HEBREWS 12:5
"Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? My child do not make light of THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE, and do not give up when He corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child."
Why do good parents teach, instruct and discipline their children? When you were disciplined by your parents, did you interpret their correction as hatred or a lack of love? We do not stop loving our parents when we are disciplined, for the punishment was meant to save us from harm or even save our lives. In fact some forms of discipline are really an act of encouragement and love and prove the acceptance of responsibility of the parent, in this case God. As a believer you are a child of God and you must remember the Lord disciplines the ones He loves, so do not give up when He corrects you.
We should not forget the divine Word of appeal and encouragement wherein God reasons with us and addresses us as His children. Do not act with scorn or fail to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord. Do not give up or lose courage when you are reproved or corrected by Him. Remember the Lord corrects and disciplines every one whom He loves.
Just as the Lord accepts everyone who opens the door to their heart, and welcomes them into His heart, he also accepts the role of a parent or Father. He scourges or punishes every child who deserves it, just as any good parent would do. Discipline is Love. Lack of discipline is a lack of love and an admission of not caring. If you have been accepted as a child of the Lord, and you know that He loves you, then do not make light of His discipline and love when you are corrected or punished. We should invite and encourage THE LORD'S DISCIPLINE!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
TRUE WISDOM
PSALM 111:10
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of TRUE WISDOM. All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom."
Have you ever been amazed by the amount of knowledge a contestant on a quiz show has? The $64,000 dollar question always requires knowledge to give the right answer. Do you think that because someone answers that question that they are wise? True wisdom is quite another thing from accumulated knowledge. If someone has a number of degrees from colleges or universities do we conclude that they are also wise? When you hear politicians or leaders of the country argue and pontificate, do we conclude they are wise? We can not be fooled by worldly knowledge for if these teachers and leaders were truly wise they would have ended disease, stopped wars, and brought peace to the world. They have not and they will not!
There is only one foundation and one cornerstone for true wisdom and that belongs to the Lord!The reverent fear and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ is the beginning of true wisdom. What is it that is the prerequisite or first essential element that must proceed everything? The fear, knowledge, and love of the Lord must be the first thing in our lives. How do we know if we fear the Lord. We follow His laws, commandments and precepts. We have a good understanding of His Word. We do His will.
Before you believe a political leader, professor, or anyone who wants to be an authority over you, ask yourself one question. Do they fear the Lord God? Do they know that God is the foundation of all true wisdom? Do they obey His commandments and laws? If they have no fear of the Lord they do not even have the beginning of true wisdom. If they do not know God's Word they do not even have the foundation for understanding. Do not be fooled, a truly wise person fears the Lord and their praise of Him will endure forever. That is what we call TRUE WISDOM!
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of TRUE WISDOM. All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom."
Have you ever been amazed by the amount of knowledge a contestant on a quiz show has? The $64,000 dollar question always requires knowledge to give the right answer. Do you think that because someone answers that question that they are wise? True wisdom is quite another thing from accumulated knowledge. If someone has a number of degrees from colleges or universities do we conclude that they are also wise? When you hear politicians or leaders of the country argue and pontificate, do we conclude they are wise? We can not be fooled by worldly knowledge for if these teachers and leaders were truly wise they would have ended disease, stopped wars, and brought peace to the world. They have not and they will not!
There is only one foundation and one cornerstone for true wisdom and that belongs to the Lord!The reverent fear and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ is the beginning of true wisdom. What is it that is the prerequisite or first essential element that must proceed everything? The fear, knowledge, and love of the Lord must be the first thing in our lives. How do we know if we fear the Lord. We follow His laws, commandments and precepts. We have a good understanding of His Word. We do His will.
Before you believe a political leader, professor, or anyone who wants to be an authority over you, ask yourself one question. Do they fear the Lord God? Do they know that God is the foundation of all true wisdom? Do they obey His commandments and laws? If they have no fear of the Lord they do not even have the beginning of true wisdom. If they do not know God's Word they do not even have the foundation for understanding. Do not be fooled, a truly wise person fears the Lord and their praise of Him will endure forever. That is what we call TRUE WISDOM!
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
WHAT IS FAITH?
HEBREWS 11:1
"Faith is confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can not see."
Do you only believe the things that are subject to your five senses? Faith is believing and perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to your senses. Do you have confidence in what will actually happen to you in your eternal future? Do you really believe in Heaven? As a child of Christ you hold the deed to your heavenly home, but you have not taken possession yet. Is the Word of God for your life and His assurance enough to give you full confidence? Some fault Christians for looking for pie in the sky. They can not relate to the promise we have faith in and know will happen.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is the assurance that leads to our convictions about God and His promises. We are certain of what we do not see and sure of our future because God said it and He is Truth. Even though some promises have not been revealed to our senses, we perceive them as fact, because of who made the promise.
Based on your past experience do you believe the sun will rise in the morning and set in the evening? The evidence is not based on your senses but instead on your believe and faith that what has occurred in the past will be repeated in the future. We all have to accept as reality what in fact is fragile and uncertain. WHAT IS FAITH? FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD AND HIS WORD.
"Faith is confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can not see."
Do you only believe the things that are subject to your five senses? Faith is believing and perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to your senses. Do you have confidence in what will actually happen to you in your eternal future? Do you really believe in Heaven? As a child of Christ you hold the deed to your heavenly home, but you have not taken possession yet. Is the Word of God for your life and His assurance enough to give you full confidence? Some fault Christians for looking for pie in the sky. They can not relate to the promise we have faith in and know will happen.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is the assurance that leads to our convictions about God and His promises. We are certain of what we do not see and sure of our future because God said it and He is Truth. Even though some promises have not been revealed to our senses, we perceive them as fact, because of who made the promise.
Based on your past experience do you believe the sun will rise in the morning and set in the evening? The evidence is not based on your senses but instead on your believe and faith that what has occurred in the past will be repeated in the future. We all have to accept as reality what in fact is fragile and uncertain. WHAT IS FAITH? FAITH IS TRUSTING GOD AND HIS WORD.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
LETS GET TOGETHER
HEBREWS 10:25
"Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of Jesus return is drawing near."
Do you believe you do not have to go to church or gather together with other Christians to be a "true believer"? Is it possible to be a secret Christian? Jesus died for us publicly and He expects us to publicly profess our love for Him. There have been circumstances when your security and life may be at stake to be a Christian, but in most circumstances the Lord tells us it is best to meet or assemble until His return.
We are told not to forsake one another or neglect the gathering together of believers. So if you avoid church and have a convenient excuse, you are doing so in the face of His admonition. There is great peace to be found in the presence of other believers. They hold us accountable to the Word and the Law of the Lord. Singing alone is not as pleasant as joining in with the choir of worshipers. No man is an island unto himself and there is safety and security in joining with those who have the same morals and principals. Remember the return of the Lord is near.
The outside world is becoming more evil and dangerous every day. There is still peace to be found in the sanctuary of the Lord, in His house. To make good decisions requires many good counselors who are of like belief and thought. If you withdraw into seclusion you will be lonely and find it a depressing place. Instead maintain the joy of your first Love and meet with other believers. LETS GET TOGETHER!
"Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of Jesus return is drawing near."
Do you believe you do not have to go to church or gather together with other Christians to be a "true believer"? Is it possible to be a secret Christian? Jesus died for us publicly and He expects us to publicly profess our love for Him. There have been circumstances when your security and life may be at stake to be a Christian, but in most circumstances the Lord tells us it is best to meet or assemble until His return.
We are told not to forsake one another or neglect the gathering together of believers. So if you avoid church and have a convenient excuse, you are doing so in the face of His admonition. There is great peace to be found in the presence of other believers. They hold us accountable to the Word and the Law of the Lord. Singing alone is not as pleasant as joining in with the choir of worshipers. No man is an island unto himself and there is safety and security in joining with those who have the same morals and principals. Remember the return of the Lord is near.
The outside world is becoming more evil and dangerous every day. There is still peace to be found in the sanctuary of the Lord, in His house. To make good decisions requires many good counselors who are of like belief and thought. If you withdraw into seclusion you will be lonely and find it a depressing place. Instead maintain the joy of your first Love and meet with other believers. LETS GET TOGETHER!
Monday, June 2, 2008
NO MORE SACRIFICES
HEBREWS 10:12
"Our high priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand."
Have you ever wondered why the temple in Jerusalem has never been built again? Why have there been no Moses sacrifices since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Why are no animal blood sacrifices made to atone for the sins of the Jews? There is talk of rebuilding the temple and some of the instruments have been prepared, but what about the 2ooo years between the last sacrifice and now? Still no temple, still no sacrifices, how can that be explained?
The old system of sacrifices under the law of Moses was only a shadow or dim preview of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Moses sacrifices had to be repeated yearly and now for 2000 years they have not been done. They never made a perfect cleansing for the sins of those who came to worship. That is why they had to be repeated until the temple was destroyed. Their feeling of guilt never disappeared under Moses system and sacrifices reminded the Jews of their sins year after year. Now came the Good News.
When Jesus Christ came into the world He said to God, "you did not want animal sacrifices or offerings for sin." God was never pleased with them, even though they were required by Moses. God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once and for all time. Jesus offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for all of our sins, and for all time. That is why there are NO MORE SACRIFICES! Sacrifice was finished by the Lord Jesus. He is our Sacrifice!
"Our high priest offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand."
Have you ever wondered why the temple in Jerusalem has never been built again? Why have there been no Moses sacrifices since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Why are no animal blood sacrifices made to atone for the sins of the Jews? There is talk of rebuilding the temple and some of the instruments have been prepared, but what about the 2ooo years between the last sacrifice and now? Still no temple, still no sacrifices, how can that be explained?
The old system of sacrifices under the law of Moses was only a shadow or dim preview of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Moses sacrifices had to be repeated yearly and now for 2000 years they have not been done. They never made a perfect cleansing for the sins of those who came to worship. That is why they had to be repeated until the temple was destroyed. Their feeling of guilt never disappeared under Moses system and sacrifices reminded the Jews of their sins year after year. Now came the Good News.
When Jesus Christ came into the world He said to God, "you did not want animal sacrifices or offerings for sin." God was never pleased with them, even though they were required by Moses. God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once and for all time. Jesus offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for all of our sins, and for all time. That is why there are NO MORE SACRIFICES! Sacrifice was finished by the Lord Jesus. He is our Sacrifice!
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