HAPPY THURSDAY!
Today's scriptures are about being constantly aware of Jesus’ return. The one fact of life is that we will not be here on earth, in the flesh, forever. Just as I wrote yesterday, one of two things will happen, either Jesus will return to receive all believers and take us home, or we will physically die. Nobody knows when either these things will happen, so Jesus urged us to always be watching, waiting soberly and expectantly for our reunion.
Jesus spoke this parable to Peter and some of His other disciples, it’s written: "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Luke 12:35-40 NIV)
Peter went on to ask Jesus if this parable was meant for them (His disciples), or for everyone. Jesus explained, if the Master left certain servants in charge of taking care of the other servants, it’s best for them to be doing that when he returns. Jesus is basically saying if God has appointed you to be a leader on earth He expects you to fulfill those tasks, which was the whole point of giving you authority. If you do so, when He calls you home you’ll be appointed a great leader in Heaven. However, if you’ve been abusing the other servants, and spending most of your time sinning against Him, you will be severely punished. It’s very important for us to take each day and God’s will for our lives seriously, as if Jesus will be here any minute now. We should speak, act, and live pleasing to God at all times, making decisions with our Heavenly Father in mind.
Each day we arise, we’re a step closer to meeting Jesus face to face. When the time comes, will we be “drunk” and unable to focus, or will we be sober waiting eagerly? I’m learning to be aware of my every word and action, because I’ll eventually be judged for it. Not only that, but I’m responsible for the lives of so many others. The things I do, being a “Christian” [or representative of Christ], has the potential to persuade a lost or “younger Spirit” Christian to chose life or death. That’s the awesome burden each person who confessed Christ as Lord and Savior has, so when Jesus tells us to “be dressed and ready for service”, He means that literally and figuratively.
I’m going to leave you with the remainder of that parable, and some sobering information regarding your Faith walk. Life isn’t all about doing whatever, or sinning whenever you want, because you know He’ll forgive you, and you’ll live happily ever after. It’s written: That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:47-48 NIV) I pray that this helps you understand the reality of life as a Servant of Christ. Jesus wants you to live, and enjoy life, but you’re required to do it for the Love of God, in order to expect that same love and gratitude when you get to Heaven. Jesus said those who have been good servants, will be served by Him. Treat Him as you want to be treated, respecting Him enough to try to live righteously; everything has its rewards and consequences.
The first step to getting “dressed and ready” for Christ’s return, is a simple prayer. If you haven’t already, pray to God, confessing that you’re a sinner, and ask for forgiveness with a heart of repentance, then ask Jesus to be Lord of your life. I promise you, He’ll begin a good work in you, to help you get ready. If you have been covered in the blood of Jesus, but are having a hard time getting fully dressed, pray and repent, and serve God with love and thanksgiving. My favorite verse today is: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455351&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Showing posts with label Rapture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rapture. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Daily Devotional Day & Night
HAPPY FRIDAY!
Today's scriptures are about looking forward to Jesus' return. Jesus said: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13). Jesus always taught us to be aware of our righteousness, specifically our conduct, speech, faith, and our ability to help others find their way. He's coming back one day, when we least expect it, so we much be conscious of our demeanor. I compare it to our conduct in church, around our parents, or other respected authority figures. I remember as a young girl I used to swear like a sailor, and it amazed me how it seemed like I couldn’t. I had a filthy mouth when I hung around with friends my age, but if I was around my mother or grandmother, you would never have known such words were in my vocabulary. I know a lot of you did things your parents told you not to do, maybe snuck friends in the house when you they weren't home, thinking you wouldn't get caught. However, there was always the danger of never knowing the time that your mom or dad would be home. If you knew they were coming at a certain time, the house would be clean, and you'd be studying or quiet as a church mouse, and they would never had known that you'd just had a party earlier that day. What we didn't know is that our parents often knew or found out what we were doing all along, so there was nothing that we could really hid from them. As children we acted that way because we didn't know any better, but as we grew into adults, we matured. That's the natural order of things, especially in our Faith walk. When we initially become saved, we're ignorant to the ways and teachings of Christ, so we're not expected to live like we've been saved for years; however we are expected to actively mature. Paul wrote: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Cor. 13:11)
Upon Jesus' return, we'll all be judged accordingly, so it's important to look forward to it. I'll ask you a sobering question, which I want you to think about long and hard about. If Jesus was to appear right now to take you home, do you think you'd be "ready"? My previous Pastor posed this question all the time, "Will Jesus say to 'well done good and faithful servant', or 'depart from me I never knew you'?" These are things that you should think about with every decision that you make. Always ask yourself, "will this be pleasing to God?", because that's what's most important in life. Not so much how successful you are, how much money you have in the bank, or the size house you lived in. No, God will measure your heart, how much you loved Him and loved your neighbors. Did you come to Him for everything, did you obey His commandments to the best of your ability, did you help others in need, and did you spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those are what matters most to God.
With so much temptation in the world it's so hard to “live by the book” everyday and in all things, believe me I know. A friend asked me the other day “do I practice what I preach” and I had to take a long hard look at that. I have to honestly say, to the best of my ability, yes I do. Do I falter, yes, do I miss the mark sometimes, absolutely, but with each day am I better than I was the day before, most definitely, because in most cases I've taken the opportunity to repent for my sins, and learn from them. If you only take but one thing out of today's message I want it to be, "try your best". Listen to your Holy Spirit, and those times when you know what He's telling you to do, but because of your flesh you want to go the other way, try your best to resist the devil, and He will flee from you. It's hard at first, but I promise you, with each victory, it gets easier.
When Jesus returns He'll be looking first for those who have been covered by His blood, then by those who have repented for their sins. First question, have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? Second question, do you have a relationship with God, through Christ? Third and final question, are you ready? My favorite verse today is: And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455345&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
Today's scriptures are about looking forward to Jesus' return. Jesus said: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13). Jesus always taught us to be aware of our righteousness, specifically our conduct, speech, faith, and our ability to help others find their way. He's coming back one day, when we least expect it, so we much be conscious of our demeanor. I compare it to our conduct in church, around our parents, or other respected authority figures. I remember as a young girl I used to swear like a sailor, and it amazed me how it seemed like I couldn’t. I had a filthy mouth when I hung around with friends my age, but if I was around my mother or grandmother, you would never have known such words were in my vocabulary. I know a lot of you did things your parents told you not to do, maybe snuck friends in the house when you they weren't home, thinking you wouldn't get caught. However, there was always the danger of never knowing the time that your mom or dad would be home. If you knew they were coming at a certain time, the house would be clean, and you'd be studying or quiet as a church mouse, and they would never had known that you'd just had a party earlier that day. What we didn't know is that our parents often knew or found out what we were doing all along, so there was nothing that we could really hid from them. As children we acted that way because we didn't know any better, but as we grew into adults, we matured. That's the natural order of things, especially in our Faith walk. When we initially become saved, we're ignorant to the ways and teachings of Christ, so we're not expected to live like we've been saved for years; however we are expected to actively mature. Paul wrote: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Cor. 13:11)
Upon Jesus' return, we'll all be judged accordingly, so it's important to look forward to it. I'll ask you a sobering question, which I want you to think about long and hard about. If Jesus was to appear right now to take you home, do you think you'd be "ready"? My previous Pastor posed this question all the time, "Will Jesus say to 'well done good and faithful servant', or 'depart from me I never knew you'?" These are things that you should think about with every decision that you make. Always ask yourself, "will this be pleasing to God?", because that's what's most important in life. Not so much how successful you are, how much money you have in the bank, or the size house you lived in. No, God will measure your heart, how much you loved Him and loved your neighbors. Did you come to Him for everything, did you obey His commandments to the best of your ability, did you help others in need, and did you spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those are what matters most to God.
With so much temptation in the world it's so hard to “live by the book” everyday and in all things, believe me I know. A friend asked me the other day “do I practice what I preach” and I had to take a long hard look at that. I have to honestly say, to the best of my ability, yes I do. Do I falter, yes, do I miss the mark sometimes, absolutely, but with each day am I better than I was the day before, most definitely, because in most cases I've taken the opportunity to repent for my sins, and learn from them. If you only take but one thing out of today's message I want it to be, "try your best". Listen to your Holy Spirit, and those times when you know what He's telling you to do, but because of your flesh you want to go the other way, try your best to resist the devil, and He will flee from you. It's hard at first, but I promise you, with each victory, it gets easier.
When Jesus returns He'll be looking first for those who have been covered by His blood, then by those who have repented for their sins. First question, have you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? Second question, do you have a relationship with God, through Christ? Third and final question, are you ready? My favorite verse today is: And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. (Isaiah 25:9)
ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455345&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547
I love you!
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