November 6th 2016
WWJD, Must Be Answered For Us, By Knowing What-Jesus-Did-Do!
Galatians 1:11-12 (NIV)
I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Many Christians are somewhat confused about how Paul seemed to know so much about what Jesus/God thought, seemingly even before this knowledge was written about by other writers of the other New Testament books of the Bible. At least some of such confusion is based on their belief about how most of these writers knew God’s thoughts. These men wrote what they did based on the revelation of what they wrote being supplied directly to them by God/Jesus! The books of the Bible were not merely written by men; they were written by men whom God/Jesus revealed to them what to write.
In today’s selected verses, Paul is alluding to how he knew so much about how God thought, because he had had this information revealed to him by Jesus. As Paul states, “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.” Paul then further states, “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” Believing that the Bible is the revealed and inspired Word of God is absolutely required before anyone can follow what it teaches. For if the Bible is just another book written by mankind, then it has no more importance than any other book that some man or men have written.
When Paul wrote about the Rapture, he knew what to write, because Jesus had told him what would happen at that event, which will occur in the future. Following is that account that Paul wrote about. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Paul next wrote about his encouragement to be passed on to all those who would later believe that this event will occur just as Jesus had told him it will occur. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Please believe what Paul wrote, because it is true, and was revealed to him by Jesus. It is not just a wonderful story that should thus end with “And They Lived Happily Ever After?” This is not another just so story that some man thought up and wrote to encourage men with a wonderful fictional story. This is not just another story developed in the feeble brain of some member of mankind, it comes from the mind of Jesus, and was dictated to Paul by Him!
In this world, we all need encouragement, as life can sometimes become difficult, and can even lead to some people giving up hope, and thus deciding to take their own life to just end it all. If you could encourage someone by telling them this true story of God’s love it may help them regain hope. Sometimes people just do not believe that there is a God of love. Many people are obsessed with the accumulation of worldly stuff, and their hope is entirely centered on this obsession. Jesus told His followers that there is better way, and Matthew wrote it for us to help alleviate our worrying about such things. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)
God desires that all His people would first seek Him, and then, He would supply our basic needs, and He even indicated that we would have all that we need, if we just depend on Him. Jesus continued with His assurances about not worrying about tomorrow, as none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow! At least, we are not guaranteed a tomorrow in this lifetime! Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) Are you wasting your time worrying about stuff you cannot control? Do what you can today, but do not worry about tomorrow, leave tomorrow’s planning to Jesus. He cares about and for you. “What a friend we have in Jesus!” It is good for us to plan, but not to worry about our plans!
In this world, we see dissention hatred, and war. Yet within all this negative stuff, we can witness sacrificial love. When disaster strikes we sometimes hear stories of people who try to save someone, even when in doing so they endanger their own safety, or even their own life. If you are working on becoming more Christ-like each day, then be sure your emphasis is placed in what Jesus considers important. Jesus once said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35) Being Christ-like requires you to show love to everyone, not just to those who show you love.
Jesus taught His disciples about loving those who you may think are unlovable. Jesus once said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:43-47) Okay, so work on becoming more Christ-like, but you MUST start by trying to love every member of mankind! This is what Jesus did, when He walked on this earth.
WWJD, must be answered for us, by knowing What-Jesus-Did-Do!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Galatians 1:11-12 (NIV)
I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.
Many Christians are somewhat confused about how Paul seemed to know so much about what Jesus/God thought, seemingly even before this knowledge was written about by other writers of the other New Testament books of the Bible. At least some of such confusion is based on their belief about how most of these writers knew God’s thoughts. These men wrote what they did based on the revelation of what they wrote being supplied directly to them by God/Jesus! The books of the Bible were not merely written by men; they were written by men whom God/Jesus revealed to them what to write.
In today’s selected verses, Paul is alluding to how he knew so much about how God thought, because he had had this information revealed to him by Jesus. As Paul states, “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.” Paul then further states, “I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” Believing that the Bible is the revealed and inspired Word of God is absolutely required before anyone can follow what it teaches. For if the Bible is just another book written by mankind, then it has no more importance than any other book that some man or men have written.
When Paul wrote about the Rapture, he knew what to write, because Jesus had told him what would happen at that event, which will occur in the future. Following is that account that Paul wrote about. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Paul next wrote about his encouragement to be passed on to all those who would later believe that this event will occur just as Jesus had told him it will occur. Therefore encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18) Please believe what Paul wrote, because it is true, and was revealed to him by Jesus. It is not just a wonderful story that should thus end with “And They Lived Happily Ever After?” This is not another just so story that some man thought up and wrote to encourage men with a wonderful fictional story. This is not just another story developed in the feeble brain of some member of mankind, it comes from the mind of Jesus, and was dictated to Paul by Him!
In this world, we all need encouragement, as life can sometimes become difficult, and can even lead to some people giving up hope, and thus deciding to take their own life to just end it all. If you could encourage someone by telling them this true story of God’s love it may help them regain hope. Sometimes people just do not believe that there is a God of love. Many people are obsessed with the accumulation of worldly stuff, and their hope is entirely centered on this obsession. Jesus told His followers that there is better way, and Matthew wrote it for us to help alleviate our worrying about such things. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)
God desires that all His people would first seek Him, and then, He would supply our basic needs, and He even indicated that we would have all that we need, if we just depend on Him. Jesus continued with His assurances about not worrying about tomorrow, as none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow! At least, we are not guaranteed a tomorrow in this lifetime! Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34) Are you wasting your time worrying about stuff you cannot control? Do what you can today, but do not worry about tomorrow, leave tomorrow’s planning to Jesus. He cares about and for you. “What a friend we have in Jesus!” It is good for us to plan, but not to worry about our plans!
In this world, we see dissention hatred, and war. Yet within all this negative stuff, we can witness sacrificial love. When disaster strikes we sometimes hear stories of people who try to save someone, even when in doing so they endanger their own safety, or even their own life. If you are working on becoming more Christ-like each day, then be sure your emphasis is placed in what Jesus considers important. Jesus once said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35) Being Christ-like requires you to show love to everyone, not just to those who show you love.
Jesus taught His disciples about loving those who you may think are unlovable. Jesus once said, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?” (Matthew 5:43-47) Okay, so work on becoming more Christ-like, but you MUST start by trying to love every member of mankind! This is what Jesus did, when He walked on this earth.
WWJD, must be answered for us, by knowing What-Jesus-Did-Do!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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