Friend?

Saw an old friend today at McDonalds.  When she saw me coming she got up from her table and walked across the room to avoid me.  This hurt deeply, but it got me to thinking about something we Christians should consider.

Too much "loose" judgement going on inside the Body of Christ.  Damaging words are spoken without thinking and above all, people are wanting to hear the juicy past of a person.  What should we do when confronted with someone who treats you like this?  Is she saved?  Yes, she is.  So, what's the problem?  She has something against me and I know not what it is!  If she will not come to me then I must go to her and try my best to resolve the problem.  If we have something against a brother or sister we should examine this:

New International Version (NIV)

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."

Boast?

Heard a prosperity preacher on television boast that he always sets his car to cruise at five or ten miles above the speed limit!  He said he did that because he knew he could get by with it.  This is teaching disobedience, is it not?

Had to go to court today for getting a speeding ticket.  I have been driving forty-five years and this was my second citation.  The judge was very kind and I paid my fine for being careless.  As I sat there waiting for them to call my name, only one thought was on my mind.  There is coming a jugement day and if we are nervous with an earthly judge, what shall we do when we stand before the Judge of all creation?

I listened to the conversations of those around me and it was filled with bar stories and jokes about policemen.  If we neglect so great a salvation, what will we say before the Judge of heaven and hell?  We will not joke on that day, but rather we will say Amen to the judgement handed down to us!

Let us, who know salvation,  think on things eternal...2 Corinthians 4:18    

Tongues

C.M.Ward believed that you must speak in tongues in order to get into heaven.  He had a huge following.  Sad, isn't it!  Do all Pentecostals think this way?  No, I don't think so, but if you are pondering the thought of enrolling your teen in a Pentecostal college you might consider digging into their doctrine.  You do not want your teen being taught that speaking in tongues is a requirement to enter heaven!

There are so many doctrines of deception, it is of the utmost importance to know what people believe; the very essence of your salvation depends on it!  False teachers are rising in abundance and the want to go to heaven must be saturated with TRUTH!

  For 25 years, C. M. Ward-the radio evangelist-was the "voice" of Revivaltime, a program broadcast on ABC Radio that was heard "across the nation and around the world." That voice of C. M.'s became instantly recognizable by the multiple thousands of individuals who would tune in each week to hear a visionary voice like none other.

No Clue

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God"...I Cor. 1:18.  

I took a journey through time back to the past through my photo albums today.  With our wedding anniversary coming up in about a week, I looked at that young girl and saw someone who had no clue what salvation was, even though I had been going to church for two years!  I didn't know who Jesus was!  As these thoughts began to puzzle my mind, is it really possible to sit in Church every Sunday and not know what salvation is?  Definitely!

Being born again is not a decision we make!  That might be a really hard saying for some of you, but it is the truth!  So many people hear the Gospel and still have no clue as to the meaning of salvation.  Some see it as going to Church until they die or even being zealous for doing good deeds.  If you know salvation then give a shout unto the Lord for He has given you the eyes to see it!  Praise the Lord for He has chosen you before the foundation of the world was laid...Ephesians 1:4-5.  Shout and give thanks to your God!

Clean House

Jesus asked a most provocative question, "Do you love me more than these?" John 21:15.  What was He talking about?  Family, money, fame...you must fill in that blank.  There are many things in this life we love and cherish, like our children and grandchildren.  I wonder if Jesus was talking about the other disciples?  I really don't think so. 

Are we looking for His coming?  Dear friend, it is lacking in all of us.  We love our comforts and certain things we can point out, but what if Jesus came today?  The Lord pointed out to me a couple of days ago that I need to "clean house".  There are things in our lives that we love and need to put in priority!  The Lord wants to be at the top of the list!

Sandusky

Picked up a penny today.  Not worth much in these times.  Sometimes people think that they are not valuable either.  The trial of Sandusky was very interesting.  If you read the editorial about his sentencing and how the people outside cheered the "guilty" verdict, it reminded me of judgement day.  Yes, justice was done and as I read the words it brought thoughts to me about that day when we shall stand before our maker.  The records will be read out loud and the gavel will sound throughout heaven on each account of our sins if our name is not written in the Lamb's book of Life!

There is no one in the sight of God who is not worth saving!  If you think you are not valuable then why did  Christ suffer?  We are precious in His sight!  He came to redeem you dear friend.  He came to save all of the Sanduskys of this world.  After all Jesus Christ had done for the people of Israel they yelled, "Crucify Him"!  The Cross was ordained before the foundations of the world was laid, but if we had been there with them we would have been calling for His blood also.  You are loved by your maker who went to that Cross!

Children are precious and may the Lord be with the victims of this crime.  He did vindicate them!

Arrested

The Grace of God arrested me.  The Hand of God will never let me go!  What a comforting promise...Hebrews 13:5.  My walk with Jesus is not easy.  The struggle to overcome the world and its' sin is not my downfall.  It is the battle inside my own mind to stay focused on the Lord and His Word!  

There are times of peace and times of doubt, when the enemy comes in the night to taunt me about my past!  If you have given your life to Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells within you, God does not even remember your sins!  We can hardly comprehend how this happens for we always remember.  The struggle in our minds is to believe that they have been cast into the sea and thought about no more by Jesus...Hebrews 8:12!

The answer is to keep these promises in view and meditate on them day and night.

Thank you Lord