August 31st 2014
Remember, The Holy Spirit Is Indwelling Your Heart, If You Believe It!
James 4:13-17 (NIV)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
Here today and gone tomorrow! Is this commentary going to be morbid? Well that is not my intent! However, the facts are that we, none of us, know how long we will continue to live on this earth. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If your answer is no, or well I’m not sure, then you are living on borrowed time! Do you still have time to decide whether you will follow the Lord? Well the fact is, no one knows the answer to that question! You may have time, but you may also die today! Is this commentary trying to scare you into accepting the offer of grace to cover your sins? Again, that is not my intention, but if it does that it would be great, as far as I’m concerned.
In the selected verses, James writes about how brief life really is. He writes, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” It is NOT likely that anyone reading this commentary will “vanish” tomorrow, but like other less important things in this life, you need to prepare in advance, so that you can be prepared for the unexpected. If you do not save when you are young, you will not likely have the money you need to retire, and thus, have trouble making ends meet.
Most of us think we are seeking the Lord, and take credit for finding Him, but is that really the way it is? In Revelation we read, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) Are you expecting the Lord to come to you, and have a meal with you? Remember when Jesus suddenly walked with a couple of His disciples, just after His death and resurrection? As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. (Luke 24:15-19)
Well it is not at all likely that Jesus will physically meet you somewhere and walk with you, but He has promised to be with you (us) in everything you do! Jesus also invited us to allow Him to help us by sharing our load that is to say, He offered to have us be yoked with Him, and thus, He could help us with our physical or mental burdens. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30) Notice that Jesus says “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This seems to indicate that since we are sharing the yoke there would also be a sharing of the load too. Are you willing to take on some small burden in order to have Jesus share your burdens? Would that burden be a willingness to follow His commands? Do you love Jesus, if so He has said, If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15) What do you think?
Let’s go back now to this mater of whom is seeking whom? What does Jesus say about this? In Matthew it sounds like Jesus is telling us that we must seek Him. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7) If you read farther it indicates Jesus is talking about asking for and receiving gifts from God. If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11) Are you seeking rewards or gifts, when you get to heaven, then this sounds like a good plan for you (us) to follow.
Is your faith strong enough to allow you to believe that Jesus died for your sins, and that He thus is seeking you? The writer of Hebrews tells how Enoch was taken directly to heaven without first dying. Here is certainly evidence of God’s seeking. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6) Note, however, how this verse ends, “he (God) rewards those who earnestly seek him.” It kind of sounds like there is seeking of Jesus required by us, and belief that there is also then a seeking of us by God.
Do you feel this seeking of Jesus in your life? Is Jesus a real factor in your life? Do you talk to Jesus every day, as you go through the motions of this lifetime? Paul wrote about a continual feeling of connection with Jesus, and therefore, felt the need to pray continually. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18) You do not need to seek Jesus, if He is always with you! Since the Holy Spirit is indwelling you, there is no need to seek God, as He is living in you. Do you believe that Jesus left this Holy Spirit behind as our guide, and that He supplies a continual connection to God our Father? Now that is Good News!
In this world we often feel alone and wonder if there is help available to us in a time of need. When family and friends are not enough, to whom do you turn? Recently a comedian did not feel as though there was any help available for him, and thus, he ended his life. He had been able to help others cope, but he felt as though there was no one to turn to for help. Many people do not know how to get help in their time of need, and thus, turn to desperate measures to attract someone, anyone for some assistance. If you are feeling alone, please remember that Jesus is just a conversation away! Yes, a conversation, AKA prayer, is always available, and is always answered.
Remember, the Holy Spirit is indwelling your heart, if you believe it!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
James 4:13-17 (NIV)
Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
Here today and gone tomorrow! Is this commentary going to be morbid? Well that is not my intent! However, the facts are that we, none of us, know how long we will continue to live on this earth. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If your answer is no, or well I’m not sure, then you are living on borrowed time! Do you still have time to decide whether you will follow the Lord? Well the fact is, no one knows the answer to that question! You may have time, but you may also die today! Is this commentary trying to scare you into accepting the offer of grace to cover your sins? Again, that is not my intention, but if it does that it would be great, as far as I’m concerned.
In the selected verses, James writes about how brief life really is. He writes, “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” It is NOT likely that anyone reading this commentary will “vanish” tomorrow, but like other less important things in this life, you need to prepare in advance, so that you can be prepared for the unexpected. If you do not save when you are young, you will not likely have the money you need to retire, and thus, have trouble making ends meet.
Most of us think we are seeking the Lord, and take credit for finding Him, but is that really the way it is? In Revelation we read, Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) Are you expecting the Lord to come to you, and have a meal with you? Remember when Jesus suddenly walked with a couple of His disciples, just after His death and resurrection? As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. (Luke 24:15-19)
Well it is not at all likely that Jesus will physically meet you somewhere and walk with you, but He has promised to be with you (us) in everything you do! Jesus also invited us to allow Him to help us by sharing our load that is to say, He offered to have us be yoked with Him, and thus, He could help us with our physical or mental burdens. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30) Notice that Jesus says “my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This seems to indicate that since we are sharing the yoke there would also be a sharing of the load too. Are you willing to take on some small burden in order to have Jesus share your burdens? Would that burden be a willingness to follow His commands? Do you love Jesus, if so He has said, If you love me, you will obey what I command. (John 14:15) What do you think?
Let’s go back now to this mater of whom is seeking whom? What does Jesus say about this? In Matthew it sounds like Jesus is telling us that we must seek Him. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7) If you read farther it indicates Jesus is talking about asking for and receiving gifts from God. If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:11) Are you seeking rewards or gifts, when you get to heaven, then this sounds like a good plan for you (us) to follow.
Is your faith strong enough to allow you to believe that Jesus died for your sins, and that He thus is seeking you? The writer of Hebrews tells how Enoch was taken directly to heaven without first dying. Here is certainly evidence of God’s seeking. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6) Note, however, how this verse ends, “he (God) rewards those who earnestly seek him.” It kind of sounds like there is seeking of Jesus required by us, and belief that there is also then a seeking of us by God.
Do you feel this seeking of Jesus in your life? Is Jesus a real factor in your life? Do you talk to Jesus every day, as you go through the motions of this lifetime? Paul wrote about a continual feeling of connection with Jesus, and therefore, felt the need to pray continually. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:15-18) You do not need to seek Jesus, if He is always with you! Since the Holy Spirit is indwelling you, there is no need to seek God, as He is living in you. Do you believe that Jesus left this Holy Spirit behind as our guide, and that He supplies a continual connection to God our Father? Now that is Good News!
In this world we often feel alone and wonder if there is help available to us in a time of need. When family and friends are not enough, to whom do you turn? Recently a comedian did not feel as though there was any help available for him, and thus, he ended his life. He had been able to help others cope, but he felt as though there was no one to turn to for help. Many people do not know how to get help in their time of need, and thus, turn to desperate measures to attract someone, anyone for some assistance. If you are feeling alone, please remember that Jesus is just a conversation away! Yes, a conversation, AKA prayer, is always available, and is always answered.
Remember, the Holy Spirit is indwelling your heart, if you believe it!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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