The Word

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour,” John 12: 25-26, KJV.

As I was drawn out of my sleep this morning, I felt this song in my spirit, Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior. It was again another touch from the Lord that prompted me to praise Him. We need Him at every moment of our lives. When I receive touches like this from God, it reminds me how much God loves me. It reminds me of how much He cares for me. It is a constant reminder of His existence and how much He helps us on our journey, supplying our every need.

Often when we get in the dark pits of life, it’s hard to see the light, but God sends a word to us in some shape or form. We must have ears to hear. When that song came upon me, I wasn’t familiar with all of the words, but I did know the chorus. And then I thought that maybe God wanted me to sing it to Him. So, I found the words a little later and sung it….making a joyful noise as I am not a singer, but remembering again that praise and worship are sung unto God.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him,” Psalm 34:8, KJV. It also speaks volumes as to how much I love the Lord and my need for Him. Life here on Earth is short, but to receive eternal life in Christ gives much hope and satisfaction that it gets even better. And I’m not going to let anyone keep me from receiving my eternal crown of life.

“Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak,” John 12: 44-50, KJV.

Many profess to believe that Christ is an authoritative figure, yet deny His deity. Others believe His deity, yet reject His word. It is clearly stated that Jesus came to save those that are lost, but if He is rejected the word will judge them; for Jesus has not spoken of Himself, but of the Father who sent Him, giving Him a commandment of what to say and what He should speak. So, when we spread the Word of Jesus, we are sharing the Word of God and it is not us, the messengers, who judge, but the very Word itself.

His Will Be Done

It can be a tedious task, more like a burden to carry around things from the past. It’s even more tiresome when they are things in which we have no control over. Sometimes we can be our worst enemy by refusing or putting off those things which we know we should be doing. One thing about God that I find so powerful is that either we’ll do what He tells us to do now or we’ll have to do it later….but we will have to do it. “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it,” Isaiah 55:11, KJV.

Life is meant to be enjoyed, not endured. I understand that many are born with defects and some face extraordinary challenges, yet in everything we must praise the Lord. “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience,” James 1:2-3, KJV. We’ve all heard the catch phrase, “Everything happens for a reason,” and I do believe that is true. What many of us fail to ponder further is what that reasoning is. Many assume that it’s because God wants it to happen or that it’s all God’s doing when we go through trials. But can we take responsibility for our own actions?

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,” James 1:13-17, KJV.

God will not tempt us, although He may allow certain things to happen. “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy,” 1 Peter 4:11-13, KJV.

Yes, there are instances in the Old Testament when God sent plagues onto people, but that was for those practicing in disobedience. So, when we go through we must ask ourselves, “Am I doing what the Lord told me to do?”

Additional Reference: Revelation 2:9-10

As for Me and My House

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;” Joshua 24:14-16, KJV.

The first part of the passage above states, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth….” I’ve come to understand that “fear” in the sense of reverence carries with it a great deal of humbleness, a sacrificial obedience. There may be times when we want to do things our way, but in honoring and respecting the Lord we choose to do things His way. I aim to please and show Him that I love Him so much I deny myself. Let me share something with you…

Last week one morning I was speaking to my husband as we both prepared to read God’s word. As we talked I kept hearing “Apologize.” I thought where is that coming from? I walked into the kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water and there again, I heard, “Apologize.” I made a face to myself and kept talking to my husband soon realizing that we weren’t seeing eye to eye on a matter, but there weren’t any raised voices, but still I heard the Holy Spirit whisper, “Apologize.” I shrugged my shoulders thinking, for what? I waited a few moments for an explanation, but nothing. So reluctantly I said to my husband, “I apologize.” I thought he was going to ask, “For what,” just as I had, but he didn’t. Instead he replied, “Oh that’s okay. I’m all right.” I then thought to myself, I didn’t even do anything to you. I then recognized that I must have said something for him to respond in that matter.

God sees the things we don’t. God understands others feelings even when we turn the blind eye. Even in the little things, I was obedient when I thought I had done no wrong. I understood things one way, but God tells us in His word lean not to your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). He is the possessor of divine wisdom guiding us through things we’re unaware.

As stated above, serve him in sincerity and truth, we must be as honest with Him as we expect Him to be with us. Would we want God to be faithful to us? I know I do. So why not be faithful to Him? “…and put away the gods which your fathers served…” Many of have ancestors that may have been atheists or practiced witchcraft, but we must take note that just because “grandma or grandpa” believed in reading the stars and trusting in zodiac signs does not mean we have to do it as well. Every man will stand accountable for himself. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death,” Revelation 21:8, KJV.

“…And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve…” God gives us the choice to choose. Let us remember that God says, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth,” Revelation 3:15-16, KJV. I cannot speak for another, but my husband and I live by this scripture, “…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” I pray that you will as well.