Tag Archives: Matthew 1:21

Christmas Fortnight Day 13 A Word from THE WORD! #425

24 Wednesday Dec 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Seeing Truth, Seek ye first The Kingdom of God, Seeking Jesus, Wisdom, Worship Him!, Worship?, You can't get yesterday back!

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Christmas Fortnight Day 13  A Word from THE WORD! #425

Continuing our look at some of the people connected with Jesus’ birth, today I’d like to look at the ‘wise men’.

We’ll look at portions of Matthew 2:1-12,

“Now when Jesus was born

in Bethlehem of Judaea

in the days of Herod the king,

behold, there came wise men

from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he

that is born King of the Jews?

For we have seen his star in the east,

and are come to worship him….

…9 When they had heard ..,

they departed

and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,

went before them,

 till it came and stood over

where the young child was…

10 …they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 …they saw the young child….

and fell down, and worshipped him:

and …presented unto him gifts;

gold, and frankincense, and myrrh…

12 And being warned of God…

they departed into their own country ….”

These men were not keepers of the sheep, nor lowly men but ‘wise’ men.

Men who:

       Had great wealth,

              came from afar, and

                      brought gifts of great value.

Men who:

       Sought HIM diligently

              Rejoiced to see the star and find the Babe,

And then they

WORSHIPPED THE NEWBORN KING!!!

How about you?

If you don’t know Him—seek Him and HE will be found! In fact He’s looking for YOU!  He came to die for my sin and yours!  And HE is faithful to save.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

If you know Him—Seek Him today,

His ways continually–

His will diligently–

and obey it.

           Rejoice in Him always.

              WORSHIP THE NEWBORN KING!!!!

                      WORSHIP THE SOON COMING KING!!!

                            The one born to die for us!!!

And remember that worship isn’t just singing or praying or even faithfully serving in a church; it is a life lived in total submission and devotion to our King Jesus!  Consider where your devotion lies—not just on Christmas but each and every day that God gives you! 

Amen and Amen!!!

May I Be Like_____??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #387

14 Sunday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Behold the Lamb of God, Believing God's Words, Blessed by God, Born Again, Bow Before our God, By Him We Live, If I be lifted up---, If not now? When?, In Jesus name--means what?, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Knows, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, No man can serve two masters!, No Sin No Need?, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, Sayers or Doers, Search me O God?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

May I Be Like______??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #387

May I be yielded to my Lord, allowing Him to work in me to make me more like Him.  God has promised to work in us, to conform us, to shape us and equip us to the work that HE has called us to. We are called to yield to and desire His work to be done in us as we cling to and abide in our vine—Jesus! (See John 15:1-5)

“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

This must be the prayer of our heart, and it will be reflected in the way that we choose to live each day!  As Jesus said in His sermon on the mount (as we call it, yet He taught these things continually).

“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.”  Matthew 6:24

As Paul reminded us, we must not let the things of this world consume, control and direct our lives; and while that sounds easy to say, I understand that it is a daily battle, and I fight it just like you do!  But the thing I want us to understand is that it is a winnable battle!  The things of this world will continually try to distract, disable and disarm our testimony for Jesus!  We are called to stand fast “in the evil day”!  And believe me my friends, the “evil day” is here!  What will you do?  Serve God or the world?

Jesus gave the Apostles instructions about the work that would be ahead of them when He talked with them after the resurrection.  What He said to them is basic but absolutely essential to our comprehension of and adherence to the Gospel and, as Paul said, not being “ashamed of the gospel”!  We are called by Jesus to stick to the biblical gospel—not water it down to reach a people who don’t want to hear the truth.  Only Jesus saves—ever has—ever will!

“And he said unto them, 

These are the words which I spake unto you, 

while I was yet with you, 

that all things must be fulfilled, 

which were written in the law of Moses, 

and in the prophets, and in the psalms, 

concerning me. 

45 Then opened he their understanding, 

that they might understand the scriptures, 

46 And said unto them, 

Thus it is written, 

and thus it behoved Christ 

to suffer, 

and to rise from the dead the third day: 

47 And that repentance 

    and remission of sins 

should be preached in his name 

among all nations, 

beginning at Jerusalem. 

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.”  Luke 24:44-48

We have been called to share “repentance and remission of sins” to all nations!  Don’t miss what Jesus is saying, salvation can’t come when we are not willing to see sin as sin, repent of our own sin (not anyone else’s), and seek the forgiveness that only Jesus can give to remit our sins to the blood that HE has already shed for sin!  Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 15.  Let’s look at it.  (See Colossians 1:12-14)

“For I delivered unto you first of all 

that which I also received, 

how that Christ died for our sins 

according to the scriptures; 

4 And that he was buried, 

and that he rose again the third day 

according to the scriptures: 

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, 

then of the twelve:”  1 Corinthians 15:3-5

Until we see our sin and understand that only Jesus can save, we have no hope.  Only God can save us, and when He sends the Holy Spirit to convict us of our sin, we are being drawn to The Lord who saves, through His blood, don’t miss His voice!

“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.”  John 6:44

And:

“All that the Father giveth me 

shall come to me; 

and him that cometh to me 

I will in no wise cast out. 

38 For I came down from heaven, 

not to do mine own will, 

but the will of him that sent me. 

39 And this is the Father’s will 

which hath sent me, 

that of all which he hath given me 

I should lose nothing, 

but should raise it up again at the last day.”  John 6:37-39

This is what Jesus came to do, even as the angel revealed to Joseph at the beginning announcements of the birth of our Savior.

“And she shall bring forth a son, 

and thou shalt call his name JESUS: 

for he shall save his people 

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

And in closing, who or what are you seeking to be like?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely there is a test.  But aside from the test, the blessings that we have IN JESUS are immeasurable!  The blessings of God are beyond measure.  Are you pursuing His blessings, grace and provision, or are you doing your best to be like this hell-bent world.  Please choose wisely, I’m praying for you!  (And please take time to read all of Romans chapter 8—it can bless your soul!) May you join me in praying, Lord, I want to be like you?

“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

To God be the glory—great things HE has done—He is doing—He will do!  Jesus is coming again soon, my prayer is that you will be ready.

Amen and Amen

Woe Unto_____??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #380

28 Thursday Aug 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, Choices And Consequences, Choose Wisely, Christ IN YOU, If not now? When?, In hell it's too late to be a witness?, IN HIS TIME!, Influenced by the world or Jesus?, Inside out or Outside In?, Integrity, Iron Sharpens Iron, Is Small Insignificant?, Isaiah, It's All About The Cross, It's Your Choice, Wait upon the Lord, Well Done Thou good and faithful servant!, What are you listening to?, What do you SEE?, What's coming out of your heart., What's coming out of YOUR mouth?, What's In Your Heart?, What's In Your Mouth?, Who's Listening?, Who's Your Father?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Woe Unto______???              A Word from THE WORD!!! #380

 

“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!”  Isaiah 5:20-23

Isaiah is an amazing book, and here we see God’s message to Isaiah for an errant and wayward people, who like many Americans were so full of themselves that they couldn’t and wouldn’t see God and His way!   The passage above could be on the front page of our own newspapers; the question is, will we listen to the “Woes” that God is warning us with?  The saddest thing to me is that so many who claim the name of Jesus (much like Israel of old) walk, and talk, and behave just like the world which is what God was talking to Isaiah about!

Let’s go on in Isaiah and see his call from God, and his faithful and willing response to a life of preaching to an unresponsive people!  It was God’s call, even though a less than appealing one, that Isaiah responded to in repentance, humility, and willingness; a ministry to a people, mostly unresponsive to God!  Notice that God knew but reached out to them anyway!  How about us. I can’t help but see the parallel to America!  God have mercy on us today!

Let’s look at Isaiah’s call!

“In the year that king Uzziah died

I saw also the Lord

sitting upon a throne,

high and lifted up,

and his train filled the temple.

2 Above it stood the seraphims:

each one had six wings;

with twain he covered his face,

and with twain he covered his feet,

and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said,

Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts:

the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door

moved at the voice of him that cried,

and the house

was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I,

Woe is me!

for I am undone;

because I am a man

of unclean lips,

and I dwell in the midst

of a people of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen the King,

the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me,

having a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken

with the tongs

from off the altar:

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said,

Lo, this hath touched thy lips;

and thine iniquity is taken away,

and thy sin purged.”  Isaiah 6:1-7

I pray that we will understand that truly seeing God/Jesus will either bring repentance or rebellion.  When we see God as God, and bow before Him in repentance and faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary, then and only then will we clearly hear and see.  Who are you listening to?  Have you been converted?

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,

Whom shall I send,

and who will go for us? 

Then said I,

Here am I; send me.

9 And he said,

Go, and tell this people,

Hear ye indeed,

but understand not;

and see ye indeed,

but perceive not.

10 Make the heart of this people fat,

and make their ears heavy,

and shut their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart,

and convert,

and be healed.

11 Then said I,

Lord, how long?

And he answered,

Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant,

and the houses without man,

and the land be utterly desolate,

12 And the LORD have removed men

far away,

and there be a great forsaking

in the midst of the land.”  Isaiah 6:8-12

Just because America hasn’t experienced the outright judgment of God, doesn’t mean that it isn’t coming.  Are we willing to answer as Isaiah did, repent, and go where ever God leads, and speak His truth no matter the cost; or are we just going along to get along?  I pray that we will hear the voice of The Lord and heed His voice, repent and obey.  Our good shepherd is all we need, but we must heed His voice and recognize the lies of the enemy!  Remember why Jesus came!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”           Matthew 1:21

And even Jesus Himself tells us that He is the giver of eternal life!

“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

Jesus told us that when we know God, we will know HIM, and when we know HIM, we will know God!  Do you know the Savior, or have you been misled to ignore the truth and buy the lies?  There is only One right way—His name is Jesus—anything else is the wrong way; and hearing God is to belong to Him by being born again by grace through faith in Jesus substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary.  Whom are you believing—the Lord Jesus or the father of lies.  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father ye will do.

He was a murderer from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

ye believe me not.

46 Which of you convinceth me of sin?

And if I say the truth,

why do ye not believe me?

47 He that is of God heareth God’s words:

ye therefore hear them not,

because ye are not of God.”  John 8:42-47

Please my friends, I pray that you will come to the Savior if you haven’t already; and if you have that you will let Him shine through you!  Don’t let Satan rob you of holiness and truth—he never tells the truth, and his reward is deceit and hell.  Jesus is waiting for you!  I pray that you will hear the voice of The Savior saying welcome home, not “woe”!  Jesus said it also in Matthew—which gate will you enter through?  Will you find destruction or life in Jesus.  It’s your choice.

“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…

….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.” Portions of Matthew 7:13-23

The woe of missing the target is sad to me.  Don’t miss Jesus!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test coming! Isaiah went willingly to a people who didn’t want to hear truth; what is God asking you and me to do?  Remember HE is faithful.

“Let us draw near with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith

without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised😉”. Hebrews 10:22-23

Amen and Amen!!!

When’s Your Appointment??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #363

11 Friday Jul 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Form of godliness?, A heart of faith, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Eyes that see not, Faith or Entertainment?, Judgment, Judgment Is Coming, Just As I Am?, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Reaping & Sowing, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Reflecting HIS glory, Sovereignty, Sowing and Reaping, Trust God, Trusting God, Trusting Jesus, Trusting Jesus?

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

When’s Your Appointment???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #363

“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 9:27

As we look around us at the tragedies going on all over the world, and of late right here at home in the US, it should call us to “consider your ways”! (See Haggai 1:5 & 7). Are we looking to the cross?  Are we blaming God?  Are we questioning God’s sovereign control?  Are we trying to stand in God’s place and judge why these things are happening?  Or are we examining our own heart and life to see if we belong to Jesus; to see if we are pursuing God’s way, God’s Word and God’s Son, Jesus for our salvation by repenting of “my” sin and believing in Jesus’ substitutionary atoning sacrifice to save us!  The sacrifice of the sinless, perfect Lamb of God who came to “taketh away the sin of the world”!  Over and over scripture is replete with the truth of the Gospel—and Jesus is that Gospel, by His blood.  I simply want to spend this time with you, asking you to consider your ways and discern if you are ready to stand before God?  Have you made that life-changing commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Have you made Jesus the king and center of your life, or have you simply gone your own way and tried to tack Jesus on to everything else that you want to have in your life?

It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test?  The test of real faith is found in scripture; not a church roll, not religion, not baptism, not in good works!  I pray that you will join me today as we peruse scripture for truth.

“Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?”  2 Corinthians 13:5

Scripture tells us why Jesus came!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

And the Apostle John records these things for us.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 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 1:10-13

Jesus himself, spoke truth to Nicodemus, a religious leader who like many today, had no clue of the truth of the Gospel!

“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…

…. 5 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.”  Portions of John 3:3-7

Jesus made it clear that we only come to Him by the work of God’s Holy Spirit to convict and draw us to the cross.

“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.”  John 6:44

Have you heard the voice of God calling you?  Have you put off responding to God’s call?  Have you ignored or rejected the call of God, because you wanted to do it your way and not God’s?  Are you counting on your way to lead you to heaven?  When we hear the call of God and respond by faith in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for “my sin”, we can be born again into the kingdom of God, and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Can we really do that?  Scripture says we must—it’s the proof that we belong to Jesus; it’s not your name on a church roll, good works, or any other work apart from the completed work of Jesus on the cross; and the indwelling Holy Spirit is the evidence of our spiritual parentage.

“So then they that are in the flesh

cannot please God.

9 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 8:8-9

God said it through the Apostle Paul, I didn’t!  Just speaking truth!  What will you do with it.  And a reminder that there is a day coming when we will stand and be judged for our choices—for God or against Him.  Some of the scriptures most impactful passages state this clearly.  You decide—it is your choice!  But choose wisely, remember, there is a test!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 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 2:8-11

We are only able to stand by the blood of the Lamb which, “cleanseth us from all sin” (See 1 John 1:7)!  The Apostle John was also given the truth of these things in the Revelation!  Please take heart, for I pray that you will receive truth from God’s Word, and the convicting power of The Holy Spirit.  To use an old adage, “You can be born once and you will die twice, or you can be born twice and die only once!”

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged

every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:11-15

Why?  Because we either believe in Jesus and accept the gift of HIS righteousness, or we go about to establish our own righteousness!  In other words you can pay for your own sin, but the price for that is Hell!

“For all have sinned,

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

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“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 5:21

Jesus paid it all!  Are you trusting in His sacrifice for you?  Or are you going your own way?  You have an appointment coming?  Will you be prepared?  I pray that you will come to Jesus while there is time, when you hear the voice of the Master!  It’s all about Jesus and what you do with Him!  Ready or not, here He comes!!!

“This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

Amen and Amen!!!

Jesus, The Add On??? Really??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #343

24 Thursday 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, Compromise, Confessing Sin, Confidence or Presumption?, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Cross, Crucified With Christ, Daniel Prayed--Do You?, Daniel Prayed--Will You?, Daniel's choices, Daniel's Prayer, Deceit or Discernment?, Faith or Entertainment?, Faithful Follower, Faithful God--Faithful me!, Faithfulness, No man can serve two masters!, No Sin No Need?, SIN, Sin IS the issue

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

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

Jesus, The Add On???  Really??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #343

 

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought

of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12 

Jesus is the only way of salvation—the only way to heaven—the only way to be God’s child—the only way to have new life, hope, joy and peace “that passeth all understanding”!  But we are living in a culture where even the church seems to be ready to abandon the truth of the Gospel, and keep adding things, activities, exercises that are attempting to fill the void in mankind; when only Jesus can and will fill that void.  As it’s often been said, we have a “God-sized hole/void”, and only God can fill that void!  But it seems that we are surely trying to fill it with anything that makes no call of repentance and faith in Jesus’ sacrifice for sin—His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice. The angel told Joseph that the issue was sin; not diet, exercise, meditation, or even fellowship and “love”!  Oh, the things that we are excusing and even promoting that violate God’s Word, but we call it “love” and press on, instead of seeking God’s “approval”!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”   Matthew 1:21

It’s God’s plan not man’s, yet we keep on trying to make it more palatable, that which even Jesus said would repel people.  Why do we think they killed Him and most of the prophets and preachers throughout scripture.

“If the world hate you,

ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not of the world,

but I have chosen you out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

 The servant is not greater than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not

him that sent me.”  John 15:18-21

It’s part of the message that Jesus gave to Nicodemus, but we conveniently leave off part of “God so loved”!  And God does love, but Father God and Jesus Christ the Son are “the same yesterday, and to day and forever…”! (See Hebrews 13:8). Will we preach Jesus—the only way?  What are we tacking on to Jesus!  Yes, Jesus loves me and you, yet He also makes it clear over and over again that you must choose between the straight road or the broad one—God’s way or the world’s, and the consequences will follow your choice.  (see Matthew 7:13-28)

“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 3:16-21

So, how do we choose right?  We must seek Jesus and His cross!  Dying to self and giving our life to Jesus, and seeking His will, His way, His truth, and reflecting His life before a lost and dying world by speaking “the truth in love”!  But never change His truth to try and attract a crowd!  It will never work, because it isn’t what He called us to do or to share.  We must share His truth His way.  Paul gives us great advise as He shared with his son-in-the-ministry, Timothy—dig into God’s Word not the world’s!  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Study to shew thyself approved

unto God,

a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word of truth.”   2 Timothy 2:15

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable

for doctrine,

for reproof,

for correction,

for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect,

thoroughly furnished

unto all good works.”  2 Timothy 3:15-16

May we be found faithful to God’s Word!  May we learn to measure by HIS WORD not popular opinion, trends, fads, or what is the top thing on social media!  It’s so easy to buy into the cutesy, tear-jerking stories and form opinions that are 180 degrees away from what God has said.  But so many go on feeling rather than the facts and truth of The Word of God!  I know I harp on that, but oh, my friends, we must wake up, repent, and turn from our own wisdom to pursue God’s!  I’d like to close with an amazing passage from Daniel—a young man probably still in his teens, but a young man who knew his God—one who had made up his mind to serve God not man!  This passage is Daniel’s prayer of praise to God for answered prayer.  Who is your God? (See Daniel 1:8)

“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

I would encourage you to read through the book of Daniel, even just the first 6 chapters and you’ll find a young man, and his friends, who were committed to their God, to His ways and they always stood firm and never took credit for what God did; even to such a degree that others saw in them the character of God.  But don’t miss the lesson that we must, I say must, learn, and that is when we go God’s way, we will face opposition, hatred, jealousy and we must be like Daniel and his friends and press on faithfully.  Paul reminds us of just that, and I’ll leave you with these thoughts to ponder.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind,

and reaching forthunto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize

of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14.

Amen and Amen!!!