January 25th 2015
Are You Working For Today, Or For Eternity?
Luke 8:15 (NIV)
The seed (that fell) on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
We would all like to be the people of God referred to by Jesus, as “the seed that fell on good soil,” when he was explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples. However, it appears most of us would better fit the description of “the seed that fell among thorns.” The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)
What are you doing to mature as a disciple of Jesus? Do you have time to read the Word every day? Do you even care about reading the Bible every day? If any attempt was made here to explain how you could not find the time, if you really wanted to, it would just cause some of us to find this writing very uninspiring! Only you can adequately answer such a question for yourself! If you do not have time every day for communicating with God, you better attempt to answer the question, Why Not?
Nothing you manage to gain on this earth will be taken with you when you leave it! And you will eventually leave it, we all will! If you are saving for that proverbial rainy day, do not forget it will rain on you a last time someday. You will only be here for a short time, but you can be with Jesus forever! Just how long is forever?
Everything you possess in this life is just on loan from God! Compare that to the outstanding balances on your credit cards. Then ask yourself, “What do you have in your wallet?” This question is being asked on a credit card advertisement following a scene in which the creditors are forcible taking everything you have. Changing that ad a little makes the better question, “What do you have in your heart?” Do you carry around a desire to gain more and more “stuff?” Jesus told us we cannot serve both God and money! Who have you chosen to serve?
When we receive payment for something the money we receive is already destined to become the property of someone else! If we spend it, we get something in return that will last at the most for this lifetime! If we save it forever, it will become the property of someone else, when we die. We need to ask ourselves, what are we saving for eternity?
Notice Jesus said the people of the good soil will produce a crop by persevering! A good crop will not be produced by a halfhearted effort. It takes some real thought for us to decide how we can truly save something for the future. Something that will be available to us forever! What are you saving in your heart for Jesus? Plan to make time for Him today! Put Him in your daily planner, along with the other things you believe must be done today!
The VOW above is being repeated from one that was written in 2001! I had planned to write a commentary today based on this verse, and when I reviewed this old VOW, I decided to repeat it.
In a previous VOW written this year, I have suggested that you should plan to read the Bible cover-to-cover in 2015. I was just wondering if anyone took this suggestion to heart, and thus, decided to Just Do It! Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to read the entire Bible in 2015? Just so you know, I have, and so far, the readings are on schedule! Please let me know if you are planning to do this.
The following paragraph was copied from a daily devotional I often read, and it is being included today, because I believe that Bill Keller is stating a huge problem, which I also believe is plaguing the Christian movement in our world today! He chooses to not capitalize Satan’s name as he does not want to show Satan any form of honor.
The reason satan has won this battle is simple, THERE NEVER WAS A BATTLE! Instead of going head to head with satan, Christians decided to not fight. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is like Moses not trying to cross the Red Sea. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is like David running from Goliath. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is like Stephen keeping his mouth shut. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is RUN FROM satan. We set up our own TV stations and networks, set up our own radio stations and networks, wrote our own books and magazines, made movies and music for ourselves.
The Great Commission Jesus gave us does not instruct His followers to hide the truth of the Bible, because we are fearful and timid! Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
Are you working on becoming united with Christ? All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3, NLT) Jesus died for you! Can you live for Him?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Luke 8:15 (NIV)
The seed (that fell) on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
We would all like to be the people of God referred to by Jesus, as “the seed that fell on good soil,” when he was explaining the parable of the sower to his disciples. However, it appears most of us would better fit the description of “the seed that fell among thorns.” The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)
What are you doing to mature as a disciple of Jesus? Do you have time to read the Word every day? Do you even care about reading the Bible every day? If any attempt was made here to explain how you could not find the time, if you really wanted to, it would just cause some of us to find this writing very uninspiring! Only you can adequately answer such a question for yourself! If you do not have time every day for communicating with God, you better attempt to answer the question, Why Not?
Nothing you manage to gain on this earth will be taken with you when you leave it! And you will eventually leave it, we all will! If you are saving for that proverbial rainy day, do not forget it will rain on you a last time someday. You will only be here for a short time, but you can be with Jesus forever! Just how long is forever?
Everything you possess in this life is just on loan from God! Compare that to the outstanding balances on your credit cards. Then ask yourself, “What do you have in your wallet?” This question is being asked on a credit card advertisement following a scene in which the creditors are forcible taking everything you have. Changing that ad a little makes the better question, “What do you have in your heart?” Do you carry around a desire to gain more and more “stuff?” Jesus told us we cannot serve both God and money! Who have you chosen to serve?
When we receive payment for something the money we receive is already destined to become the property of someone else! If we spend it, we get something in return that will last at the most for this lifetime! If we save it forever, it will become the property of someone else, when we die. We need to ask ourselves, what are we saving for eternity?
Notice Jesus said the people of the good soil will produce a crop by persevering! A good crop will not be produced by a halfhearted effort. It takes some real thought for us to decide how we can truly save something for the future. Something that will be available to us forever! What are you saving in your heart for Jesus? Plan to make time for Him today! Put Him in your daily planner, along with the other things you believe must be done today!
The VOW above is being repeated from one that was written in 2001! I had planned to write a commentary today based on this verse, and when I reviewed this old VOW, I decided to repeat it.
In a previous VOW written this year, I have suggested that you should plan to read the Bible cover-to-cover in 2015. I was just wondering if anyone took this suggestion to heart, and thus, decided to Just Do It! Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to read the entire Bible in 2015? Just so you know, I have, and so far, the readings are on schedule! Please let me know if you are planning to do this.
The following paragraph was copied from a daily devotional I often read, and it is being included today, because I believe that Bill Keller is stating a huge problem, which I also believe is plaguing the Christian movement in our world today! He chooses to not capitalize Satan’s name as he does not want to show Satan any form of honor.
The reason satan has won this battle is simple, THERE NEVER WAS A BATTLE! Instead of going head to head with satan, Christians decided to not fight. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is like Moses not trying to cross the Red Sea. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is like David running from Goliath. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is like Stephen keeping his mouth shut. What Christians have done in the last 40 years is RUN FROM satan. We set up our own TV stations and networks, set up our own radio stations and networks, wrote our own books and magazines, made movies and music for ourselves.
The Great Commission Jesus gave us does not instruct His followers to hide the truth of the Bible, because we are fearful and timid! Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)
Are you working on becoming united with Christ? All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. (Ephesians 1:3, NLT) Jesus died for you! Can you live for Him?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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