Reach Them Today??? Really!!! A Word from THE WORD!!! #342

I want us to consider time today—no pun intended—but I do pray that we will realize that we are called to live “today”; we’re not to be consumed with yesterdays over which we have no control, or even overly concerned about tomorrow!  I have a prayer that I wrote several years ago that I try to pray every day—I have it taped to my bathroom mirror (you can do the same) and it helps me remember who is in charge today—and the next today!

       Father—

              Your will for today IS mine—

              Your pleasure for today IS mine—

              Your work for today IS mine—

                      Tomorrow is yours alone to reveal—

                      Yesterday is ours alone—

                             Mine– to release to You–                       

                             Yours– to weave into the image of

Jesus Christ my Lord! 

              Amen and Amen!!!

Jesus reminded us of the importance of praying in the right mindset, and the first few lines of His model prayer tell it all.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day… ”                             Portions of Matthew 6:9-11a

Today is a gift from God and we are to pursue HIS will and HIS way, and for HIS kingdom to come; if I might interject a thought, we can rightly pray Hallowed be thy name to me—by rightly living His ways before a lost and dying world; we can pray Thy Kingdom come in me—by seeking His face through His Word, and walking in obedience to it; we can pray Thy will be done in me today and each today that HE gives us!  My heart grieves that I fail so much and so often, but I keep getting up each time, and Jesus helps me go forward.  You see my friends as we seek God, we can learn to focus on living today not yesterday or tomorrow.

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

 So what will we do with today?  We can choose to pursue Jesus—or something else.  We can choose to pursue a life of holiness, or we can live our own way.  The thing we often forget is that we may not have tomorrow.  Ever consider that even as Jesus told us to pray with today in mind, we can prepare for the future but don’t be so distracted by it that you miss today.  Children grow up way too fast! Life speeds by with no thought of what we are missing.  Don’t wait too long.  There’s an old hymn that haunts me even today, in the sense that we must, I say we must, realize that we may not have a tomorrow; the song was “O Why Not Tonight?”, by Eliza Holmes, and it pleads for the hearer to choose Jesus today. Have you bowed before Jesus in repentance of your sin, and faith/trust/belief in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice.  If not, why not now?   Caskets come in all sizes!  Are you ready to meet Jesus today?

“(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 6:2

Even as God said in Genesis:

“And the LORD said,

My spirit shall not always strive with man,

for that he also is flesh…”. Genesis 6:3a

So what am I saying?  I’m saying that we must use today wisely and be ready to make a difference in this wicked world and walk in righteousness, grace, and peace as well as behave discreetly, wisely, modestly, respectfully, rightly and responsibly!  I pray that my life will never shame my Lord Jesus.  How about you, are you measuring your life by scripture or ‘Hellywood’?

“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 3:14-16

Oh, may we live for Jesus today; may we be found faithful and as Peter said, “ready always to give an answer”!  And remember God isn’t asking us to have all the answers, but to be equipped with His Word to respond to those who ask, “Why do you live that way?”; but most importantly we are to live a life that reflects our Lord not the world, or why would anyone notice unless there’s a difference!  We are supposed to be different.  Remember Noah, he preached about a flood when no one even knew what rain was; he was found faithful to preach truth to those who wouldn’t listen!  May we be called faithful too!

“And spared not the old world,

but saved Noah

the eighth person,

a preacher of righteousness,

bringing in the flood

upon the world of the ungodly;” 2 Peter 2:5

What’s your life preaching today.  What if this was my last “today”?  Oh, Jesus may we be found faithful “today”!  May others see Jesus in me.  Or we can choose to be like those in Noah’s day and Lot’s day!

“And as it was in the days of Noe,

so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

27 They did eat, they drank,

they married wives, they were given in marriage,

until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

and the flood came,

and destroyed them all.

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot;

they did eat, they drank,

they bought, they sold,

they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of

Sodom

it rained fire and brimstone

from heaven,

and destroyed them all.

30 Even thus shall it be in the day

when the Son of man is revealed.”  Luke 17:26-30

What is Jesus saying?  Jesus is telling us clearly that those who lived with no thought of God, no thought that tomorrow held judgement, did nothing to get right with God today!  They lived as if today would never end.  Is your life a reflection of Jesus or the world that is “going to hell in a handbasket”?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely there is an end to today, and a test.

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

but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

 Use your todays wisely.  Judgment is coming.  Will you stand with Jesus today?  He’s coming soon!  Please look up today!  Live so those following you will be drawn to the cross!

Amen and Amen!!!