January 27th 2019
Please Pray For Revival In The USA, And Around This World, In This New Year!
John 8:23-24 (NIV)
But he (Jesus) continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”
To some Jews who did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah, He said, “I am from above. You are of this world.” Jesus then said “if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” This message is still true today that Jesus is still the only way by which a member of mankind can be saved! Do you know Jesus? It is not good enough to know about Jesus, you must know Jesus! Many people believe there is only one God or god, but they do not believe that Jesus is also God. Some such people may share a pew with you at the church of your choice!
James wrote about such people, yes some people did not believe Jesus was really who He claimed to be when His earthly blood brothers were still living. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (James 2:19-20) James was trying to convince the people of his day that believing in one God will not save your immortal soul. James knew that you must believe in Jesus, and what He did for you before your salvation is assured! James further believed that if you knew Jesus, you would want to help your brothers and sisters who needed your help.
In the selected verses of this commentary, Jesus is addressing some Jews who did not believe He is their God given Messiah, but in the following verses Jesus is talking to some Jews who do know Him to be the Messiah. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) Jesus said to them, if you hold to My teaching, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Has knowing Jesus set you free yet? The freedom comes in knowing that your salvation has been secured by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.
At the beginning of each year we find ourselves in the income tax season. Jesus told Peter to “go fish” when their temple tax was due. After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:24-27) Paying taxes is an obligation that all Christians should take seriously. Some people cheat on their tax returns to save money! Maybe, if you went fishing?
There is a firm that does tax reporting for a fee, and their ads use a different term to make this season sound better. Instead of calling it the “tax season” they call it “the refund season.” For some of us, this name does not ring true, as it is really “the tax season.” We have just passed through a season that makes many people happy, or should I say merry, but to many it was a sad season. Some were sad because they could not buy presents for those they love. Some were unhappy, because they spent money they did not have to buy gifts! Now they are facing hassles with debt collectors. Some were not merry because they do not believe that Jesus is who He says He is! Many have changed the name of this season too, because they do not know Jesus!
Now we all get to start a new year, but no, we do not get to have a redo! Our debts are not removed and our beliefs are not miraculously changed. The reason this is true, is that God has blessed us with a free will. God could manipulate our brains and cause us all to believe in His Son, but He has chosen to allow us to have a free will. Jesus warns those who cause others to sin that they are heading for difficult times. We are to be salt and light to everyone we come in contact with. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Mark 9:41-42 and 50)
We find ourselves living in a time of bullying. A lot of institutions are making some effort to quell the opportunities for bullying to occur. Many of those participating in professional sports are giving our children, and adults, an example of how being a bully pays off in their lucrative contracts. In the USA today we see our sports becoming more and more violent. Many of those participating in professional sports come from a society that teaches violence to be the only way you can get ahead in this life. Some of these people claim to be Christians, but their bent for cheating and seeming unconcern for injuring their opposition to intimidate them does not show their Christian underpinnings.
Sorry for the negative tone of this commentary, it just seems our society is not being influenced in a positive way by the professing followers of Jesus Christ in the USA today! Jesus once said He came into this world to bring truth. "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37) Are you on the side of truth? Do you know the answer to the question, WWJD?
Please pray for revival in the USA, and around this world in this New Year!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 8:23-24 (NIV)
But he (Jesus) continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.”
To some Jews who did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah, He said, “I am from above. You are of this world.” Jesus then said “if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” This message is still true today that Jesus is still the only way by which a member of mankind can be saved! Do you know Jesus? It is not good enough to know about Jesus, you must know Jesus! Many people believe there is only one God or god, but they do not believe that Jesus is also God. Some such people may share a pew with you at the church of your choice!
James wrote about such people, yes some people did not believe Jesus was really who He claimed to be when His earthly blood brothers were still living. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (James 2:19-20) James was trying to convince the people of his day that believing in one God will not save your immortal soul. James knew that you must believe in Jesus, and what He did for you before your salvation is assured! James further believed that if you knew Jesus, you would want to help your brothers and sisters who needed your help.
In the selected verses of this commentary, Jesus is addressing some Jews who did not believe He is their God given Messiah, but in the following verses Jesus is talking to some Jews who do know Him to be the Messiah. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) Jesus said to them, if you hold to My teaching, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Has knowing Jesus set you free yet? The freedom comes in knowing that your salvation has been secured by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.
At the beginning of each year we find ourselves in the income tax season. Jesus told Peter to “go fish” when their temple tax was due. After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.” (Matthew 17:24-27) Paying taxes is an obligation that all Christians should take seriously. Some people cheat on their tax returns to save money! Maybe, if you went fishing?
There is a firm that does tax reporting for a fee, and their ads use a different term to make this season sound better. Instead of calling it the “tax season” they call it “the refund season.” For some of us, this name does not ring true, as it is really “the tax season.” We have just passed through a season that makes many people happy, or should I say merry, but to many it was a sad season. Some were sad because they could not buy presents for those they love. Some were unhappy, because they spent money they did not have to buy gifts! Now they are facing hassles with debt collectors. Some were not merry because they do not believe that Jesus is who He says He is! Many have changed the name of this season too, because they do not know Jesus!
Now we all get to start a new year, but no, we do not get to have a redo! Our debts are not removed and our beliefs are not miraculously changed. The reason this is true, is that God has blessed us with a free will. God could manipulate our brains and cause us all to believe in His Son, but He has chosen to allow us to have a free will. Jesus warns those who cause others to sin that they are heading for difficult times. We are to be salt and light to everyone we come in contact with. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward. "And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." (Mark 9:41-42 and 50)
We find ourselves living in a time of bullying. A lot of institutions are making some effort to quell the opportunities for bullying to occur. Many of those participating in professional sports are giving our children, and adults, an example of how being a bully pays off in their lucrative contracts. In the USA today we see our sports becoming more and more violent. Many of those participating in professional sports come from a society that teaches violence to be the only way you can get ahead in this life. Some of these people claim to be Christians, but their bent for cheating and seeming unconcern for injuring their opposition to intimidate them does not show their Christian underpinnings.
Sorry for the negative tone of this commentary, it just seems our society is not being influenced in a positive way by the professing followers of Jesus Christ in the USA today! Jesus once said He came into this world to bring truth. "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." (John 18:37) Are you on the side of truth? Do you know the answer to the question, WWJD?
Please pray for revival in the USA, and around this world in this New Year!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|