March 5th 2017
Give Up (Give Up = Sacrifice) Something For Lent! Then Take Time To Be Holy!
Mark 14:61b-62 (NIV)
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
At the start of the season of Lent some people observe Fat Tuesday, which is a celebration of enjoying the fat of the land, so to speak, where you eat and drink all you can, before starting to fast in observance of Lent. It makes me wonder if Wednesday, the next day, is really “skinny?” Except for a bad hang-over causing them to feel sick, do they really start fasting, or was Fat Tuesday just an excuse to over-indulge? Being a person familiar with over indulging, it always makes me wonder about the real intent of Fat Tuesday! Of course, Fat Tuesday is also used as an excuse to over indulge in promiscuity too! How many beads did you amass?
Putting your faith in worldly things, not in heavenly things, as seems apparent in such an annual celebration, certainly does not please Jesus, now does it? Jesus once told a parable about a man who built worldly wealth for himself, and was planning how he would continue to indulge himself in his worldly holding. Then God had some bad news for him, as all he amassed would be enjoyed by someone else. And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."’ "But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God." (Luke 12:19-21. Are you storing up things too?
Paul wrote about how when you accept the sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf, you are changed immediately, and you start thinking differently. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17). This immediate change allows you a new freedom, as you know that when you leave this life you will be with Jesus forever. Now that is a long term guaranteed timeframe, if you really believe that Jesus is who He has said He is. In the selected verses, Jesus made a claim when He was asked, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" He responded, "I am," "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Many people will try to tell you that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God, but as you can see that is not true, and there are other places where Jesus made such claims, this is just one of them.
Paul wrote about this situation we find ourselves in once we’ve excepted the perfect sacrifice made for us by Jesus. Paul relates how our current troubles pale in comparison to the heavenly riches that await those who choose to follow Jesus. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT). Paul continues with this idea of grace bestowed on those who choose to follow Jesus Christ. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18). Can you see eternity? Can you feel it? Are you already looking forward to your endless future? Now that is something to look forward to and dwell on during this season of Lent, or at any time of the year!
When Jesus left this earth, and went back to heaven and to be with His (our) Father, He did not leave us alone to live in this world. He left behind the Holy Spirit to be with us, and to even indwell us. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26-27). Followers of Jesus are no longer to conduct themselves as though they are part of this world, as they can now abide with God through this Holy Spirit and live in freedom from the ways of this world. Do you feel estranged from this world, now that you can spend time with Him? During this Lenten season a good sacrifice would be for you to allot time to be in prayer with Jesus.
Another promise Jesus gave to His disciples (us) is to answer our prayers! Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24). When you pray, do you actually believe you are talking to Jesus? You must have faith that when you pray, you are actually talking to God/Jesus! The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please 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 11:6). Are you seeking God/Jesus? Be honest with yourself, do you actually believe that Jesus wants to hear from you on a regular basis?
The writer of Hebrews notes “that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Starting in this Lenten season get really serious, and allot the time from your busy schedule to talk with Jesus every day. Yes, take time to be holy! It is NOT your time anyway, you only get how much ever time God decides to give you in this life. Then, everything gets better! Can you believe that? You do not have to die to obtain a peace that “transcends all understanding!” And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Jesus wants to guard your heart, during Lent, and at all other seasons!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Mark 14:61b-62 (NIV)
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
At the start of the season of Lent some people observe Fat Tuesday, which is a celebration of enjoying the fat of the land, so to speak, where you eat and drink all you can, before starting to fast in observance of Lent. It makes me wonder if Wednesday, the next day, is really “skinny?” Except for a bad hang-over causing them to feel sick, do they really start fasting, or was Fat Tuesday just an excuse to over-indulge? Being a person familiar with over indulging, it always makes me wonder about the real intent of Fat Tuesday! Of course, Fat Tuesday is also used as an excuse to over indulge in promiscuity too! How many beads did you amass?
Putting your faith in worldly things, not in heavenly things, as seems apparent in such an annual celebration, certainly does not please Jesus, now does it? Jesus once told a parable about a man who built worldly wealth for himself, and was planning how he would continue to indulge himself in his worldly holding. Then God had some bad news for him, as all he amassed would be enjoyed by someone else. And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."’ "But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich towards God." (Luke 12:19-21. Are you storing up things too?
Paul wrote about how when you accept the sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf, you are changed immediately, and you start thinking differently. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17). This immediate change allows you a new freedom, as you know that when you leave this life you will be with Jesus forever. Now that is a long term guaranteed timeframe, if you really believe that Jesus is who He has said He is. In the selected verses, Jesus made a claim when He was asked, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" He responded, "I am," "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Many people will try to tell you that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God, but as you can see that is not true, and there are other places where Jesus made such claims, this is just one of them.
Paul wrote about this situation we find ourselves in once we’ve excepted the perfect sacrifice made for us by Jesus. Paul relates how our current troubles pale in comparison to the heavenly riches that await those who choose to follow Jesus. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17, NLT). Paul continues with this idea of grace bestowed on those who choose to follow Jesus Christ. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18). Can you see eternity? Can you feel it? Are you already looking forward to your endless future? Now that is something to look forward to and dwell on during this season of Lent, or at any time of the year!
When Jesus left this earth, and went back to heaven and to be with His (our) Father, He did not leave us alone to live in this world. He left behind the Holy Spirit to be with us, and to even indwell us. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26-27). Followers of Jesus are no longer to conduct themselves as though they are part of this world, as they can now abide with God through this Holy Spirit and live in freedom from the ways of this world. Do you feel estranged from this world, now that you can spend time with Him? During this Lenten season a good sacrifice would be for you to allot time to be in prayer with Jesus.
Another promise Jesus gave to His disciples (us) is to answer our prayers! Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24). When you pray, do you actually believe you are talking to Jesus? You must have faith that when you pray, you are actually talking to God/Jesus! The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please 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 11:6). Are you seeking God/Jesus? Be honest with yourself, do you actually believe that Jesus wants to hear from you on a regular basis?
The writer of Hebrews notes “that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Starting in this Lenten season get really serious, and allot the time from your busy schedule to talk with Jesus every day. Yes, take time to be holy! It is NOT your time anyway, you only get how much ever time God decides to give you in this life. Then, everything gets better! Can you believe that? You do not have to die to obtain a peace that “transcends all understanding!” And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
Jesus wants to guard your heart, during Lent, and at all other seasons!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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