NO PRETENDERS - REAL LOVE!

ROMANS  12: 9-10

"Do not just PRETEND  to love others, REALLY LOVE them.  Hate what is wrong.  Hold fast to that which is good.   Love one another with brotherly affection, honor one another above yourself!"

When you love others, is it sincere or are you just pretending?  Is your love of others, the "real thing"?  Others will know the truth of your affection and it is for certain that God knows your heart.  You can not mock God and if you fake feelings of love and concern that are not genuine or sincere you will not fool God.  Wearing a mask as the hypocrites do and mouthing words or platitudes of love may fool some but eventually the mask comes off.   True love is real love. The way a person loves their children, unconditionally, is a good example.  Our love of God should also be unconditional and it should grow with each passing day.  The more we hold fast to that which is good and love one another with brotherly affection, the more we honor God.

If you are able to love sincerely and hold fast to that which is good, then you will quite naturally hate that which is evil.  You will loathe that which is ungodly and turn in horror from wickedness.  If you are just pretending, and your love for God is not real, everyone will be able to see through it and God will say He never knew you.  Do not just PRETEND to love others, give them REAL LOVE.  God is love and if we are God's children we will be like Him and that will be expressed in genuine Love.  We need to cling to and hold tightly to that which is of God. Do you honor one another with genuine affection and do you take delight in giving preference to others?

As believer's we are to be one big happy family.  We are all brothers and sisters and all children of the Lord.  We should love each other with bold affection.  We should honor one another and make them ahead of ourselves.  Believer's should prefer one another to those who love what is wrong and evil.  Do you build up your family and treat them with honor?  Do you have genuine love for others or are you pretending?  Do you hold tight to the Word of God and your faith and belief in Him?  Do you take delight in honoring one another of God's family?    The Lord is looking for those who love and believe in Him and His Word!  NO PRETENDERS - REAL LOVE!

NO PRETENDERS - NO HYPOCRITES!

HOW IMPOSSIBLE!

ROMANS 11: 33

"Oh how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge!  HOW IMPOSSIBLE   it is for us to understand His decisions and ways."

Here is a task that is doomed to failure from the beginning.  Try to have the mind of God.  Go ahead, try to understand His decisions and ways.  God's ways are so far above our ways that we could never have a chance of emulating His omnipotence.  That is why so many have questions about God's ways and decisions.  Why would a "good God" allow evil to exist in the world? Why does God allow little babies to die and be taken from their parents?  If there is a God, surely He would not allow me or the one I love to suffer!  The One Truth Today has the correct response.   HOW IMPOSSIBLE  it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!  Oh how great are God's riches, wisdom and knowledge!   One thing we know for sure,  the mind of God is beyond our comprehension.  

God's wisdom is unfathomable, unsearchable, and inscrutable.  His ways are mysterious and undiscoverable to our finite human mind.  God's mind is infinite in nature and knows no boundaries.  His ways and methods are beyond our ways.  It is impossible for us to understand God's mind.  Are you stubborn and rebellious enough to even think that you can or should try and have a mind like God.  We will never have the nature of God.  Stop and think, what is it that God wants from us?  He wants us to worship Him and believe in Him and ask Him to dwell with us in our hearts.   He wants us to accept Him and not reject Him and His Word and Laws.  God wants us to come to Him with all of our questions and concerns and then have faith that He will take care of us at all times.  He loves all of us and He knows us by name.  

Love the Lord your God, with all your heart, mind, body and soul.  Seek Him first in everything that you do.  Your desire should be for His kingdom and His righteousness.  Pray to God for all of your needs and worship Him without ceasing.  Acknowledge that God is your God and that you are His child.  We can not give anything to God except our belief and faith in Him, and then our worship.  Remember that our earthly journey is temporary and we are just passing through to and eternal destination.  When we arrive in heaven we will have the answer to every question and we will have eternal bliss.  Then you will be able to know the mind of God. In God We Trust!  Understand God, HOW IMPOSSIBLE!

HOW IMPOSSIBLE!

MOCKERS, BRAWLERS, IDIOTS!

PROVERBS 20: 1

"Wine produces MOCKERS;  alcohol leads to BRAWLS.  Those lead astray by   drink, CAN NOT BE WISE!"

The One Truth Today should be understood by all people, but especially believers'.  Everyone has experienced someone with a drinking problem that has destroyed their life.  There is a question that many ask.  Does all wine drinking produce mockers?  Does all alcohol lead to a brawl?  At what point are people lead astray by drink?  No one can question that if we never use alcohol at all we will be the wiser for it.  Still, did Jesus Christ make fine wine out of water at the wedding?  Did Jesus Christ and His disciples drink wine?  How can we reconcile these two positions?  There is no question that Jesus drank wine, and shared it with others, as we remember the last supper.  By the same reasoning we never see wine used in excess by the Lord and only for special occasions.  The result is clear, Jesus did not prohibit or even avoid the use of wine for certain reasons or occasions.  What is this proverb trying to teach us then?  What is the danger in drinking?

Too much wine produces mockers and brawlers, and idiots.  They lose their inhibitions and exhibit bad behavior that CAN NOT BE WISE!  Strong drink, such as highly concentrated alcohol, even in minor quantities, can be unwise and lead people astray.  Alcohol in other than minor amounts leads to mocking and brawling and stupid behavior.  In that state you are impaired.   So what is the important concept of this proverb?  Those who are lead astray by drinking of any kind, CAN NOT BE WISE.  Becoming a slave to a habit or continuous drinking and in other than nominal amounts, will lead you astray from God and that result is a sin.  We can think of so many examples of those who have become addicted to alcohol that we argue it is better to have never begun drinking in the first place.  Does this apply to everyone?

If we toast a couple at a wedding, does this mean we are mockers, brawlers and idiots?  Be careful what you say, and remember the Lord's first miracle.  Paul suggests that we use some wine for our stomachs sake, and at times, is he wrong?  It would appear that wine in small amounts and for special occasions is acceptable to the Lord.  What then is the problem men face?  Some drink in excess and are lead astray and become separated from God and His Word. The logic becomes, if you never drink you will never be lead astray.  If you are saved from excessive use of alcohol, you should never drink a drop, accept that you abused yourself and that CAN NOT BE WISE.  We need to respect each others view of the Word and not condemn people that do things judicially and within the Law and Commandments of God.  Everyone is responsible for their own choices and they can be good or bad.  The consequences are inevitable and those that abuse become abused.  Many celebrate in moderation and enjoy life and God even more!  Pray that the Lord will make you wise about this One Truth Today!     

HOW YOU WILL BE SAVED!

ROMANS 10: 9

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED!

Has anyone asked you how they can be saved?  Have you had the opportunity to lead someone to the Lord?  It is not a complicated or ritualistic act that requires a special person or intercessor.   What does it mean to be saved?  It means that even though you will inevitably die to this life, you will be saved from the second death and given eternal life by Jesus Christ, if you are Saved by Him.  Everyone should want to avoid eternal death and separation from God.  So how must we be saved?  You must be born again, and this time in the spirit of God.  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, that is HOW YOU WILL BE SAVED!  The fact is that if you do not open the door to your heart to the Lord you will suffer the second death and eternal damnation. 

There are only two choices available to any person.  You alone make that choice and therefore you are responsible for your choice.  There are consequences to your choice.  Jesus Christ said you are either for me or against me.  There are no other choices.  Not making a choice to ask Jesus Christ into your heart is a choice.  By rejecting God, and His Salvation you are disrespecting Him for you have made your choice not to accept His Son or new life!  You will be separated from God, as you wished, for eternity.  Where do you want to spend eternity, heaven of hell?  This is what it means to be saved to every person. 

Everyone should as the question, HOW WILL I BE SAVED?  Listen and learn from the One Truth Today.  If you want to be saved from death and receive eternal life you must acknowledge to God with your lips that Jesus Christ is the Lord of you life.  You have to believe and trust the fact that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead and that He will give you new and eternal life. Every Christian has gone through the same process and that is how they were saved.  This is the message of faith that all believer's have in common.  We believe in our heart and have confessed with our tongues that Jesus Christ is the Lord God.  We have bowed our hearts and bent our knees to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  What about you, what is your choice to date.  Today is the day of Salvation and you know what to do because the Lord has told you HOW YOU WILL BE SAVED!

NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN!

ROMANS 6: 6

"We know that our sinful selves were crucified with Christ, so that sin might lose its power in our lives.  We are NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN!"

We read about slaves in ancient times.  We read about slavery in early America.  We find the concept of slavery to be unnatural and undemocratic.  Did you know that you were a slave at one time?  You were a slave to sin and the devil before you were liberated and saved from sin by Jesus Christ, the Lord God.  It is important for us to realize that all men are born into sin and slavery and that not one of us is able to be freed from its grasp without the intervention of the Lord.  We were slaves to all kinds of sin.  You know your past and you know your sins.  All of us had come short of the glory of God and His Law.  As a slave you were unable to control your body and its use.  Your master of sin told you what to do and when to do it.  Then when you came to Jesus Christ and opened the door to your heart and asked Him in to dwell with you, He broke the chains of bondage and set you free.  God redeemed you from sin!  We are  NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN!

Only the Lord can break the power of sin over our lives.  He overcame sin, by never committing it in the first place, and then being crucified on the cross for our sins.  Jesus took our place on the cross and was punished for all the sins we have committed.  He redeemed us and gave us victory over all sin, and death.  When we believe in Jesus Christ and have faith in Him, He will break the power sin has over you and give you life.  We are Baptized with Jesus and His Holy Spirit, which gives us the power to overcome our sinful nature.  At one time our body was an instrument of sin and was active for evil.  We died to that nature and became righteous when we yoked ourselves with the Lord.  We died to our sins and we were born to a new and eternal life.  Thank God we are NO LONGER SLAVES TO SIN!

Are you still a slave to sin today?  Do you keep repeating the same evil acts day after day? When we are bound in chains we have lost control over our bodies and continue in sin without end.  If you had an experience in which you thought you came to the Lord, and then you continue on in the same sin, day after day, you need to examine what really occurred.  You can not serve two masters at the same time.  If you continue to serve the devil and sin you are not a child of God.  If your life changes and you are no longer a slave to sin and your past, you have died to your evil sinful nature and have become a child of God.  How can anyone who has died to sin keep on committing it repeatedly?  It is easy to conclude by your fruit, whether you are a child of God or not!  Are you living a new righteous life for God?  Are you a different person than the one full of sin?  If not, then you need to pray to Jesus Christ right now to save you from your sin!  If you open the door or your heart and pray for repentance of your sins, Jesus Christ will save you right now!  If your sinful lives are crucified with Jesus Christ, then sin will lose its power over your life and you will NO LONGER BE A SLAVE TO SIN!

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!

ROMANS 8: 28

'We know that God causes ALL THINGS TO WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD, for those who Love God and are called according to His purpose for them."

Many have difficulty understanding the One Truth Today.  When you are sick in bed and feeling terrible you may question how this could be good.  If you had surgery for cancer and are uncertain of your future, you may wonder how God can ask you to see this as a good thing.  If your father or mother, or sister or brother, son or daughter are taken from you, you may question that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.  God specifically said that this is for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.  Perhaps God did not mean "all things", or "everything".  Maybe there are exceptions to this truth.  Maybe God was just wrong.  Think again, God is Truth and His Word is never wrong.  His mind is above our mind and His ways are above our ways.  God sees the end from the beginning, we do not!

We should  be assured that God knows what He is doing and that He is with us even until the end of time.  He is our partner in life and everything is working together for good and fitting into His plan and purpose for our lives.  Remember, this applies to those who "love God and are called according to His purpose for them"!  God has a plan for you and although we may not be able to see the end from the beginning, He does.  Foremost in all of our minds is that if we are Saved by Jesus Christ, the Lord God, then our thoughts and attitudes should be vertical and not horizontal.  That is to say that we are just passing through this life and are here for only a moment.  Our destination is eternal bliss in heaven with the Lord, and there we will be always!

Remember to be absent from our sick or diseased or beaten aged body, is to be present with the Lord.  Nothing is more important or beautiful or desirable to any believer!

God is in control of all things.  When a baby dies, they are taken into His bosom.  It is not a loss it is a win.  When a soldier dies defending his country, they are immediately with the Lord. When bad things happen to "good people", those that are called according to His purpose for them, are taken by the hand and cared for and nurtured by God.  He carries the load and he Saves us from death.  God will never leave us or desert us.  Even though we may not be able to understand all things, you can trust your God who does.   God is never surprised by anything and he knows all about each of us.  If you Love, Trust and have Faith in God then you will also know that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOD, for those who are called according to His purpose for them!  All things, means all things!  Everything, means everything!

WHAT GOD SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IN?

ROMANS 4: 17

"Believe in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing!"

What god do you believe in?  Is it Buddha, Confucius, Mohammad or one of the many other thousands of gods men worship and believe in?  Some believe in and worship the sun, moon and stars.  Some worship animals, such as monkeys and cows.  Many believe they are god or that there is no real god.  If you, or any of the above, can call into existence or create new things out of nothing, such as a universe or even dirt, then you could have a legitimate claim.  Instead, all of the above deal only with what all ready exists and make no claim of creating everything with a Word or command.  Another clue as to whether they are really a god is if they claim to or can bring the dead back to eternal life!  There is no one but the real God who can give life and take it away and then give a rebirth that is eternal.  WHAT GOD SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IN?

Humanism is the most prominent religion of our day.  Man who thinks that he is God and is equal in every way is nothing but a fool!   They believe there are no absolutes, but they will all absolutely die and unless they believe in the real God they will remain dead and separated from the Lord Jesus Christ forever.  Talk about insanity, that would be believing that man can create life or bring the dead back to life.  Man can only work with what is given to him by God.  No man or collection of men can make something out of nothing!  How about a new element or new earth or even dirt!  Only God can promise something that has never occurred and be correct.  Only God has True Life!  There is but one Creator!  WHAT GOD SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IN?

Abraham was made the father of many nations by God the Father of all or us.  Abraham had faith and believed God and that is what was counted as righteousness by the Lord.  Each of us must do the same thing.  We must have faith and believe in Jesus Christ the Lord God!  We must depend on and believe that the Lord will save us from death and give us righteousness and an eternal life.  It is going to be very important which God you believe in because only one can Save you.  Do not be fooled by false gods or false prophets.  God proved that he can give new life and bring the dead back to life with Jesus Christ.  The other false gods has ever made such a declaration or promise.  If your god can not bring you back to life or create something out of nothing, then why would you ever believe in them?  There really is no question as to,   WHAT GOD SHOULD YOU BELIEVE IN!