Jesus Christ

Wisdom’s Dwelling and Counsel

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I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.  By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.  My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:  That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Proverbs 8:12-21

In chapters 8 and 9 wisdom is presented as a person speaking; using the words I and mine.

Notice that wisdom “Dwells with prudence” which means, “with discretion.”  Working behind the scenes working for good in those who have it.

There is one thing for sure the world needs more godly wisdom, because worldly wisdom has caused certain hatred, and a willingness to take lives.  That includes all of those who murder people with whom they disagree,  with their mouth.

How to have the wisdom of God!  First of all one needs to know God, and that is by trusting in the finished work of God’s Son since He died on the cross for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again.  Next, you need to realize that is the wisest thing you ever did – calling on His name.  Then you need to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5-8).

Your life will change, because your heart changes, and what you  love and desire will be replaced by what God loves and desires.  Be wise, open your eyes to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Wisdom In Listening To Godly Parents

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My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.  Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.  Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Say unto wisdom, “Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:”  That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,  And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding…

Proverbs 7:1-7

The Lamp and The Light

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My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.  Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

Proverbs 6:20-25

The commandment of the father,  and the law of the mother are compatible because they are equal in discipline, correction, and instruction.

The words are from a father to his son, and as the word of God is directed from God our heavenly Father to His  sons (children) of the new birth.  Note what the commandment, and the law do for those who will listen, hear and do it.

First it will give you peace when you sleep through the night.  It will talk to you when you are awake.

It does this for us; GOD does this for us to keep us from  evil.  God is full of love, mercy, and grace.  He will deliver  you when you turn from your sins to Him through Jesus Christ who bled and died on the cross, He was buried and He rose again.

The Blessed Love of The Good Wife

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Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.  Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.  Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.  Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.  And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He pondereth all his goings.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Proverbs 5:15-23

I am a man who has been blessed with a good wife.  I know no other woman so loving and kind and has such a heart for serving others.  We have been married for 52  years, and everyone of those years blessed me with love.

I know that is not so in many a man’s life,  and I hurt with you, because I know some men do not know how to treat a   woman.  She should be; your wife that is; treated with awe and respect.  It is amazing what a good wife can do.

I am not saying that everything will always be bliss, and heavenly, because it will not.  There will be hard times.  Work through them together.  If you have the Lord Jesus Christ in your marriage and home, you can overcome any attack against you.

The Chastening of The LORD

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My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the LORD loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
Proverbs 3:11-12

Are you a faithful, Bible reading, Church attending, Holy Spirit living Christian (a follower of Jesus Christ), or are you just a nominal Christian who attends church once, twice, maybe five times a year; when you find it convenient?

If you are one of the faithful ones then let  me tell you something you already know or may not know.  That is, that the LORD chastises His children.  He disciplines His own.  If you are without chastisement, then you are not His child (Hebrews 12:7-8).

Please bear with me.  I am going to share something with you of my personal health.  Several years ago (2011) I had some blocked arteries in my heart, and they put three stents in to open them up.  On November 01, 2013, I was out trimming around the edge of our yard, was having a minor heart attack, and the doctors put more stents in my heart.  I have had a tremor in my right arm and hand for many years and over the years it kept getting worse.  In September of 2023 I went to see a  Neurologist, and she did some test, and told me that I had Parkinson’s Disease.  This has seemed to get progressively worse, affecting my voice and speaking abilities, I have fallen many times.  One of those times was a face plant on a concrete parking lot in Branson,  MO..

Anyway, I see the chastening hand of the LORD in this.  I do not know the purpose of it  yet.   I do know that He is not only Lord of all, He is also my Lord and Savior.  It is good to know that He is still working on me.  Even though it is painful.

I thank the Holy, Holy, Holy Three in One for the grace and mercy they have given to me.

The Way of Deliverance From Evil Men

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When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;  Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;  Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;  Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.  None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.  That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.  For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.  But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Proverbs 2:10-22

Give No Consent To Sin

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My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Proverbs 1:10

These words though they are written by a man to his son, are good words to hear as if from God to His children.

We are to give no consent to sin in our lives. We are to flee temptation, that is our weakest point.

It can only be done with the power of Jesus Christ in us, who is the Holy Spirit.  He will not lead us into sin.  “Be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18.

Have a blessed and safe New Year.  Remember to read  your Bible daily and you will be hearing from God, Jesus who is God the Son.

The Only Man Who Is Without Fault

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Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.  And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they smote Him with their hands.  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, “Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.”  Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, “Behold the Man!”  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” Pilate saith unto them, “Take ye him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.”
John 19:1-6

Jesus is the Son of Man,  the Son of God, God the Son, the Messiah and King of Israel, and He is the Creator, Lord and Savior of all who will call  on His name.

He is the only Man to have no sin, no fault was found in Him.  Yet, He became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Hated By The World

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“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.  He that hateth Me hateth My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father.  But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of Me:  and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.”
John 15:18-27

If God Were Your Father

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Jesus said unto them,
“If God were your Father, ye would love Me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of Myself, but He sent Me.  Why do ye not understand My speech? Even because ye cannot hear My word.  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not. Which of you convincethMe of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?  He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”
John 8:42-47

When the Dead Will Hear the Voice of the Son of God

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“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.  For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself;  and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.  I can of Mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.”
John 5:25-30

The Rejected WORD Of God

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He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John 1:11-14

Unclean No Longer

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And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  And when He saw them, He said unto them,
“Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”
And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said,
“Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”
And He said unto him,
“Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
Luke 17:11-19

The miracles of Jesus were done by Him as evidence and proof of who He is.  According to the prophet Isaiah 61:1-5 He was sent to preach good tidings to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to set captives free, and to set prisoners free,  and to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.  It is at that point where Jesus stopped as He was reading Isaiah 61 in the said in the synagogue in Galilee.

When John the Baptist was in prison, he needed some assurance that  Jesus was indeed the Messiah, so he sent some of his disciples to Jesus and asked Him, “Are You the Messiah (Christ), or do I need to look elsewhere?”  Jesus answered by telling them that they had witnessed the miracle which He did, and that proved true to the Scriptures which teach of the Messiah.

Nine Lepers come to Jesus, they are in rags for clothing, they have a horrid stench about them.  No one wants to be near them, but they call on Jesus for healing, and before  they are healed, Jesus tells them to go perform the word of God’s direction for a healed leper, and as they go they are healed.  One of the men who had been a leper returns to Jesus, and praises and worships Him, and he is a Samaritan; a people group who are despised people to the people of Judah.

Jesus says to this lone former leper,  “Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.”

No matter how unclean, or unworthy you feel about receiving forgiveness Jesus has paid our sin debt.  If you see yourself as an unclean individual, Jesus will hear your cry for salvation.  If you are one who feels unworthy of God’s love, mercy and grace it is for you that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again.

Being A Disciple Of Jesus Christ

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And there went great multitudes with Him: and He turned, and said unto them,
“If any man come to Me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  saying, ‘This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:25-33

Jesus left a place of wealth, glory, and power to come earth to become a lowly human baby.  To then grow into the Man who would give His life a sacrifice to pay our sin debt to God.

Since He did that for us then, we ought to give ourselves to Him, and be His disciple. There is something we must do to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and that is surrender our wills to doing  His will.  Comparing our love for Jesus  Christ to our love for family should seem like hatred for family; we love Jesus so much, we lead our family to the saving grace  of God through faith in Him, and even being willing to die for Christ. Even to the point of watching a child die for the name of Christ because you will not deny or betray Him.

As I read  the text, and what I have written above I  am  writing to myself and asking myself the question;  Is there anything that I love more than Jesus?   Nothing comes to mind.

 

Building Barns

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And He spake a parable unto them, saying,
“The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:  and he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?’  And he said, ‘This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’  But God said unto him, ‘Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee:’ then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21

Barns are built for the purpose of the storage of grain, hay for the cattle that is hauled in out of the field during the summer months, and they can be built as protection for their from the weather for their farm equipment.  Then there are milk barns where the Dairy farmer milks his milk cows.  There is nothing wrong with the building of barns.

Before the above verses Jesus has been asked by a brother of another to talk the other one to divide their inheritance.  Jesus uses the opportunity to teach us of covetousness.  Covetousness is wanting more and more of a thing, and when in receipt if one item desires another, then another; never content, neither do they thank God for the blessing.

The farmer in Jesus’s parable was so caught up in his wealth he had not considered that God was the giver of life, and he takes life.  He was laying up treasure  for his retirement years, thinking that he could have a life of comfort and ease without God.

We cannot continue living without God, and His Son Jesus Christ.  Do you not realize that every breath we breathe, every beat of your heart, and every step we are able to take comes from the Lord.

You can trust God with your when you surrender to do His will and follow Him.  Jesus Christ died on the cross, He was buried, and He rose again the third day so that we might come to God.  Trust Him and call on His name.  He will hear you, and give you eternal life, cleansing you  of every sin.

The Least Among Us

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Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.  And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by Him, and said unto them,
“Whosoever shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me receiveth Him that sent Me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.”
Luke 9:46-48

There were some of the disciples who thought Jesus was going to set  up His kingdom on earth.  In verses preceding our text today, tells us that Jesus had told them once again that He was going to die at the hands of men.  They refused to hear it, not understanding what He was saying.  How could these men miss what Jesus told them several times?

They had preconceived ideas about the Messiah.  The death of Messiah was unthinkable to these men.  Because of the way they believed about Jesus, and thinking Jesus was there to set  up the Messianic kingdom, they were asking where they were going to sit in that kingdom, seeking for greatness.

Jesus takes a young child and sets him by Himself, and explains who the greatest will be.  The child was young, and still trusting, and humble before  God and others  too.  He was not seeking for greatness.

Anyone desiring to be great will be last; and he that is last shall be first.  To be saved from our sins we must humble ourselves before  Christ seeking Him and a cleansed life.  Trust  in the Lord, believe Him.

The Fruit of the Heart

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“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Either how canst thou say to thy brother, ‘Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye,’ when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”
Luke 6:41-45

What is in your heart?  Is there an abundance of evil?  Is there an abundance of good.  If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you still have a propensity toward sin and evil.

When you surrender your heart, soul, mind and body to the Lord Jesus your life desires will change, and you will have an abundance of good fruit.

Your choice.

The First Prophet In Five Hundred Years

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Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”  He answereth and saith unto them, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”  Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, “Master, what shall we do?”  And he said unto them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”  And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said unto them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”   And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;  John answered, saying unto them all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.”  And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
Luke 3:7-18

It had been around 500 years since God’s Spirit had moved among the people of Israel, raising up a prophet to the people. It was not until Gabriel came to Zacharias and told him he was  going to have a son, and his name was John, the forerunner of the Christ, who was coming.

Now when John is a young man and he is in the wilderness wearing camel skin clothing, and eating grasshoppers; and preaching of the One who was on the way.  Jesus, later tells the disciples that the Baptist – as John was called – was the greatest  of the  prophets.

This greatest of the prophets felt himself to be unworthy to even loose the latches of His shoes.

We are blessed people today.  The Christian who has been born again by the work of the Holy Spirit has God living  in them.  We have the Holy Spirit who is Jesus Christ in us.  The Spirit of God in us is like a down payment that will be completed when Jesus comes again.

God, our Father cares for us daily, and never forsakes us.  The only hope for a wicked world is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  begin a personal relationship with  Him today, by calling on His name, the name of Jesus.

The Needles Eye and Salvation

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And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples
“How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!”
And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them,
“Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!                            
And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”   And Jesus looking upon them saith,
“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:23-27

Jesus has just spoken with a young man of  great wealth.  He has asked Jesus how that he might inherit eternal life.  Jesus basically tells him that he must obey the Ten Commandments.  When he said that he had been obedient since youth Jesus told him to  go and sell all that he had.  That was too much and he went away.

By his leaving as he did shows us that his heart was away from God so he had not been obedient to the first four of the Ten.  His heart was on His wealth.

Jesus then teaching His disciples that it is hard for the rich to get into heaven, then they ask Him, “Who then can be saved?”

What is that “Needles eye”?  A camel and a needle?  A camel passing through a needle’s eye?  I have known some who say that there is a small gate in the walls of Jerusalem called the Needles Eye Gate, and they say that for someone take a laden camel through that gate they needed to unload all their packs, for the camel to get through.   There are also some who believe that The Needles Eye is exactly that and shows us that we cannot save ourselves, by unloading our sins, but solely by the power of God and His grace.  Jesus said,  “Come unto Me all of you who are burdened, and heavy laden and I will give you rest’

With God nothing is impossible; even getting a camel through the eye of  a needle; and especially a rich man to receive eternal life through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  He died, He was buried, and He rose again.

The First Shall Be Last

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And He came to Capernaum: and being in the house He asked them,
“What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?”
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.  And He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
“If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them,
“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me: and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but him that sent Me.”
Mark 9:33-37

More Tolerable…

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And He said unto them,
“In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Mark 6:10-11

Just before sending out His followers to preach the gospel of the kingdom, and heal sicknesses, cause the crippled one to walk, heal lepers He gives them these final words.

In those days if you stayed as a guest the host would wash your feet if you were welcomed in.  If they did not wash your feet that meant you were not welcome there.

So when one of His disciples came to such a home, or city, and their feet were not washed, they were to shake the dust off their feet as they were leaving that city.  That means if they gave no respect to disciples whom the Messiah had sent out, they had no respect or reverence for Him.

Jesus says that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and  Gomorrha than for that city which had rejected them.  Because such a city that refused to hear, refused hospitality to His own, rejects Him.  Sodom and Gomorrha had no witness of God’s love, grace, and mercy.  Judgment awaits any nation, province, island, and/or any government that refuses to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

If the people of the United States of America do not turn from their sins  to Jesus Christ our nation is headed for judgment, even more than we are seeing now.

The word we need to heed is, REPENT.  Turn from your sin to Jesus, the One who gave His life to pay our sin debt by dying on the cross, and was buried, and three days later He rose again, and He lives forever more.

Seeking To Destroy Him

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And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.  And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse Him.  And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand,
“Stand forth.”
And He saith unto them,
“Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?”
But they held their peace.  And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man,
“Stretch forth thine hand.”
And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.
Mark 3:1-6

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were keeping their eyes on Jesus, just waiting like a hungry lion to pounce on their prey, and devour Him.  Jesus was going about ministering to the people – preaching and teaching of the kingdom of heaven, healing the sick, the lame walked, and the dead were raised to life again.

The world has not changed much.  The enemy is out to destroy Jesus and all those who love Him.  Millions of dollars maybe billions is spent on decorating for remembering the birth of Jesus, and for giving gifts to one another.

Christmas is a fun time for most children, and some adults, and it should be; I know it is with my wife and I, and the rest of our family.  Yet, there are others who are hurting, because they have lost a loved one to death; or they have lost a job and are currently unemployed; and maybe sickness in the family that takes the joy from their heart and life.

No matter what your situation is in life there is someone who cares about you and the circumstances of your life.  He loves you.  You can have joy again by trusting in Jesus who is the Christ of God, or you can choose to be one of those who are seeking to destroy Christ and all who follow Him.  If you choose not to follow Him then you have chosen the other, and you are God’s enemy and in desperate trouble.

Choose to follow Jesus who died on the cross for you; He was buried, and He rose again.

It Was Not A Little Baby Who Died On The Cross

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And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders, said,  “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”  The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Matthew 27:39-44

At this time of year all Christendom remembers the birth of a baby boy.  He was certainly a very special little boy.  This baby boy came with one intention, and that was to glorify His Father, through obedience and going to the cross to die for our sins,

It is seen in Luke chapter two that the religious leaders respected His wisdom for that age of twelve years, and He was teaching them (Luke 2:31-52).  The young Man Jesus was respected, but when Jesus grew to His fullness the religious leaders grew in hatred of Him.  Jesus was exposing their sin, hypocrisy, and greed, and there lust for power over the people.

The above verses show us how He was treated for being who He said that He is.  They reviled Him in blasphemy, and mockery, and saying things like, “He saved others, but cannot save Himself.”  They also said, “If You are the Son of God, deliver Yourself.

Jesus came and gave His life for the sins of Adam kind.  That Baby in the manger followed His Father’s pathway walking with Him wherever He walked doing all that the Father did.  Even going to His death  on the cross for the remission of our sins.  He was buried, and He rose again, and is alive forever more.  Since He has been raised we will be raised  up from the  grave also; because He lives.

It was not a little baby who died on that  cross; it was the full grown Son  of Man the Son of God who died.  Believe Him.

Why There Is So Much Hatred In This World Today

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“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Matthew 24:9-12

Many choose to follow their own path, do their own thing, believe in their own god, and think everybody else ought to do the same thing.  Be tolerant to my own faith, and if you believe different, then we will get along fine; as long as you don’t  mention that there is only one God.

When someone comes along and is bold enough, courageous enough, full of the Spirit of the one true God, and with the love of God in their heart, confronts such a society, and due to lack of true toleration, are filled with hatred for the individual who has been so strong in faith.

Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold.  It is due to the growing of sin, the iniquity of unbelieving, rebellious hearts.

Do not let your heart grow cold in unbelief.  Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Call on His name today.

How Many Times Shall I Forgive?

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Then came Peter to Him, and said, “Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?”  Jesus saith unto him,
“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.   Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’   Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me that thou owest.’  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.’  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.   So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.   Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?’  And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.  So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
Matthew 18:21-35