Friday, September 27, 2019
The Opened Eyes
When God has opened the eyes of those who wish to know His truth, those eyes can never be closed again.
Luke 24:30-32 "…30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus— and He disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”…"
There are many people who have chosen to follow a religion but their eyes remain blinded. They follow rules, they follow rituals but it is men they follow and not Christ.
Psalm 118:8
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."
Jeremiah 17:5
"Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord."
Psalm 118:8-9
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Those who trust their preachers, their husband, their wife and even others will remain blind until they trust in Christ alone.
John 15:4
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
In these last days of apostasy and spiritual rebellion there will be more people who are wrong than who are right. When we find those who love the Lord with all their heart they will be treasures to cherish. These are the people who will encourage us to keep on trusting in Christ.
Matthew 7:14
"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"
Luke 24:30-32 "…30 While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus— and He disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”…"
There are many people who have chosen to follow a religion but their eyes remain blinded. They follow rules, they follow rituals but it is men they follow and not Christ.
Psalm 118:8
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."
Jeremiah 17:5
"Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord."
Psalm 118:8-9
"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."
Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Those who trust their preachers, their husband, their wife and even others will remain blind until they trust in Christ alone.
John 15:4
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me."
In these last days of apostasy and spiritual rebellion there will be more people who are wrong than who are right. When we find those who love the Lord with all their heart they will be treasures to cherish. These are the people who will encourage us to keep on trusting in Christ.
Matthew 7:14
"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,"
Thursday, September 26, 2019
If All You Have is Words You Have Nothing
Words seem to be enough in our culture, actions are not very important as long as they impress someone momentarily.
It has been a long time since I have been impressed by words. I have seen far too many people proclaiming themselves as good people while living lives that demonstrate the opposite.
Proverbs 27:2 " 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips."
We live in a culture that thinks its good to say; "I'm a good person", but little do these people realize that someone who has good character does not have to speak it, their life will be the evidence.
Matthew 5:16
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
If our lives truly are good and godly then it will be Christ Who is glorified and not ourselves.
Romans 13:13
"Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy."
God is no impressed with our own proclamations of our goodness, rather He condemns it.
Philippians 2:1-30
"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ..."
If we are in love with Jesus Christ it will be evident that we obey the first two most important commandments given by Christ.
Matthew 22:36-40
"36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
It has been a long time since I have been impressed by words. I have seen far too many people proclaiming themselves as good people while living lives that demonstrate the opposite.
Proverbs 27:2 " 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips."
We live in a culture that thinks its good to say; "I'm a good person", but little do these people realize that someone who has good character does not have to speak it, their life will be the evidence.
Matthew 5:16
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
If our lives truly are good and godly then it will be Christ Who is glorified and not ourselves.
Romans 13:13
"Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy."
God is no impressed with our own proclamations of our goodness, rather He condemns it.
Philippians 2:1-30
"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ..."
If we are in love with Jesus Christ it will be evident that we obey the first two most important commandments given by Christ.
Matthew 22:36-40
"36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Turning our Cheek
Matthew 5:38-39
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
In this passage God was not endorsing the allowance for personal abuse from others. He was merely telling us not to take revenge on those who abuse us.
If someone continues in abusive behavior we have the right and permission to remove ourselves from these people.
There is no scripture that commands us to remain with abusive unrepentant individuals.
1 Corinthians 5:13 "13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Proverbs 14:6-8 "…6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.…"
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also."
In this passage God was not endorsing the allowance for personal abuse from others. He was merely telling us not to take revenge on those who abuse us.
If someone continues in abusive behavior we have the right and permission to remove ourselves from these people.
There is no scripture that commands us to remain with abusive unrepentant individuals.
1 Corinthians 5:13 "13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
Proverbs 14:6-8 "…6 A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. 7 Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech. 8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools deceives them.…"
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