July 14th 2019
Are you always “joyful,” because you know Jesus perfect sacrifice has saved your immortal soul?
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
May God help us to be faithful servants, for “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2). It is quality, not quantity, of service that God measures. Faithfulness—not fruitfulness—is required. If your faith is strong, then you can become more fruitful, as you work on becoming more Christ-like. Being a servant in this world will not likely increase your worldly possessions through other people, but it will increase your heavenly worth and earn rewards for you in eternity! It may increase your worldly possessions too, if you are able to have more worldly stuff, without loving it more than seeking to love Jesus. How much does it cost for Satan to buy your immortal soul? Is your sinful nature really in check? Paul wrote about a struggle of mankind with putting their trust in worldly things and in doing so they lose the blessing of God. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:8). Most of the time, do you try to please God in your daily life?
In the selected verses we are given assurance that Jesus was totally a man when He walked this earth, and He was thus tempted to not maintain a Godly perspective, just as we are still tempted today. Yet, we are told Jesus did not sin, thus He could be the perfect sacrifice required by God the Father to allow forgiveness of all the sins of all mankind, who would believe Jesus is who the Bible says He is! Paul wrote about this perfect timing of Jesus coming into this world to offer salvation to every member of mankind who would accept it. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6, 8). We have been reconciled to God by Jesus perfect sacrifice! Believe it, and your immortal soul is immediately be saved for eternal life with the Triune God. That is the best deal you’ll ever get on this earth, as the guarantee never expires, and the Creator will never go out of business!
Of course, this great deal does have some requirements, and James wrote about how our faith should cause us to want to help those who need help in their lifetime. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:17-18). Does your faith cause you to feel compelled to help other people who obviously could use our help? It is important too that when we do help someone that we do it for the right reasons, and that we should not flaunt our goodness, for as Jesus told us we need to do good deeds as a way of glorifying God. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16). In our busy lifestyles it becomes difficult to allow any time for helping our earthly neighbors who need our help. I believe God gives us opportunities to help others, if we just observe our normal surroundings.
In our world today, it seems we see fewer people who believe in the God of the Bible. This seems to be related to how people are educated. It seems there are more people who openly question the existence of God, as they have come to believe in the evolutionary theory, which precludes the need of a creator. Most people still seem to believe there is some form of a god, but not the personal God defined by the Bible. James wrote about such people who lived in his time. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19). So, this doesn’t put you in very good company, as you believe what demons also believe. I believe it is very important that everyone should become part of the body of Christ, by regularly attending a church of your choice. Hobnobbing with believers of a like mind is good for your soul and translates to also feeling healthier in body too! Not only attending a worship service, but you should also attend the Bible Study of that church to get to know other people better. It is good for your soul and theirs too! Try it, you may like it!
Paul wrote about mankind’s faith or lack thereof in Romans. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." (Romans 3:3-4). Here Paul states something that may not have endeared him to other people who believe they are good people, and thus, they should go to heaven. “Every man is a liar,” if this is true then there are no so-called good people, as we are all liars. In Isaiah we read how God may view our claims to be holy or good people. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6). To God we are sinners and thus “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags!” This means we cannot on our own be good enough to obtain heaven when we die to this life. That is why we require a Savior in order to be saved, and spend eternity with Jesus, who is our Savior.
Believing this Paul wrote about how we should conduct ourselves as saved souls destined to end up in heaven, immediately when we die. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Are you always “joyful,” because you know Jesus perfect sacrifice has saved your immortal soul? You should be! Be happy, don’t worry!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
May God help us to be faithful servants, for “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2). It is quality, not quantity, of service that God measures. Faithfulness—not fruitfulness—is required. If your faith is strong, then you can become more fruitful, as you work on becoming more Christ-like. Being a servant in this world will not likely increase your worldly possessions through other people, but it will increase your heavenly worth and earn rewards for you in eternity! It may increase your worldly possessions too, if you are able to have more worldly stuff, without loving it more than seeking to love Jesus. How much does it cost for Satan to buy your immortal soul? Is your sinful nature really in check? Paul wrote about a struggle of mankind with putting their trust in worldly things and in doing so they lose the blessing of God. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. (Romans 8:8). Most of the time, do you try to please God in your daily life?
In the selected verses we are given assurance that Jesus was totally a man when He walked this earth, and He was thus tempted to not maintain a Godly perspective, just as we are still tempted today. Yet, we are told Jesus did not sin, thus He could be the perfect sacrifice required by God the Father to allow forgiveness of all the sins of all mankind, who would believe Jesus is who the Bible says He is! Paul wrote about this perfect timing of Jesus coming into this world to offer salvation to every member of mankind who would accept it. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6, 8). We have been reconciled to God by Jesus perfect sacrifice! Believe it, and your immortal soul is immediately be saved for eternal life with the Triune God. That is the best deal you’ll ever get on this earth, as the guarantee never expires, and the Creator will never go out of business!
Of course, this great deal does have some requirements, and James wrote about how our faith should cause us to want to help those who need help in their lifetime. In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:17-18). Does your faith cause you to feel compelled to help other people who obviously could use our help? It is important too that when we do help someone that we do it for the right reasons, and that we should not flaunt our goodness, for as Jesus told us we need to do good deeds as a way of glorifying God. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16). In our busy lifestyles it becomes difficult to allow any time for helping our earthly neighbors who need our help. I believe God gives us opportunities to help others, if we just observe our normal surroundings.
In our world today, it seems we see fewer people who believe in the God of the Bible. This seems to be related to how people are educated. It seems there are more people who openly question the existence of God, as they have come to believe in the evolutionary theory, which precludes the need of a creator. Most people still seem to believe there is some form of a god, but not the personal God defined by the Bible. James wrote about such people who lived in his time. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19). So, this doesn’t put you in very good company, as you believe what demons also believe. I believe it is very important that everyone should become part of the body of Christ, by regularly attending a church of your choice. Hobnobbing with believers of a like mind is good for your soul and translates to also feeling healthier in body too! Not only attending a worship service, but you should also attend the Bible Study of that church to get to know other people better. It is good for your soul and theirs too! Try it, you may like it!
Paul wrote about mankind’s faith or lack thereof in Romans. What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge." (Romans 3:3-4). Here Paul states something that may not have endeared him to other people who believe they are good people, and thus, they should go to heaven. “Every man is a liar,” if this is true then there are no so-called good people, as we are all liars. In Isaiah we read how God may view our claims to be holy or good people. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. (Isaiah 64:6). To God we are sinners and thus “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags!” This means we cannot on our own be good enough to obtain heaven when we die to this life. That is why we require a Savior in order to be saved, and spend eternity with Jesus, who is our Savior.
Believing this Paul wrote about how we should conduct ourselves as saved souls destined to end up in heaven, immediately when we die. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Are you always “joyful,” because you know Jesus perfect sacrifice has saved your immortal soul? You should be! Be happy, don’t worry!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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