September 18th 2022
Jesus Said, To Him Who Overcomes, I Will Give The Right To Sit With Me On My Throne!
Colossians 3:4 (NIV)
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
In this life you will find it difficult to be a true follower of Jesus! Do you live and strive to obtain earthly things, as your main goal? It seems most people are trying to win a race to get the most stuff while they are still able to work. Many people rent storage space to store all the things they have earned ownership of in their working years. Paul wrote about how true followers of Jesus Christ should think about what is important to strive to obtain in this world. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3). Did you die yet?
Of course, you are still alive and living in this cursed world. However, do you strive to please God most of the time, or are you more intent on trying to please yourself with earthly possessions? As followers of Jesus Christ, we should try to believe that earthly possessions are only received as blessings from God. Paul wrote about how our focus should be as to whom we are working for. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24).
Paul also tried to keep it real, as he wrote about the need for us to work while we are still able. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Work to please God not man. Paul also wrote about how people who become followers of Jesus should stop stealing and instead work. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28). This working instead of stealing then includes offering to help others who may not be able to work. We could certainly use this type of thinking in our once great country!
Therefore, we should all be doing our part in trying to train our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren about this work ethic, and that stealing in any form is not acceptable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ! As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and for us. 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). So, are you emphasizing obtaining the stuff that is eternal, or is most of your time spent on gaining things that you cannot take with you when you leave this cursed world? This may be the most important question we should be asking ourselves at the beginning of each day!
Do you believe that Jesus Christ has called you? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you MUST have been called! Jesus may stand at the door of your heart, and knock, BUT you must open the door of your heart to let Him enter. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:19-21).
We have been told that not only were we called, but that we were called for a purpose. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28). Did you (we) get this entire statement? We “who have been called according to his purpose.” Our calling, as was the calling of His other disciples He called in person when He still walked this earth as the Son of Man, we have been called according to His purpose!
And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 3:19-21(NIV)
In a recent Bible study class, we made note of how some translations use “quickly” instead of “soon”! This seemed to be a better translation as “soon” means “when” but “quickly” means “how” and this made this seem more understandable to us. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 3:21(NKJV) Jesus told us that no one knows when He will be returning to this earth, so this seemed to relate a better understanding of Jesus statement in the book of Revelation.
Another important question that Jesus posed was recorded by Luke. “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8b). All those of us “who have been called according to his purpose.” We need to realize the main part of our purpose in this cursed world is to tell others who may not be believers how having Jesus in my life has changed it to be better, and how we have been freed from the impulse to be rich in this life, and poor in the eternal life that Jesus Christ offers to everyone who is willing and able to BELIEVE!
You can be rich forever immediately, when you accept salvation through Jesus Christ, or you can be rich temporarily only while living in this cursed world. Have you chosen wisely?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Colossians 3:4 (NIV)
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
In this life you will find it difficult to be a true follower of Jesus! Do you live and strive to obtain earthly things, as your main goal? It seems most people are trying to win a race to get the most stuff while they are still able to work. Many people rent storage space to store all the things they have earned ownership of in their working years. Paul wrote about how true followers of Jesus Christ should think about what is important to strive to obtain in this world. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:2-3). Did you die yet?
Of course, you are still alive and living in this cursed world. However, do you strive to please God most of the time, or are you more intent on trying to please yourself with earthly possessions? As followers of Jesus Christ, we should try to believe that earthly possessions are only received as blessings from God. Paul wrote about how our focus should be as to whom we are working for. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24).
Paul also tried to keep it real, as he wrote about the need for us to work while we are still able. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Work to please God not man. Paul also wrote about how people who become followers of Jesus should stop stealing and instead work. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. (Ephesians 4:28). This working instead of stealing then includes offering to help others who may not be able to work. We could certainly use this type of thinking in our once great country!
Therefore, we should all be doing our part in trying to train our children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren about this work ethic, and that stealing in any form is not acceptable for anyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ! As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and for us. 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). So, are you emphasizing obtaining the stuff that is eternal, or is most of your time spent on gaining things that you cannot take with you when you leave this cursed world? This may be the most important question we should be asking ourselves at the beginning of each day!
Do you believe that Jesus Christ has called you? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you MUST have been called! Jesus may stand at the door of your heart, and knock, BUT you must open the door of your heart to let Him enter. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:19-21).
We have been told that not only were we called, but that we were called for a purpose. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28). Did you (we) get this entire statement? We “who have been called according to his purpose.” Our calling, as was the calling of His other disciples He called in person when He still walked this earth as the Son of Man, we have been called according to His purpose!
And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. Revelation 3:19-21(NIV)
In a recent Bible study class, we made note of how some translations use “quickly” instead of “soon”! This seemed to be a better translation as “soon” means “when” but “quickly” means “how” and this made this seem more understandable to us. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 3:21(NKJV) Jesus told us that no one knows when He will be returning to this earth, so this seemed to relate a better understanding of Jesus statement in the book of Revelation.
Another important question that Jesus posed was recorded by Luke. “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8b). All those of us “who have been called according to his purpose.” We need to realize the main part of our purpose in this cursed world is to tell others who may not be believers how having Jesus in my life has changed it to be better, and how we have been freed from the impulse to be rich in this life, and poor in the eternal life that Jesus Christ offers to everyone who is willing and able to BELIEVE!
You can be rich forever immediately, when you accept salvation through Jesus Christ, or you can be rich temporarily only while living in this cursed world. Have you chosen wisely?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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