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What’s In My Hand??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #449

11 Monday May 2026

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Dare To Be Different!, God's Faithfulness, God's glory NOT mine!, God's got you and me!, God's grace is sufficient...always!, God's measure isn't ours, God's provision, God's ways are not our ways, God's Wisdom, Godliness will be opposed, Godly Instruction, Godly Wisdom, Rock-It Science, Running The Race!, Salvation

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What’s In My Hand???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #449

I’ve been reading about David this week, and I couldn’t help but think about myself; we all face giants, but what do we have in our hand?  We can be like David and pick up the tool that he was familiar with—a simple sling—or we can try to come up with elaborate defenses and devices to face our problems, or we can be like David, who refused the professional armor of the king and trusted to his God instead!

“And he took his staff in his hand,

and chose him five smooth stones

out of the brook,

and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had,

even in a scrip;

and his sling was in his hand:

and he drew near to the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine came on

and drew near unto David;

and the man that bare the shield

went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about,

and saw David,

he disdained him:

for he was but a youth, and ruddy,

and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David,

Am I a dog,

that thou comest to me with staves?

And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David,

Come to me,

and I will give thy flesh

unto the fowls of the air,

and to the beasts of the field.

45 Then said David to the Philistine,

Thou comest to me

with a sword,

and with a spear,

and with a shield:

but I come to thee

in the name of the LORD of hosts,

 the God of the armies of Israel,

whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the LORD deliver thee

into mine hand;

and I will smite thee,

and take thine head from thee;

and I will give the carcases

of the host of the Philistines this day

unto the fowls of the air,

and to the wild beasts

of the earth;

that all the earth may know

that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know

that the LORD saveth

not with sword and spear:

for the battle is the LORD’S,

and he will give you into our hands.”  1 Samuel 17:40-47

Oh that we could learn to remember that “the battle is the LORD’S”; that our Father is The totally sovereign Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ who paid the debt for our sin and is working all things to the good of those who are His own, who are the blood bought, born again children of God.

“…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”.Portions of Romans 8:28-29

Will we be like David and leave the victory to The Lord!  It’s so hard sometimes to trust God in the dark, to let God conform us into “the image of his Son” by whatever means HE sees fit.  David went in faith; he used the weapon that God had taught him to use and had blessed in the past.  He didn’t trust to his own wisdom, but in the value and power “in the name of the LORD of hosts”!  He didn’t trust in the king’s armor, but in his Lord God of hosts!  What are you trying to use in your own defense—intelligence, power, position, consorts, or even using the “name of the LORD of hosts” without knowing HIM!  We must have a close and intimate relationship with God, and that only comes with the new birth, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is imparted by Jesus to everyone who comes to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for our personal sin!  Just claiming His name isn’t enough, we must belong to Him by being born again (See John 3:6-19)!  What stones do you have in your hand?  Rocks of offense, or stones of trust in the Savior to guide your/our every step? Jesus makes it clear that it’s our choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!  Will you accept His invitation or reject the only hope of salvation and heaven!

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,

thou that killest the prophets,

and stonest them which are sent unto thee,

how often would I have gathered

thy children together,

even as a hen gathereth her chickens

under her wings,

and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:37-38

And His invitation is still open—but it won’t always be!

“Behold,

I stand at the door, and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh

will I grant to sit with me in my throne,

even as I also overcame,

and am set down with my Father

in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear,

let him hear what the Spirit saith…” Revelation 3:20-22

What’s in your hand?  Self?  Ambition? Greed? Popularity? Or the Gospel, for yourself and as you are born again, to share with the world God places before you?  What’s your Goliath?  Will you give it all to Jesus or go your own way?  I pray that you will join me and Job, in proclaiming our total dependence on God, even when we don’t understand—still will I trust HIM even in the pain, sorrow and uncertainty!

“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

And in closing Jesus’ own words; you decide!

“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 7:21-23

And one final word from Job—Is Jesus our rock? Our sustenance? My necessary food –the Words of life?

“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 23:12

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!!!