Tag Archives: JESUS

Our Savior And Our Example!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #589

20 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, Comfort, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #589 Our Savior And Our Example!!!

 

While Jesus IS our Redeemer and Lord, He is the One to whom we look, the One on whom we depend—and The One who IS the way to God—not one of many but the One and Only Way!

“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

Jesus lay aside the glory of heaven to come to us, take on flesh and blood, live a sinless life, and die in our stead—all because He and The Father love us!

“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.”  John 3:16-18

Jesus is the only way to life!  No matter how many lies the enemy spreads—God’s Word stands true and is the standard of all judgment in the end; and there is a day of reckoning coming, but in Jesus we are saved from the judgment and wrath of God. The choice is yours and mine, but the consequences of our choice will follow us into eternity!  Choose wisely, there is a test!

“Wherefore God also

hath highly exalted him,

 and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ

is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:9-11

The question isn’t ‘will you bow’; for God has declared that “every knee should bow”! As the old hymn says “nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling” (From ‘Rock of Ages’, by Augustus M. Toplady), Jesus came that we might have life and know that we are loved by a faithful Father God, who is working all things for our good and His glory—and they never conflict! (Even when we think they do!)!  But as we learn to know Him and come to trust to His care, we can follow the example of our Lord in the midst of every trial and difficulty.  Jesus didn’t come to simply ‘be’ an example, He came to purchase our salvation with His own blood, but in doing that He left us the greatest example of selfless love ever expressed!

I have learned and continue to learn that HE IS faithful at every turn, and when I keep my eyes fixed on Him, I can be victorious in this walk of faith with my Lord Jesus Christ!  Whatever you may be facing today, I can assure you that HE is faithful and worthy of our love, trust and devotion.  May you find strength and comfort in His Word.  I am praying for YOU!  We can join with Paul and say:

“I can do

all things

through Christ

which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

And as Peter reminds us, no matter the suffering that we may encounter, we can trust in and rely upon the Lord who suffered the ultimate rejection, and a gruesome death, all for you and me!

“For what glory is it,

if, when ye be buffeted for your faults,

ye shall take it patiently?

but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it,

ye take it patiently,

this is acceptable with God.

21 For even hereunto

were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self

bare our sins

in his own body

on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes

ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:20-25

We can choose today, to trust to our God, or try to run our own lives; I’ve done it both ways and, believe me when I say, we can overcome and have victory when we “do all things through Christ” rather than trying to go our own way!  May we all “fix our eyes on Jesus” and “press on” today, and today, and the next today!  For dear ones, today is all we have, and HE is ever faithful!  May Jesus’ words bring comfort and encourage you today!

“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.” Matthew 6:33-34

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

You’re Not A DIY!!! Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 02

25 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Born Again, Changed Lives, Choices And Consequences, Compromise, Confidence, Consider Your ways, Dependence, Encouragement, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Filled With His Spirit, Flesh-vs-Spirit, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God Is In Charge, God's provision, Gospel, Growing in Jesus!, Holy Living, If not now? When?, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Listening To God, Living Right, Make Like A Tree?, Plumbline?, Polluted by the world?, Salvation, Saved by grace, SIN, Sovereignty, The Only Way, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus, Walking With Jesus, Who are YOU following?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 02  You’re Not A DIY!!!

 

We live in a culture of DIY—Do it YOURSELF!  But God never calls us to ‘fix’ ourselves but to yield to HIS love, work and transforming power.  I would like to share from the scriptures some food for thought to perhaps readjust our thinking.  I pray that it will touch hearts, encourage the faithful, convict those who have fallen for the lies of the enemy, by speaking the truth of God in love.  I do love and pray for each of you that will read this post, that God will speak HIS Word to your heart; that you will come to know that you don’t have to DIY; you simply have to “let God BE God”!

“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

God begins His work in us by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus—His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice of Himself for us.  We couldn’t save ourselves and apart from Jesus we surely can’t keep ourselves!

“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

Just as a branch broken off of the tree will not grow—neither will we unless we abide in Jesus.  He has provided everything that we need to be faithful, successful followers of His!  God has called and equipped us to grow IN HIM!

“Grace and peace be multiplied

unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us

all things

that pertain unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge of him

that hath called us

to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great

and precious

promises:

that by these

ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world

through lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4

As Paul said above—God began it—and He will finish the work in His own!

“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?

32 He that spared not his own Son,

but delivered him up for us all,

how shall he not

with him

also freely give us

all things?”  Romans 8:28-32

And how do we become HIS?  By coming to Jesus in repentance and faith!  Only One Way—only One Savior:  “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” And we come by faith in The One who died for you and me, who also said: “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”!  Amen! (See John 14:6 & 6:37)

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

Instead of a DIY project, God calls us to die to self, and live unto Him, by Him and for Him!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed

to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

It’s all about JESUS!

“For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

 to whom be glory

for ever. Amen.”  Romans 11:36

So my conclusion is that we must stop working on our own—doing our DIY project on ourselves–and let Jesus do HIS work in us, yielding to His Spirit, knowing His Word, His truth, and trusting to HIS perfect provision and providence (a word that we have mostly forgotten today)! Here are a few passages to help us focus on our Master Builder rather than ourselves!

“For it is God

which worketh in you

both to will

and to do

of his good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh……

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.”   Galatians 5:16 & 25-26

And more from our brother Paul:

“What?

know ye not

that your body is the temple

of the Holy Ghost

which is in you,

which ye have of God,

and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price:

therefore glorify God

in your body,

and in your spirit,

which are God’s.”   1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Finally, how do we know what it looks like to choose HIS way?  Again, Paul gives us an amazing contrast that I’ll leave with you!  You must decide if you will focus on the way of the flesh or The Spirit.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest,

which are these;

Adultery,

fornication,

uncleanness,

lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry,

witchcraft,

hatred,

variance,

emulations,

wrath,

strife,

seditions,

heresies,

21 Envyings,

murders,

drunkenness,

revellings,

and such like:

of the which I tell you before,

as I have also told you in time past,

that they which do such things

shall not inherit

the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is

love,

joy,

peace,

longsuffering,

gentleness,

goodness,

faith,

23 Meekness,

temperance:

against such

there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s

have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.”   Galatians 5:19-24

Remember the fruit can only come from abiding in the tree!  May we learn to measure with God’s plumb-line not the world’s; and abide in our LORD Jesus in all our ways!  Be fruitful!

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defacing The Landscape??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 20

01 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Defacing The Landscape?, SIN, Spiritual Drought, Sweet Words or Bitter Words?, The Only Way, The Same Yesterday, The Word, The Word Or The World?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 20  Defacing The Landscape???

 

Deface: 1. to mar the surface or appearance of; disfigure, 

2. to efface, obliterate, or injure the   surface of, as

 to make illegible or invalid…

Landscape:      1. A section or expanse of rural scenery,

usually Extensive, that can be seen for a single viewpoint.

2. a picture representing natural …scenery.

3. Fine Arts, the category of aesthetics subject matter in which natural scenery is represented.

America is a great land—its landscape spans acres of beautiful geography from great ocean expanses to vistas and heights of trees and boulders that seem to touch the sky.  You can find almost any type of landscape that suits your fancy. But it would seem that as a nation we are speeding down a path of rack, ruin and destruction not of our geographical landscape but a cultural one (and if you are in another land, you surely face the same challenges)!  We are heading down a road that I pray we will veer from, but only God can help us out of the situation that we find ourselves in!  God, through Isaiah, aptly describes the state of our land!

“Woe unto them

that draw iniquity

with cords of vanity,

and sin

as it were with a cart rope:

19 That say,

Let him make speed,

and hasten his work,

that we may see it:

and let the counsel

of the Holy One of Israel

draw nigh

and come,

that we may know it!

20 Woe unto them

that call evil good,

and good evil;

that put darkness for light,

and light for darkness;

that put bitter for sweet,

and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them

that are wise

in their own eyes,

and prudent

in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them

that are mighty

to drink wine,

and men of strength

to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked

for reward,

and take away the righteousness

of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore

as the fire

devoureth the stubble,

and the flame

consumeth the chaff,

so their root

shall be as rottenness,

and their blossom

shall go up as dust:

because they have cast away

the law of the LORD of hosts,

and despised

the word of the Holy One of Israel.”  Isaiah 5:18-24

This passage is so full of truth and warnings and I want us to assess our own ‘landscape’ with that described in the message that Isaiah delivered to his own people.  With a heart of love for you, and a burden for our culture, I share it with you!

God proclaims His ‘woe’ on those who cling to sin and its trappings—like clinging to a rope to pull a cart.  Paul also describes the nature of those who reject God as those who cling to sin, but not only cling to it themselves, they pursue others to propagate their wickedness, sharing their heart for evil, and their despite toward God.  It leads to only one fate.

“And even as they did not like to retain God

in their knowledge,

God gave them over

to a reprobate mind,

to do those things

which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all

unrighteousness,

fornication,

wickedness,

covetousness,

maliciousness;

full of

envy,

murder,

debate,

deceit,

malignity;

whisperers,

30 Backbiters,

haters of God,

despiteful,

proud,

boasters,

inventors of evil things,

disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers,

without natural affection,

implacable,

unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God,

that they which commit such things

are worthy of death,

not only do the same,

but have pleasure

in them that do them.”   Romans 1:28-32

Oh friends, God will grant your desires, even when they will lead you to destruction, death and hell.  It’s your choice and mine.  What are you choosing? Remember: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8) And HE said:

 “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.”   Matthew 7:13-15

According to Jesus, when we choose HIS way we won’t often be fighting ‘crowds’!  We must keep our Lord’s warnings in mind as we deal with others (it’s why I write these articles and posts without regard for the number of respondents—my job is to sow the seed, the numbers and the harvest is God’s business)– understanding that just as Jesus wasn’t always popular, if we share truth, we may not be either! (Take some time and read John 13-17, and you’ll see that Jesus warned us that when we follow HIM, we will experience the same responses that He did—some will heed but not all.)  Jesus also reminded us in John 3 of the fate of those who choose sin over Him. (And remember that ‘not making a choice’ IS making a choice!)

“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.”   John 3:16-19

Our landscape is cluttered with the choices of those who relish sin over righteousness.  We must pray for God’s mercy, His grace, and the conviction of His precious Holy Spirit to show us our failures, as well as to convict the lost of their need for Jesus.

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth;

It is expedient for you that I go away:

for if I go not away,

the Comforter will not come unto you;

but if I depart,

I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come,

he will reprove the world of sin,

and of righteousness,

and of judgment:

9 Of sin,

because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness,

because I go to my Father,

and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment,

because the prince of this world

is judged.”  John 16:7-11

Steeped in the same message that God shared through Isaiah, God has always called men and women, boys and girls, to come to Himself through faith in the promised ‘deliverer’!  Those in the Old Testament believed and looked forward to His coming, those of us after the cross believe in the completed work of Jesus to save people “from their sins”!  (See Matthew 1:21).  Just as Isaiah described the wicked of his day, we see that same evil flourishing in our day, and yet we have often responded in an ‘other than biblical’ way. If you take your spiritual ques from social media (which we shouldn’t) then you will follow the mindset that we are to rise up and ‘put a stop’ to this or that; well my friends, what we are experiencing is exactly what scripture says we will experience, and we are to respond as Jesus did!  We are to “stand fast in the evil day”; we are to be “salt and light”; we are to understand that in these last days/times “perilous times shall come”!  We must remember and know that even in these times we are saved and called to be faithful proclaimers of the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sharing His truth with all those whom God places in our path; not hateful and crude, but full of HIS Spirit, and not our flesh, as Jesus so aptly put it:

“Blessed are they which are persecuted

for righteousness’ sake:

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are ye,

when men shall revile you,

and persecute you,

and shall say all manner of evil

against you falsely,

for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:

for great is your reward in heaven:

for so persecuted they the prophets

which were before you.

13 Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all

that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:10-16

While we must never be those “that call evil good, and good evil”, or those “that put darkness for light, and light for darkness”, nor ever replace truth with the poison lies of the enemy by being those “that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter”, we are called to love (not compromising truth, but to exhibit compassion).  The Apostle Peter called us to recognize our call to spread truth not lies, to share love not hate—remembering that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood”! (See Eph. 6:10+)

“Finally, be ye all of one mind,

having compassion one of another,

love as brethren,

be pitiful,

be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil,

or railing for railing:

but contrariwise blessing;

knowing that ye are thereunto called,

that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life,

and see good days,

let him

refrain his tongue from evil,

and his lips that they speak no guile:

11 Let him

eschew evil,

and do good;

let him

seek peace,

and ensue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord

are over the righteous,

and his ears

are open unto their prayers:

but the face of the Lord

is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you,

if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake,

happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror,

neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

and be ready always

to give an answer

to every man that asketh you a reason

of the hope that is in you

with meekness

and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

your good conversation

 in Christ.”  1 Peter 3:8-16

I know this is a lengthy passage, but so necessary in this day and age in which we live. So, I pray that we will humbly hear God’s voice speaking to our hearts through His Word, and be those who will fulfill Peter’s admonition, and fill our landscape with the “beauty of holiness” rather than the corruption of the world.  Let’s think, live and respond with biblical truth?  May we truly “stand fast in the evil day, and having done all, to stand”! God’s way not man’s! We can change the landscape for Jesus, with Jesus and to HIS glory, and for the redemption of the lost!

“Having a good conscience;

that, whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

 your good conversation in Christ.”

Amen and Amen!

 

 

Grateful For What??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #567

28 Friday Jun 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Confidence, Contentment, Gratitude, Kindness, Thankful

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: BBs #567   Grateful For What???

 

Just a short word this morning to remind each of us to never forget to be grateful!  An attitude of gratitude will affect our whole outlook; when we are grateful to God, when we show gratitude to our family members, when we express thankfulness to those we encounter.

A grateful heart will help us focus on others more than ourselves!  And that, my friends, is always a lesson worth reminding ourselves of.

“Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing

18 In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus

concerning you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

David rejoiced in his God because he had experienced His faithful provision, protection and power!  What do you have to thank God for?

“O give thanks unto the LORD;

for he is good;

 for his mercy endureth for ever.”  1 Chronicles 16:34

God in His love and mercy toward us has given us Jesus to save us, lead us, grow us in grace, truth and love into children of God who bring HIM glory.

“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.”   Romans 8:28-29

Oh, how grateful I am for God’s mercy and longsuffering toward us.  I can hardly go one day without thanking Him for touching me, saving me, and growing me in His Word, His grace, His power and His love!  Without Him I would have nothing to be thankful for!  But with Him, I can rejoice every day—in Who He Is and all He is doing in me, for me, through me—all helping me to “be conformed to the image of his Son”!  How could I not rejoice and thank HIM always?  All because HE loves me enough to send Jesus to pay for my sin!  And He’ll do the same for you—He isn’t slow, but He does want people to be saved!

“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.”   2 Peter 3:9

Will you join me today in thanking HIM for all HE does for us?  And then don’t forget that special phrase as you encounter folks today!  Thank You!  You can use it at the bank, as you shop, at the local café, at home, to all as you have opportunity.

“And the Lord make you to increase

and abound

in love

one toward another,

and toward all men,

even as we do

toward you:”    1 Thessalonians 3:12

And we can do all this in HIS power, remembering that, “without me ye can do nothing.”  (See John 15:5)!  Thank YOU, and thank YOU Jesus!  Praying that each of you have a blessed day as you remember to express thanks to God continually, and others as you have opportunity.  There may be a waitress out there who needs a word of encouragement, or a bank teller, or a store clerk, or a co-worker, or employer (just because they’re the boss, doesn’t mean that they don’t need a word of encouragement or an expression of gratitude!)—so go to it!!!  And a smile helps almost everything!

“And be ye kind

one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:32

 

Amen and Amen!

 

 

Live, Breathe, Be??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 16

02 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Crucified With Christ, Filled With His Spirit, For Such A Time As This, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, SIN, The Love of God, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 16   Live, Breathe, Be???

 

I have friends, and you probably do too, who have chronic illnesses, in fact I have several friends who have not only chronic illnesses, but genetically based diseases.  That would be a hard thing to deal with, knowing that you could pass on a disease to your children and/or grandchildren, especially since it is out of my/your control.; but there’s something else that we need to consider, for it is even more far-reaching than a chronic disease, and if not treated appropriately, it is truly fatal.  That is “SIN”, and while we all pass it on to our children and our grandchildren, there is something that we can do—something that IS within our control!  And that something is JESUS!  While we may not have a choice about the genetic pool that is passed on to us, we do have a choice about our response to sin, and the choice that we make will affect those around us whether we are related or not!

Scripture clearly tells us that we are all afflicted with the disease of sin!

“As it is written,

There is none righteous,

no,

not one:”  Romans 3:10

That means that sin is the issue—we all have it, but only Jesus can provide the cure (so to speak)!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

All–that means me; and that means you!  Every human being is born into sin (except the God-Man Savior, Jesus), and we can choose to respond to the gospel of Jesus, hear the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, repent and receive the saving grace that He died to provide; or you can choose to pay for you own sin!

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

We are all born in sin, but when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we don’t have to die in our sin.  Jesus has already done that for us; therefore, Hell doesn’t have to be our future.  We can have life now and forever—abundant life IN Jesus!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves

and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:7-11

Jesus IS the good shepherd, for HE gave His life for our salvation, all because God loved us.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

What a wonderful verse!  Salvation was, is and ever shall be God’s idea, God pursued us, for salvation is always initiated by God—it’s not our idea!  We can only respond to HIS grace which has been extended to us as His Spirit reveals Him to us.  Have you heard His voice? His knock at your heart’s door?

“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.”  Revelation 3:20

And to be the Redeemer, Jesus gave His own life, of His own will to save us!  God sent Jesus to pay for ‘my’ sin and ‘yours’!

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God

among you by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”   Acts 2:22-24

Not only preached by Peter and the apostles, but also foretold by Jesus Himself.

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:

them also I must bring,

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one fold,

and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received

of my Father.”   John 10:16-18

Jesus came out of love for us and obediently lay down HIS life for me and you!  Praise God for His amazing grace that saves and keeps those who will come to HIM! Oh, to have the words to describe the wondrous grace that He has bestowed on me/us, and to express the gratitude that fills my heart.  And because of that gratitude and recognition of the blessings of God, we ought to behave in accord with what we have received.  I truly believe that one of the problems we face today is an overabundance of people who profess what they don’t possess!  But God knows those who are HIS, and Jesus made it clear that what’s in our hearts will come out—one way or another; sooner or later!

“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

We can find victory in living when we learn to depend on the direction, provision and instruction of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.

“16 This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…..

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 24-25

How much we miss when we forget that when we belong to Jesus, He provides all we need for faithful, godly living.

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us

all things that pertain

unto life and godliness,

through the knowledge of him

that hath called us to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great

and precious promises:

that by these

ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

 having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”  2 Peter 1:3

Power to overcome is found in The Spirit and The Word of Him who laid down His life for me and you!  We can live and prevail by His grace, as we die to self and live “in Jesus”!

“For in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being;

as certain also of your own poets have said,

 For we are also his offspring.”  Acts 17:28

“I am crucified with Christ:

 nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

All because Jesus holds it all together—right now, and always.

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”  Hebrews 1:3

So, a few questions, “In “whom” (or how) do you ‘live, and move, and have your being”?   Have you died to self at the cross, to live by “faith of the Son of God”?  The choice is yours but choose wisely; there is a test at the end!

One last word to challenge our minds!

“And be not drunk

with wine, wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

 in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves

one to another

in the fear of God.”  Ephesians 5:18-21

Are you “filled with the Spirit” (which means to be pervaded, controlled by) or is something else ‘controlling’ you? (It matters not if it’s drugs, liquor, sex, greed, lying and deceit, power, manipulation, ego, sloth, or ambition).  What are you filling your life with!