January 26th 2025
Becoming More Christ-Like Every Day, Will Allow Us To Heed The Holy Spirits Guiding Us Toward Our Heavenly Home!
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
It seems we live in an era where many people do not ascribe to the philosophy that Jesus taught about how we should think about other people. Often if you are open to thinking about other people with fear of how they will treat you, then you are not apt to expect good treatment from anyone. Many sectors of society have been taught for years to fear law enforcement people and thus, their fear causes them to run from them when stopped for any reason. Of course, this increases the possibility for the enforcement agent to react out of fear for their safety, and they are more apt to bring harm to the person being apprehended.
Yes, of course, the above ideas are based only on an opinion and thus the merit is somewhat limited, but it is logical that fear motivates reactions that are not sanely controlled and when armed individuals meet and disagree the abnormal reaction becomes the norm! Likewise, when people meet in strained relationships, but they both have common desires that are based on respect for each other, the outcome will be much less to end in them harming each other. As Jesus taught us, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you!”
Something we all have in common is that we are all tempted by Satan and his demons, and other sinners to do illegal and sinful things. When a sinful thought comes into our mind it often will be masked as though it is a good thing not really that evil. Paul wrote about the fact that we are all tempted. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13). For those who are trying to love God and mankind, the Holy Spirit will, “not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
It seems to me that the key may be working on trying to hear and thus respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting us to ascertain the way out provided when we do sin. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8). The asking here is the best thought of praying for guidance immediately when you realize you have sinned!
Jesus continued to describe what He was teaching about how you need to obtain the knowledge of how to get your saved soul on the narrow path that will lead you to heaven, when you die in this cursed world. 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! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:11-14).
Jesus is telling us that in this cursed world and because of our sinful nature it is difficult for us to get on that narrow path, and then, to stay on it through this mortal lifetime. As Jesus taught His followers that, “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Jesus tells us to be careful about the path we choose, because that sinful path is easier to enter as it is bigger and maybe more enticing to us mortals. Jesus said, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Therefore, the unfortunate result is that more people are lost and will end up in hell, than those who claim their salvation through belief in Jesus Christ and are thus on the narrow path that leads us to heaven.
Paul wrote about this salvation path from a unique perspective in his letter to the church of the Galatians and for us. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8). We must find this elusive path by believing Jesus Christ is who He said He is, and then by working on becoming more Christ-like every day, which will allow us to heed the Holy Spirits guiding us toward our heavenly Home!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
It seems we live in an era where many people do not ascribe to the philosophy that Jesus taught about how we should think about other people. Often if you are open to thinking about other people with fear of how they will treat you, then you are not apt to expect good treatment from anyone. Many sectors of society have been taught for years to fear law enforcement people and thus, their fear causes them to run from them when stopped for any reason. Of course, this increases the possibility for the enforcement agent to react out of fear for their safety, and they are more apt to bring harm to the person being apprehended.
Yes, of course, the above ideas are based only on an opinion and thus the merit is somewhat limited, but it is logical that fear motivates reactions that are not sanely controlled and when armed individuals meet and disagree the abnormal reaction becomes the norm! Likewise, when people meet in strained relationships, but they both have common desires that are based on respect for each other, the outcome will be much less to end in them harming each other. As Jesus taught us, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you!”
Something we all have in common is that we are all tempted by Satan and his demons, and other sinners to do illegal and sinful things. When a sinful thought comes into our mind it often will be masked as though it is a good thing not really that evil. Paul wrote about the fact that we are all tempted. No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13). For those who are trying to love God and mankind, the Holy Spirit will, “not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
It seems to me that the key may be working on trying to hear and thus respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting us to ascertain the way out provided when we do sin. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8). The asking here is the best thought of praying for guidance immediately when you realize you have sinned!
Jesus continued to describe what He was teaching about how you need to obtain the knowledge of how to get your saved soul on the narrow path that will lead you to heaven, when you die in this cursed world. 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! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:11-14).
Jesus is telling us that in this cursed world and because of our sinful nature it is difficult for us to get on that narrow path, and then, to stay on it through this mortal lifetime. As Jesus taught His followers that, “small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Jesus tells us to be careful about the path we choose, because that sinful path is easier to enter as it is bigger and maybe more enticing to us mortals. Jesus said, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Therefore, the unfortunate result is that more people are lost and will end up in hell, than those who claim their salvation through belief in Jesus Christ and are thus on the narrow path that leads us to heaven.
Paul wrote about this salvation path from a unique perspective in his letter to the church of the Galatians and for us. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8). We must find this elusive path by believing Jesus Christ is who He said He is, and then by working on becoming more Christ-like every day, which will allow us to heed the Holy Spirits guiding us toward our heavenly Home!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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