Tags
Faithful servant, Faithful service, Faithful Today, Hebrews 12:1-3, Hebrews 3:12-19, Jesus Is Coming!, Job 10:25, John 4:34-35, John 9:4-5, Living for Today, Matthew 5:13-16, My Redeemer Lives, Praise God Today!, Today is the day of Salvation
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 09 Today IS What We Have!!!
“Take heed, brethren,
lest there be in any of you
an evil heart
of unbelief,
in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily,
while it is called To day;
lest any of you be hardened
through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ,
if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end;
15 While it is said,
To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts,
as in the provocation…
…19 So we see that they could not enter in
because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:12-15, 19
I have heard it told of Martin Luther, that when asked what he would do “if he knew the Lord would come tomorrow?”; he replied, “I’d plant another tree!” What did he mean? I think that he meant that he would live faithfully today and tomorrow, and the next day in anticipation of his Lord’s return. And that is how each of us ought to live; for today is all we have! As I ponder the realities of life and death, I am brought to treasure the fact that we only have this day, this moment, this present hour, and we have to live it now. We can’t put things off until tomorrow…or live in the yesterdays that failed, disappointed, or shattered our hearts, minds and lives. Jesus has given us today—and we only have today to receive HIM! We only have today to love HIM! We only have today to serve HIM! We also only have today to touch, treasure, enjoy and make a difference in the lives around us.
The author of Hebrews reminds us that we have the choice to receive and believe Jesus, as we respond in faith and obedience to His voice speaking to our hearts; or we can let the enemy of our souls deceive, distract and destroy our life! Jesus reminds us that HE came that we might have life—and do God’s work–today!
“I must work the works of him
that sent me,
while it is day:
the night cometh,
when no man can work.
5 As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5
“Jesus saith unto them,
My meat is to do the will of him
that sent me,
and to finish his work.
35 Say not ye,
There are yet four months,
and then cometh harvest?
behold,
I say unto you,
Lift up your eyes,
and look on the fields;
for they are white already
to harvest.” John 4:34-35
And what work has Jesus called you to? He has called you and I to run “the race” that He has set before us! God isn’t asking you to run my race! Nor is He calling me to run yours! HE sets our own race before each of us—our job is to run it today, and each today that sets before us! We are called to be salt and light as we run our race today! Whose life have you and I failed to season or brighten, simply because we missed our opportunity; often by looking back on yesterday or waiting for tomorrow (or dreading it and what it “might hold” for us or those that we love)?
“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 5:13-16
Are we willing to follow Jesus today, so that HE might accomplish His work in us, through us, and bless others? Will we run in our lane by His grace, power and love? It’s your call, what will you choose? Don’t faint; but “stand fast” in this evil day!
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
and let us run with patience
the race
that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus
the author
and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down
at the right hand
of the throne of God.
3 For consider him
that endured such contradiction of sinners
against himself,
lest ye be wearied
and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3
Will you join me and proclaim, like Job, that we will live for HIM today because we know “HE” lives and will return soon, and we will be with HIM, when we have been born of God. So, let us “faint” not and press on!
“For I know that my redeemer liveth,
and that he shall stand
at the latter day
upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms
destroy this body,
yet in my flesh
shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
and mine eyes shall behold,
and not another;
though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25
May we truly live today for our God—today–and each “today” that He sets before us.
HAmen and Amen!!!