Why You Must Make a Decision about God

By: Leah Adams

(picture of Jesus being arrested)

 

Today I want to get personal with you and yes, put you on the spot. I want to ask you a question that you MUST answer. The answer to this question is a matter of life and death. Before I ask the question, however, permit me to give you some background.

In Matthew 27 we find Jesus standing trial before Pilate. Christ has been betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Roman soldiers. He is now facing Pilate who thinks he holds Jesus’ fate in his hands. Unbeknownst to him, what Pilate really holds in his hands is his own fate. As Pilate is sitting on the judge’s seat with Jesus standing nearby, he asks a question in that should cause each of us to stop and think. It is doubtful whether Pilate truly understood the magnitude of the question, nor did he understand that he was making a decision that would affect his soul for all eternity.

Matthew 27:22 (NKJV) provides us with Pilate’s question. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” The immediate answer that came from the people was to crucify Jesus and that is exactly what happened.

Today I want to ask you, “What are you going to do with Jesus, who is called Christ?” There are only two answers to this question. You either accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life or you reject Him as Lord and Savior. There is no ‘I’ll think about it later’ option. If you choose to ‘think about it later’, then you have rejected Christ. Do you understand the implication of choosing to reject Christ? We are never told anywhere in the Bible that Pilate became a believer in Jesus, but let me assure you, if he continued to reject Christ as Savior, a split second after he passed from this world, he became a believer in Christ. Unfortunately, at that point, it was too late. He had made his choice in this life and he discovered that in the next life the consequences of that choice were not pleasant. Eternity in hell—everlasting torment—total rejection—complete aloneness—utter abandonment.

What if you choose to accept Christ? Is that the end? Absolutely not. Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we must then decide how we will answer that same question on a daily basis.  “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?”

Do I put Him in a ‘Sunday’ box and pull Him out when I go to church?
Maybe I interact with Him when I am in church and also call on Him when I am in trouble?
Do I let my friends know that I am a follower of Christ?  If I do, I’ll be different. I won’t be like everyone else.
What if someone makes fun of me?
What if I don’t fit in?

Every day Christians decide how they will answer the question, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?”

Do I spend time in Bible study or do I let my Bible gather dust on the table?
Do I get alone with God in prayer and really get to know Him or do I turn on the TV or radio to fill the silence?
Do I go to church or do I go to the golf course or grocery store?
Do I make a choice to not watch television programs and movies that are inappropriate or do I watch them and think, ‘That violence, bad language, or sexual content doesn’t really affect me’?
Do I listen to uplifting, Christian music or do I listen to music that does nothing to encourage me in my Christian walk?
Do I choose to clean up my language or do I allow filth to spew from my mouth?
Do I encourage and support other Christians or do I have the attitude of ‘I don’t want to get involved’?

Hear Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:32 (NLT), “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”

Again I ask you the question that you must answer.  “What shall YOU do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?

Like a Little Child

  March 6, 2018  

Read: Mark 10:13–16 | Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 1–2; Mark 10:1–31

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. Mark 10:14

The little girl moved joyfully and gracefully to the music of praise. She was the only one in the aisle but that didn’t keep her from spinning and waving her arms and lifting her feet to the music. Her mother, a smile on her lips, didn’t try to stop her.

My heart lifted as I watched, and I longed to join her—but didn’t. I’d long ago lost the unselfconscious expression of joy and wonder of my childhood. Even though we are meant to grow and mature and put childish ways behind us, we were never meant to lose the joy and wonder, especially in our relationship with God.

How can you be more like a child in the presence of Jesus? 

When Jesus lived on Earth, He welcomed little children to Him and often referred to them in His teaching (Matthew 11:25; 18:3; 21:16). On one occasion, He rebuked His disciples for attempting to keep parents from bringing their children to Him for a blessing, saying, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Jesus was referring to the childlike characteristics that ready us to receive Christ—joy and wonder, but also simplicity, dependence, trust, and humility.

Childlike wonder and joy (and more) open our hearts to be more receptive to Him. He is waiting for us to run into His arms.

Abba (Daddy), Father, help us to be more childlike in our relationship with You. We long to be filled with wonder at all You have done.

Faith shines brightest in a childlike heart.

By His Strips We Are Healed

John 19:1

“Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a metal-tipped whip.”

Jesus, being 100% God and Man at the same time, was whipped 39 times on his body. He felt the excruciating pain of his skin, muscles and ligaments being torn apart. Jesus knew that His pain with the shedding of His blood, would bring us healing.

“He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” (Isaiah 53:5b) The prophet Isaiah lived 720 years before the birth of Jesus. Isaiah heard from God, that Jesus would be whipped so we can receive healing from all sickness and diseases.

Jesus freely, by His own will, gave Himself up to be physically tortured, so that we can receiving healing. We see the promise of healing proclaimed again when Peter says: “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24b) It says, we are (already) healed.

Think about that for a moment. Before we’ve been diagnosed with an illness or disease, God already provided healing for us in advance. Jesus took our pain, so that we can live in freedom from pain and diseases.

Are you in pain today? Have you been diagnosed with a terminal disease? Let’s walk towards Jesus and receive His promise of healing. Silence the voices that say, “there is no cure or you will always be sick ”. Instead, right now, thank Jesus for your healing. Proclaim His promise out loud by saying, “By His wounds I am healed”.

Making A Decision About God

Why You Must Make a Decision about God

By: Leah Adams

Today I want to get personal with you and yes, put you on the spot. I want to ask you a question that you MUST answer. The answer to this question is a matter of life and death. Before I ask the question, however, permit me to give you some background.

In Matthew 27 we find Jesus standing trial before Pilate. Christ has been betrayed by Judas and arrested by the Roman soldiers. He is now facing Pilate who thinks he holds Jesus fate in his hands. Unbeknownst to him, what Pilate really holds in his hands is his own fate. As Pilate is sitting on the judges seat with Jesus standing nearby, he asks a question in that should cause each of us to stop and think. It is doubtful whether Pilate truly understood the magnitude of the question, nor did he understand that he was making a decision that would affect his soul for all eternity.

Matthew 27:22(NKJV) provides us with Pilates question. What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ? The immediate answer that came from the people was to crucify Jesus and that is exactly what happened.

Today I want to ask you, What are you going to do with Jesus, who is called Christ? There are only two answers to this question.You either accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life or you reject Him as Lord and Savior. There is no Ill think about it later option. If you choose to think about it later, then you have rejected Christ. Do you understand the implication of choosing to reject Christ? We are never told anywhere in the Bible that Pilate became a believer in Jesus, but let me assure you, if he continued to reject Christ as Savior, a split second after he passed from this world, he became a believer in Christ. Unfortunately, at that point, it was too late. He had made his choice in this life and he discovered that in the next life the consequences of that choice were not pleasant. Eternity in helleverlasting tormenttotal rejectioncomplete alonenessutter abandonment.

What if you choose to accept Christ? Is that the end? Absolutely not. Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we must then decide how we will answer that same question on a daily basis.What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?

Do I put Him in a Sunday box and pull Him out when I go to church?
Maybe I interact with Him when I am in church and also call on Him when I am in trouble?
Do I let my friends know that I am a follower of Christ? If I do, Ill be different. I wont be like everyone else.
What if someone makes fun of me?
What if I dont fit in?

Every day Christians decide how they will answer the question,What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?

Do I spend time in Bible study or do I let my Bible gather dust on the table?
Do I get alone with God in prayer and really get to know Him or do I turn on the TV or radio to fill the silence?
Do I go to church or do I go to the golf course or grocery store?
Do I make a choice tonotwatch television programs and movies that are inappropriate or do I watch them and think, That violence, bad language, or sexual content doesnt really affect me?
Do I listen to uplifting, Christian music or do I listen to music that does nothing to encourage me in my Christian walk?
Do I choose to clean up my language or do I allow filth to spew from my mouth?
Do I encourage and support other Christians or do I have the attitude of I dont want to get involved?

Hear Jesus words inMatthew 10:32(NLT), Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.”

Again I ask you the question that you must answer. What shall YOU do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?

A Better Love

From: Our Daily Journey

Mar 4, 2018

Read:

Genesis 29:31-35
Once again Leah became pregnant and gave birth to another son. She named him Judah, for she said, Now I will praise the Lord! (Genesis 29:35).

Its easy to downplay how traumatic a broken heart can be. But the reality is that being rejected by another person can have aprofoundlynegative impact on the well-being of a person. TheJournal of Personality and Social Psychologystates that in the two months following a breakup, 40 percent of those affected are clinically depressed, and 12 percent moderately or severely so. When were rejected, its hard not to feel unimportant and unloved.

One such story of rejection in the Bible is the relationship between Leah and Jacob. Jacob never wanted to marry Leah but was tricked into doing so by her father (Genesis 29:25). As such, Jacob had little affection for his first wife. And we can see how deeply this wounded Leah by how she named their sons: Her first son was named Reuben, which means God has noticed my misery (Genesis 29:32), and her third son was named Levi, which means Surely this time my husband will feel affection for me (Genesis 29:34). Leah hoped that, because shed given birth to his children, Jacob might finally show her at least some love and affirmation.

But after giving birth to her fourth son, Leah named him Judah, which means now I will praise the Lord ! (Genesis 29:35). Leah had stopped seeking her purpose and worth from her husbandfinding it in God instead. And, remarkably, Judah was the ancestor of Davidthe ancestor of Jesus Himself. By His grace Leah had been given a special role in the greatest story of all time!

We are made to love and be loved, which explains why the love of others has such a profound effect on us. But were also made to be loved byGod, whose love is steadfast (Lamentations 3:22), and the foundation for real purpose and significance.

Loss and Fear

From: Our Daily Journey

  Mar 3, 2018  

Read:

2 Corinthians 4:7-18
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Corinthians 4:17).

When the radio station I worked for relocated, I was suddenly out of a job. Although qualified as a teacher, hosting radio shows had felt like a better fit and it was all I’d done since graduating. When I couldn’t find employment back on-air, however, I returned to the classroom. It was difficult. I felt out of my depth, and the experience humbled me. But although the adjustment was challenging, I’m convinced the skills I gained in the classroom prepared me for my next job—back in radio with a national broadcaster.

The loss of a job can trigger some of our deepest fears and insecurities. But the Bible reminds us to find our security by trusting in God and being confident in the treasure within us—God’s power on display through our weakness (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Corinthians 4:7).

We may be “pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). As believers, “Our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

Although discouraging times like a job loss may shake our confidence, we can be assured that “our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17). So let’s “fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

May our heavenly Father give us His eternal perspective as He continues to provide daily for us, His children.

Present Yourself To Me There

Streams In The Desert

From: Streams In The Desert

Be ready in the morning, and come… present thyself there to me in the top of the mount. And no man shall come up with thee (Exod. 34:2-3).

The morning watch is essential. You must not face the day until you have faced God, nor look into the face of others until you have looked into His. You cannot expect to be victorious, if the day begins only in your own strength.

Face the work of every day with the influence of a few thoughtful, quiet moments with your heart and God. Do not meet other people, even those of your own home, until you have first met the great Guest and honored Companion of your life–Jesus Christ.

Meet Him alone. Meet Him regularly. Meet Him with His open Book of counsel before you; and face the regular and the irregular duties of each day with the influence of His personality definitely controlling your every act.

Begin the day with God!
He is thy Sun and Day!
His is the radiance of thy dawn;
To Him address thy lay.
Sing a new song at morn!
Join the glad woods and hills;
Join the fresh winds and seas and plains,
Join the bright flowers and rills.
Sing thy first song to God!
Not to thy fellow men;
Not to the creatures of His hand,
But to the glorious One.
Take thy first walk with God!
Let Him go forth with thee;
By stream, or sea, or mountain path,
Seek still His company.
Thy first transaction be
With God Himself above;
So shall thy business prosper well,
And all the day be love.
–Horatius Bonar

The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early upon their knees. Matthew Henry used to be in his study at four, and remain there till eight; then, after breakfast and family prayer, he used to be there again till noon; after dinner, he resumed his book or pen till four, and spent the rest of the day in visiting his friends.

Doddridge himself alludes to his “Family Expositor” as an example of the difference of rising between five and seven, which, in forty years, is nearly equivalent to ten years  more of life.

Dr. Adam Clark’s “Commentary” was chiefly prepared very early in the morning. Barnes’ popular and useful “Commentary” has been also the fruit of “early morning hours.”

Simeon’s “Sketches” were chiefly worked out between four and eight.