September 12th 2021
Do You Believe That “Love Never Fails”?
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this world, and that He was sent to this earth to allow salvation for everyone who will boldly profess their belief in Him? Is it enough for you to believe that Jesus may be a savior sent to this earth by a god whom we have never seen? Are there other holy men or women who have lived on this earth and gained many followers, and then died. Could they also be a savior that will result in those followers going to heaven when they die? What did Jesus say about this idea? Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:5-7).
In the selected verses, Paul wrote to Timothy about his faith, and that he believed his faith in Jesus Christ will earn a crown for him at the end of his life on this earth. Paul believed that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul believed that keeping his faith in Jesus Christ will earn him a reward in heaven. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” Paul continues his comment to include all other believers when he wrote, “and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Do you long for His appearing too, then you also have a crown reserved for you!
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). Do we usually think about Christ dying for the ungodly, or are we more apt to think about Jesus dying for those who are the good guys? Solomon recorded for us his thoughts about what mankind needs to do in this lifetime. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13). These commandments are stated in terms of what NOT to do in this lifetime, as opposed to what we should do.
Jesus warned us about looking for an easy way out in this world, as the way that is easiest to go is usually not the right way to go or do. 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 7:13-14). Are you seeking the narrow path for conducting your lifestyle selections? If everybody is doing it, this would then usually mean it is the wide path choice.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:14-17). Have you felt the call of Jesus to "Come, follow me?" How have you answered His call? Does your lifestyle reflect your commitment to follow Him? The lives of Peter and Andrew were drastically changed after they met Jesus. My life was vastly improved after I met Jesus, do you feel that wonderful improvement too?
Paul put it on the line to the church in Rome, and to us, about how obvious it is that God created everything we see. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20). Therefore, we do not have a valid excuse to believe that everything we see came about without God!
However, in this world today there is evil, which causes mankind to prefer not to believe in Jesus Christ, as the Way the truth and the life. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. (2 Peter 3:3-6).
Tomorrow we remember that twenty years ago some evil members of mankind decided to cause the death of thousands of citizens of the USA as some form of punishment that only they could understand. Their heinous plan to kill a lot of people was successful, but it did not accomplish, what seemed to be the plan. It caused Americans to come closer to each other than before these attacks, instead of melting in fear. We are not likely to understand what their intent really was for these attacks mostly against just citizens of the USA.
Let us use the remembrance of this horrible attack to help us come together in a loving attitude, which is needed now as we still fight the COVID pandemic and may disagree on what we should do as individuals to fight the pandemic, NOT each other. Reach out to someone this week to let them know that you may disagree with them, but that you still love them, because God first loved us! We need to remember what Peter wrote for us. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8). Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:6-8a). Paul wrote for us that, “Love never fails.”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of this world, and that He was sent to this earth to allow salvation for everyone who will boldly profess their belief in Him? Is it enough for you to believe that Jesus may be a savior sent to this earth by a god whom we have never seen? Are there other holy men or women who have lived on this earth and gained many followers, and then died. Could they also be a savior that will result in those followers going to heaven when they die? What did Jesus say about this idea? Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:5-7).
In the selected verses, Paul wrote to Timothy about his faith, and that he believed his faith in Jesus Christ will earn a crown for him at the end of his life on this earth. Paul believed that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul believed that keeping his faith in Jesus Christ will earn him a reward in heaven. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” Paul continues his comment to include all other believers when he wrote, “and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Do you long for His appearing too, then you also have a crown reserved for you!
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). Do we usually think about Christ dying for the ungodly, or are we more apt to think about Jesus dying for those who are the good guys? Solomon recorded for us his thoughts about what mankind needs to do in this lifetime. Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13). These commandments are stated in terms of what NOT to do in this lifetime, as opposed to what we should do.
Jesus warned us about looking for an easy way out in this world, as the way that is easiest to go is usually not the right way to go or do. 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 7:13-14). Are you seeking the narrow path for conducting your lifestyle selections? If everybody is doing it, this would then usually mean it is the wide path choice.
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:14-17). Have you felt the call of Jesus to "Come, follow me?" How have you answered His call? Does your lifestyle reflect your commitment to follow Him? The lives of Peter and Andrew were drastically changed after they met Jesus. My life was vastly improved after I met Jesus, do you feel that wonderful improvement too?
Paul put it on the line to the church in Rome, and to us, about how obvious it is that God created everything we see. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. (Romans 1:20). Therefore, we do not have a valid excuse to believe that everything we see came about without God!
However, in this world today there is evil, which causes mankind to prefer not to believe in Jesus Christ, as the Way the truth and the life. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. (2 Peter 3:3-6).
Tomorrow we remember that twenty years ago some evil members of mankind decided to cause the death of thousands of citizens of the USA as some form of punishment that only they could understand. Their heinous plan to kill a lot of people was successful, but it did not accomplish, what seemed to be the plan. It caused Americans to come closer to each other than before these attacks, instead of melting in fear. We are not likely to understand what their intent really was for these attacks mostly against just citizens of the USA.
Let us use the remembrance of this horrible attack to help us come together in a loving attitude, which is needed now as we still fight the COVID pandemic and may disagree on what we should do as individuals to fight the pandemic, NOT each other. Reach out to someone this week to let them know that you may disagree with them, but that you still love them, because God first loved us! We need to remember what Peter wrote for us. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8). Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:6-8a). Paul wrote for us that, “Love never fails.”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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