lazarus and the rich man., Riches--here or in heaven?, Social media doesn't say it ALL!, Social media isn't the last word!!!!, The greatest evangelist? Dead or alive?, Transformed life, Treasure here or in heaven?, Trendy Or Truth

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No Riches???  Man’s Opinion???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #345

I want to share a familiar passage and story with you today.  In fact I believe it is a true story that Jesus shared, and my main reason is that he never told a parable and named anyone; here Jesus names the beggar, and I think he didn’t name the rich man for people probably would have gasped in horror that this one was in hell?  A common situation would probably exist today if we knew the fate of those the world holds in “high esteem”!  For you see, it doesn’t matter how much or what esteem the world holds us in, if God doesn’t! And unless we have been born again, we have no esteem with God.  But in Jesus, we are the beloved of God, The Holy Spirit our guide, helper and comforter, and heaven our home!  So let’s see what this story reveals about riches, and the change of perspective of one of the characters.  But I’d like to preface it with a call for us to examine our hearts and the speech that comes out of our mouth—be it spoken or “posted on social media”!  It seems that kindness, compassion, and courtesy have gone out of style—and certainly they are greatly absent on social media.  And let me say beforehand that “judge not” here, does not mean to be undiscerning, nor not to make assessments of right or wrong; it does mean that we are not to pass judgment on people’s motives or situations, rather we are to exercise “righteous judgment” (See John 7:24)

“Be ye therefore merciful,

as your Father also is merciful.

37 Judge not,

and ye shall not be judged:

condemn not,

and ye shall not be condemned:

forgive,

and ye shall be forgiven:

38 Give,

and it shall be given unto you;

good measure,

pressed down,

and shaken together,

and running over,

shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured to you again.”   Luke 6:36-38

Two points and we’ll press on, our attitude is to be one of compassion and remember just as we are free to make choices, we are not free to choose the consequence—and as Jesus said here, “with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”!  Or in today’s vernacular, “what goes around, comes around”!  Secondly, my heart is grieved over the meanness that is abundant on social media without measure.

So, let’s go on to see what Jesus said about real riches.  One man had an abundance, the other nothing, nada, zip, zilch; and I want you to notice there is no condemnation on the poor man.  Jesus doesn’t tell us he could have done better; he wasn’t called lazy or any other derogative connotation to this precious man.   Instead he was taken to heaven by the angels, after living a life of hardship for what seems to have been most, if not all, of his adult life.  Yet, he knew God, when the rest of the world were probably accusing him of some kind of sinful life; God said otherwise.  What commentary does God have to make on my life.  Do I want riches that impress the world?  Or do I desire and pursue and life of right standing with my God?

“There was a certain rich man,

which was clothed in purple and fine linen,

and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus,

which was laid at his gate,

full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs

which fell from the rich man’s table:

moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass,

that the beggar died,

and was carried by the angels

into Abraham’s bosom:

the rich man also died,

and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes,

being in torments,

and seeth Abraham afar off,

and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said,

Father Abraham, have mercy on me,

and send Lazarus,

that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,

and cool my tongue;

for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said,

Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime

receivedst thy good things,

and likewise Lazarus

evil things:

but now he is comforted,

and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this,

between us and you there is a great gulf fixed:

so that they which would pass

from hence to you cannot;

neither can they pass to us,

that would come from thence.

27 Then he said,

I pray thee therefore, father,

that thou wouldest send him

to my father’s house:

28 For I have five brethren;

that he may testify unto them,

lest they also

come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him,

They have Moses and the prophets;

let them hear them.

30 And he said,

Nay, father Abraham:

but if one went unto them from the dead,

they will repent.

31 And he said unto him,

If they hear not Moses and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded,

though one rose from the dead.”   Luke 16:19-31

I find verse 31 one of the most apropos verses of all scripture!  Here is a man in hell, yet his concern was for his family to avoid his destiny; and note that he knew that they needed repentance, that which he never saw in his own life.  A man who in the world’s eyes had it “all”!  A man who never gave repentance a thought until he was in hell; why not?  I think because the theology of his day said much the same as the notion of our world, if you are affluent, you must be headed to heaven, for you have proven your worth and value to the world; yet without any regard for God, the Gospel, or the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ The Lord, we have no standing before God! But notice what Jesus accounts for us, Abraham told the rich man that if his brethren (just as he had opportunity) would not hear the witness of Moses and the prophets, they wouldn’t believe if “one” (especially Lazarus!) came back from the dead!

I also find a bit of a double nontender here; Jesus was shortly going to be raised from the dead and people refused to believe—still do!  But even more amazing is that Jesus was going to raise one named Lazarus from the dead and most still wouldn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah—most don’t today!  For you see, if we don’t see our sin, and our need for repentance and salvation, why would we come to Jesus!  Oh, my friends, I pray that you will look to the cross and the Savior who gave His life for our salvation.

What riches are you counting on?  God’s riches in Jesus’ sacrifice for us, or something else.  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test, and in hell is too late to choose.

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches

of his grace;” Ephesians 1:6-7

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

 in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches

of his grace;” Colossians 1:6-7

“Charge them that are rich in this world,

that they be not highminded,

nor trust in uncertain riches,

but in the living God,

who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

18 That they do good,

that they be rich in good works,

ready to distribute,

willing to communicate;” 1 Timothy 1:17-18

And one final word from Jesus!  Where are your riches?  Oh, to be found faithful when He comes or calls me to Himself.  Where is your heart?  It will tell in the end, and in your journey!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

 21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

Amen and Amen!!!

Unified Or Divided??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #326

03 Monday Mar 2025

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Know not what they do, Knowing GOD, Knowing Truth, Lead them to Jesus., Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Let You Light So Shine, The Word, Trendy Or Truth, True Gospel, True Knowledge, Trust, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus?, Truth, Truth is True, Uncertainty--God HAS the answer, unity or division?

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Unified Or Divided???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #326

I have a few thoughts to share with you this morning; most know I don’t get political, but I think we need to consider some things that The Word has to say about our attitude, especially toward the thing called “unity”!  I think we often misunderstand unity and confuse it with uniformity; unity means a oneness but not sameness.  As a nation, and especially the followers of Jesus, we need to stop throwing rocks, pray and consider scripture—not the personal version, but the biblical truths that stand the test of time, circumstance, and the human need for God!  We seem to have thrown out the baby with the bath water (look it up if you don’t know what that means!). I simply want to share some scripture for our consideration.  So drop your rocks for a minute or two and let’s peruse a scriptural perspective—not mine but God’s!  Unity calls us to uplift one another, even in our personal differences.

Unity isn’t uniformity—it is the uplifting and building up rather than tearing down with greed and avarice!  It is doing things for the common good, without violating or exchanging God’s principles for greed—avarice—and fleshly lust (as the detective shows always say, “follow the money”!). I pray that this will give us all some food for thought, knowing that we are called to follow scripture’s advice as followers of Jesus. The context in Ephesians 4 is in regard to the giftings that Jesus (via the Holy Spirit) gives to the church in regard to leadership—as those who prove things on the “testing grounds”! And just FYI, the reference to “perfect” is referring to spiritual maturity-not sinless perfection, which only Jesus has (See Hebrews 4:15 and Hebrews 9:28,) — in contrast to being “children”. (And if you’re curious Romans 3:23 and 6:23 remind us that all are sinners except for our Lord Jesus!)

“Till we all come

in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature

of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:15

This bears out the principle that Paul put forth to the Philippian believers, not a panacea, but a call to keep in mind that whatever Jesus leads us into, HE will provide for.

“I can do all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

And the Apostle John recorded Jesus’ own words to us.

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me, and I in him,

 the same bringeth forth much fruit:

for without me ye can do nothing.”  John 15:1-5

Are you with Jesus?  Or are you spinning your wheels trying to go your own way rather than the way that is down the “straight” road? (See Matthew 7:14-21, and notice the “many” and the “few”—where are you?)  What we often fail to consider is that when we stand with Jesus’ we will receive the same response that HE often provoked in those who were walking away from God.  We are to lift up without caving to the world’s sinful direction.  While it’s a great dilemma, it’s one that “in Jesus” we can accomplish—remembering what Jesus said, “without me ye can do nothing”!

So, are you spreading unity or division?  It’s a quandary but we who belong to Jesus must stand for the truth, no matter the cost; and without throwing rocks, remembering Paul’s reminder that things are not going to get truly better, until the King of Kings arrives!  And notice that Paul said that “men shall be” not just “do”, but they will “be” evil!  We must never put unity over holiness, but at the same time we are not to spread “discord” (see Proverbs 6:19+)!

“This know also,

that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,

proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers,

false accusers, incontinent, fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded,

 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.”  2 Timothy 3:1-5

Yes, we are to be compassionate and a help to those in need, but we are not to be enablers of continual bad behavior.  We will never eliminate poverty, illness or sin—only Jesus can and will accomplish that when He returns, but until then we must be aware of the failures that we will deal with due to original sin! And we must understand that things are not always what they seem to be; Jesus made an amazing declaration to the disciples over an extravagant act toward Him!

“There came unto him a woman

having an alabaster box of very precious ointment,

and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.

8 But when his disciples saw it,

they had indignation, saying,

To what purpose is this waste?

9 For this ointment

might have been sold for much,

and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them,

Why trouble ye the woman?

for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you;

but me ye have not always.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment

on my body,

she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say unto you,

Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached

in the whole world,

there shall also this,

that this woman hath done,

be told for a memorial of her.”  Matthew 26:7-13

Don’t miss what Jesus didn’t say, He didn’t memorialize this woman, but He did declare what she had done to and for Him would be memorialized—for her love for Him and her willingness to give probably the greatest thing that she owned to honor Jesus; and she gave it without regard to what others might say!  Are we willing to pour ourselves out for Jesus, no matter the cost or the backlash?  We don’t know her name, but we do know that her extravagant love for Jesus is still talked about today.  What are we willing to give to Jesus, no matter what others may say?  I don’t have any “precious ointment”—but I do have me and whatever Jesus has given me to use—even those things that sometimes I’m clinging too tightly to!  How about you?

And as we think about serving others, we need to keep the proper perspective, and I’ll close with one of the greatest “misses” in trying to supposedly “serve God” one’s own way.  And while this is a lengthy passage, I believe it is worthy of our consideration; and please don’t miss what God’s Word says about rebellion (disobedience).  What blessings have we missed because we did it “my way” rather than God’s.  Let’s determine to be those who help bring unity, but never at the price of disobedience. (And remember that being a leader has a great call of responsibility— “to whom much is given, much is required…” See Luke 12:48.)=

“And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him,

Blessed be thou of the LORD:

I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

14 And Samuel said,

What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep

in mine ears,

and the lowing of the oxen

which I hear?

15 And Saul said,

They have brought them from the Amalekites:

for the people spared the best

of the sheep and of the oxen,

to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God;

and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul,

Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said

to me this night.

 And he said unto him, Say on.

17 And Samuel said,

When thou wast little in thine own sight,

wast thou not made the head

of the tribes of Israel,

and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey,

and said,

Go and utterly destroy

the sinners the Amalekites,

and fight against them

until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey

the voice of the LORD,

but didst fly upon the spoil,

and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel,

Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD,

and have gone the way which the LORD sent me,

and have brought Agag the king of Amalek,

and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people

took of the spoil,

sheep and oxen,

the chief of the things

which should have been utterly destroyed,

to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God

in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said,

Hath the LORD as great delight

in burnt offerings

and sacrifices,

as in obeying the voice of the LORD?

Behold, to obey

is better than sacrifice,

and to hearken

than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion

is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness

is as iniquity and idolatry.

Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,

he hath also rejected thee from being king.”  1 Samuel 15:13-23

May we be busy speaking God’s truth in love; may we pursue unity without leaving God’s Word and holiness behind.  May we see sin as sin, and help others see truth with love and kindness but not compromise.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

Amen and Amen!!!

How Much Time Is Enough??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #273

16 Wednesday Oct 2024

Posted by in Now is the time...., Only Jesus, Only One Way, Open The Door to JESUS, Salvation, Satan's lies., Saved by grace, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, Time, Time Is Grace!, Times and Seasons, TODAY, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Too Late To Call?, Trampling The Blood of Jesus?, Trendy Or Truth

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How Much Time Is Enough???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #273

“And almost all things are by the law

purged with blood;

and without shedding of blood

is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary

that the patterns of things in the heavens

should be purified with these;

but the heavenly things themselves

with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places

made with hands,

which are the figures of the true;

but into heaven itself,

now to appear in the presence of God

for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often,

as the high priest entereth into the holy place

every year

with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered

since the foundation of the world:

but now once

in the end of the world

hath he appeared to put away sin

by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered

to bear the sins of many;

and unto them that look for him

shall he appear the second time

without sin

unto salvation.”  Hebrews 9:22-28

Jesus paid the price for our sin, and it cost His precious blood to pay that price.  Scripture is replete with references to our sin and Jesus’ payment for it; so my purpose today is to call us to pay attention to our soul!  Saying I’ve joined a church, or been baptized, or been confirmed, or studied the Bible, or done good deeds isn’t what saves—it’s the blood of Jesus Christ the Lord that cleanses a repentant heart from sin.

“And these things write we unto you,

that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message

which we have heard of him,

and declare unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:4-10

If you don’t belong to Jesus (and remember that Jesus IS truth), my friend, then you need to consider that Jesus’ blood, and being born again are the only hope that we have.  Heaven isn’t a myth, nor is hell, and your earthly choice will determine your eternal destiny.  How much time have you wasted?  Are you born again?  Have you given your heart and life to Jesus or are you just living life your way with a little religion tacked on to make God happy!  The time is fleeting—what will you do with your time; for sin is the issue and we will each give an account before God—in time—whether through death or when Jesus returns to planet earth!  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.  And part of the way you can know if you belong to Jesus is the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit; have you heard His voice?  Have you repented and trusted in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for my sin and yours?  Paul makes this principle clear.

“But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.”  Romans 8:9

Jesus also makes it clear that only by His Spirit can we come to Him, when Jesus knocks on the door of your heart through the power of His Holy Spirit, you can answer or neglect.  But remember you don’t know how much time you may have!

“Jesus therefore answered and said unto them,

Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me,

except the Father which hath sent me

draw him:

and I will raise him up

at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets,

And they shall be all taught of God.

Every man therefore that hath heard,

and hath learned of the Father,

cometh unto me.”  John 6:43-45

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

Today is all we have—please don’t miss Jesus by one day!  As the old song says, please don’t come ‘one day too late’ (a song written by Lannie Wolf, look it up, the words are powerful)!

“Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith,

To day if ye will hear his voice,

8 Harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation,

in the day of temptation

in the wilderness…

… 15 While it is said, To day

if ye will hear his voice,

harden not your hearts,

as in the provocation…

… 18 And to whom sware he

that they should not enter into his rest,

but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in

because of unbelief.”  Portions of Hebrews 3:7-19

Don’t put Jesus off for another day, we never know what’s coming!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

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

Paul also encouraged us to not delay.  Satan is ever busy keeping us distracted, but please don’t let those distractions keep you from Jesus!  Don’t count on your wisdom, goodness or effort—only Jesus can save!

“We then, as workers together with him,

beseech you also

that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith,

I have heard thee

in a time accepted,

and in the day of salvation

have I succoured thee:

behold, now

is the accepted time;

behold, now

is the day of salvation.)”  2 Corinthians 6:1-2

For sure, God knows your heart!   As Paul told his son in the ministry, Timothy—God knows, and His accounts are accurate!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timothy 2:19

God knows!  Won’t you come to Him and be saved today!  If you’re His already, won’t you ask God to help you draw near to Him that He may reflect His glory to a lost and dying world!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature:

old things are passed away;

behold,

all things are become new.

18 And all things are of God,

who hath reconciled us to himself

by Jesus Christ,

and hath given to us

the ministry of reconciliation;

19 To wit,

that God was in Christ,

reconciling the world unto himself,

not imputing their trespasses unto them;

and hath committed unto us

the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him

to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

In closing a reminder from Paul, we are all lost and alienated from God by sin; but Jesus paid our sin debt at Calvary.  It’s time to look to Him!  Today!

“But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more, being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received the atonement.”  Romans 5:8-11

Amen and Amen!!!

Get It? Got It? Holding To It??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #238

12 Friday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Eternal Consequences, Eternal Treasures, Every Knee Shall Bow, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Laying up treasure in heaven, Leading Or Mis-Leading?, Living For Jesus, Nothing New, Now is the time...., Order my steps, Salvation, The Word, Trendy Or Truth, Worship Him!

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Get It? Got it? Holding To It???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #238

We continually wrestle with the draw of the world, the call of the bling, the ads, promos, and enticement to get the newest, fastest, most fashionable things of some celebrity; all the while not realizing that these things will pass away.  We will pass away; and when we do, we will face Jesus as our Lord and Savior and give an account of our life; or we will stand before Jesus The Judge and pay for our own sin!  It’s not about stuff, it’s about peace, joy and loving Jesus more than the world.  And even more subtle, the people and things that offer to make us healthier, wealthier and smarter by using, promoting and making money off of some new thing.  Solomon said it best.

“All things are full of labour;

man cannot utter it:

the eye is not satisfied

with seeing,

nor the ear

filled with hearing.

9 The thing that hath been,

it is that which shall be;

and that which is done

is that which shall be done:

and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said,

See, this is new?

it hath been already of old time,

which was before us.”  Ecclesiastes 1:8-10

We lost two people in our circle this week, one knew Jesus intimately and went right into the presence of Jesus (See 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.); the other may or may not have met Jesus, I don’t know.  But one thing I do know, each of them carried nothing with them but the life they lived, and everything they had collected, they left behind.  What are you collecting?  What did you get that you had to have, and now you’re ready to put it in a garage safe?  Even the priceless treasures that we may value greatly can’t be held onto when we die and face eternity.  What have we invested in that is of eternal value.  First and foremost to be born again, secondly (in my opinion) is to have sent on treasures to heaven that are of true eternal value.  As I heard someone once say, the only thing we can take to heaven with us is love and those we have helped to come to salvation in Jesus!  It has merit!  While I don’t find anywhere is scripture that we are bound to take a vow of poverty, we are called throughout scripture to hold the value of riches loosely and not hoard them to ourselves, but to use them to bless others as we have opportunity.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,

where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also…

…24 No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat,

or what ye shall drink;

nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat,

and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air:

for they sow not,

neither do they reap,

nor gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.

Are ye not much better than they?…

…33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Portions of Matthew 6:19-34

Peter also reminded the early believers that riches are not eternal, but Jesus and His Word is!  May we not lose sight of the things that are truly eternal, important, and of real value!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come

as a thief in the night;

in the which the heavens shall pass away

with a great noise,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat,

the earth also

and the works that are therein

shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be

in all holy conversation

and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting

unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire

shall be dissolved,

and the elements shall melt

with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we,

according to his promise,

look for new heavens

and a new earth,

wherein dwelleth righteousness.”                            Portions of 2 Peter 3:9-13

So, my friends, the question comes to us, “What will we spend our life on?”  Will we spend our lives accumulating things or pursuing the Kingdom of God and sending our real, eternal treasures on before us.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  May we ask God to search our heart and reveal to us the true state of our affairs?  James has a stern word to those claiming the name of Jesus; will we take heed?

“Ye ask, and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore

to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

 ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.”  James 4:3-8

May we get it!  May we ever keep it in our heart!  May we ever hold to JESUS in true love and devotion, as we “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil…”!

Amen and Amen!!!