What Am I Saying?

What Am I Saying?

Revelation 14: ⁶ Then I saw another angel flying high in the air, with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth, to every race, tribe, language, and nation. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Honor God and praise his greatness! For the time has come for him to judge all people. Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!”

 

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Saying a joke about someone got a few laughs. After a while, I was able to insult anyone who crossed my path. I became a jokester. But when I had something serious to say, people thought I was joking and brushed off the statements as unimportant.

 

• I felt I had wasted my words.
• I looked back on what I said and found no value.
• I realized that words are important.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, saw another especial event. Another angel appeared with an eternal message of Good News. This was to be announced to every race, tribe, language and nation. “Honor GOD and praise HIS greatness!

 

My Observations:

• GOD deserves honor and praise
• GOD will judge all people at a set time.
• GOD is worthy of worship because HE made heaven, earth, sea and springs of water.

 

How many of my words “Honor GOD?” I mean, even when I mention HIM, am I honoring HIM? GOD should be held in the highest esteem. Honor GOD means placing the highest value in who HE is and what HE does. Devaluing GOD, means seeing HIM as an obstacle, or a problem or not worthy of my time.

 

We only have so many words we will ever say in our lives. What’s important to GOD should be important to me. If he made a special event to tell us to Honor HIM, I should be willing to do so. I praise GOD from whom all blessings flow.

 

Challenge

• What is the great message given to the writer?
• Does the message seem mundane?
• Will you seek to “honor” GOD and “worship” HIM today?

Eagerness

 

Eagerness

Hebrews 6: ⁹ But even if we speak like this, dear friends, we feel sure about you. We know that you have the better blessings that belong to your salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians. ¹¹ Our great desire is that each of you keep up your eagerness to the end, so that the things you hope for will come true. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to be like those who believe and are patient, and so receive what God has promised.

 

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On the first day of my assignment, I could hardly sleep. I woke up before the alarm, and made my way in early. But after a while, I got used to the assignment. I woke up to the alarm and hit the snooze button a couple of times. I didn’t race to get there and when I arrived, I had to do my ritual of getting coffee and chatting with people.

 

• My eagerness had worn off.
• I was not as enthusiastic as I was in the beginning.
• I had become slow to jump into anything “new” because I was comfortable.

 

Paul, the assumed writer” spoke about “better blessings” that belonged to believers in JESUS for salvation. He tried to encourage everyone that GOD sees all actions and will not forget any work don for HIM or any love shown to another person for HIM. He urges everyone to remain “eager” to the end so hope can be achieved.

 

My Observations

• I have to remember that GOD is quite fair in HIS dealings with me.
• I also have to note that GOD sees my work and love I have shown and HE is pleased with it.
• Knowing HE is pleased with my actions makes me continue with my eagerness to serve HIM.

 

Giving up on unmet desires is tempting. I mean, when I have worked hard on something and have not realized the expected benefit, I may get discouraged and give up. BUT GOD saw my work and is pleased.

 

HE doesn’t just show up to tell me I did stuff wrong. In fact, quite the opposite. HE is excited that I try to serve HIM even though I have a sin nature to overcome. HE guides me to meet the desires of my heart that align to HIS will. I am grateful that GOD cares enough about me to give me what HE has promised.

 

Challenge

• What “better blessings” is the writer talking about?
• Have you ever felt discouraged and thought GOD was mad at you?
• Will you understand that HE is excited about what you have done and are doing for HIM and wants you to continue with eagerness nd patience today?

Staying Power

Staying Power

2 Timothy 4: ¹⁶ No one stood by me the first time I defended myself; all deserted me. May God not count it against them! ¹⁷ But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength, so that I was able to proclaim the full message for all the Gentiles to hear; and I was rescued from being sentenced to death. ¹⁸ And the Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

 

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Attracting people was not an issue until I began imitating some of those who were more powerful. I figured since he or she was “successful”, I would try some of their standoffish, curt, directive ways. Soon my crowd was thinning out.

 

• Basically I had become the jerk who I did not even like.
• I pushed people away versus attracting them.
• I eventually had to admit that I was the problem and had to change quickly or be alone.

 

Paul sent Timothy a message about being alone. He used himself as the example when many people left him as he went off to speak about JESUS. Paul, a former murderer, felt all alone as he repented his ways and spoke about JESUS. Only ONE stood by him.

 

My Observations

• Even when I pushed people away, GOD did not leave me.
• GOD can see more about me than I can see in myself.
• GOD’s love for me is far greater than any political, social or historical boundaries I may fall into.

 

GOD’s love is quite amazing! I mean, HE sees when I am acting like a jerk and still loves me. HE does correct me and opens my eyes to HIS correction. HE then puts me back on HIS path. I may feel all alone and HE recognizes my loneliness.

 

HE stays with me and tells me “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” JESUS died for me and was raised from the dead. My belief in HIM gives me the HOLY SPIRIT who lives inside me, never leaving me. I am glad GOD doesn’t not leave me, even when I try to isolate myself.

 

Challenge

• How does the writer sound?
• Have you ever felt lonely?
• Will you know that GOD is with you because JESUS died for you and was raised from the dead for you and has place HIS HOLY SPIRIT in you so you will never be alone?

Permanent Love

 Permanent Love

Romans 11: ²⁸ Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors. ²⁹ For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses. ³⁰ As for you Gentiles, you disobeyed God in the past; but now you have received God's mercy because the Jews were disobedient. ³¹ In the same way, because of the mercy that you have received, the Jews now disobey God, in order that they also may now receive God's mercy. ³² For God has made all people prisoners of disobedience, so that he might show mercy to them all.

 

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Watching a promising employee, I noted her actions. I could see potential where others could not. She asked me to mentor her so I gave her my advice regularly. But one day she said she desired to go to a “rival” department. “Can I still come to you for advice?” she asked. “You have new leaders now” I said to her, knowing in my heart I did not like the leaders in that department.

 

• There were times when I provided blessings to a small number of people.
• There were times when I withheld blessings because something “that” person did.
• There were times when I changed my mind about my blessings when “that” person decided to do something different than “I” expected.

 

Paul attempts to explain how merciful GOD is. He talks about the Gentiles and the Jews disobedience. No one obeyed GOD. Since GOD’s word demands death for any sin, all humans were prisoners of disobedience from birth. Was there any hope? Yes! JESUS showed mercy to all.

 

• GOD wants me to know I would never have chosen HIM unless HE chose me.
• GOD wants me to thank HIM for HIS mercy because I do not deserve HIS glorious gift.
• GOD wants me to see the mercy HE has shown me so I can see the mercy HE can and will show others.

 

Mercy is GOD’s choice. I mean, there is nothing I can do or say to earn GOD’s mercy. JESUS, being GOD, volunteered to die for me. HE loved me so much that HE took my punishment. HE saw all my sins and died for me anyway. HE never changed HIS mind about me even when I sin the most. I am grateful HIS love for me is permanent.

 

• Are you looking at someone and thinking how messed up “that” person is?
• Are you withholding your loving prayers for a group of people because they do not look or act like you?
• Will you recognize GOD’s mercy for you so you can thank HIM and allow HIM to open your eyes to the mercy HE wants to show “that” group of people you have judged today?

Can, Will and Does

 

Can, Will and Does

Romans 9: ¹⁴ Shall we say, then, that God is unjust? Not at all. ¹⁵ For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish.” ¹⁶ So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God's mercy. ¹⁷ For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, “I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world.” ¹⁸ So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

 

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Hearing how others had “gotten away” with stealing. I tried my hand at it. I didn’t have enough money to pay for the pants and I really wanted to join the organization that required all of us to wear the same thing.

 

I lingered around the pants for what seemed like hours but it was probably minutes. I gave the pants to another person who was also joining the organization and he walked out the door. The deed was done.

 

• There were times when I thought I was getting away with something.
• There were times when I thought I was in control.
• There were times when I thought I could do my sins in secret and pretend to be innocent.

 

Paul gives some hard medicine to swallow. GOD takes mercy on whom HE wishes. On the contrary, GOD makes stubborn anyone HE wishes. Is there any hope? Yes! HE gives me choice.

 

• GOD wants me to surrender my stubborn will so HIS mercy can be shown through me.
• GOD wants me to say “I need JESUS as my Savior” so HIS mercy can be multiplied on me.
• GOD wants me to believe that JESUS is the only way to have an eternal existence with HIM.

 

All seeing, all powerful and everywhere is GOD. HE can do, HE will do and does anything HE pleases. The part of me that gets angry at that statement is the sin that fights against HIM. I mean, there is a part of me that wants to be GOD. That is the part of me HE hates.

 

HE still decided to show mercy on me. Mercy means I know I am guilty and fully aware I deserve the consequence of my actions, but the forgiver throws away my sentence and says I am free to go. Looking back, I can see an incredible amount of grace and mercy HE has shown to me. I can only say thank YOU.

 

• Are you fighting GOD thinking you will win?
• Do you think your stubbornness is a good quality?
• Will you surrender your life to the Most High GOD, by believing you need JESUS as your Savior, so HE will not harden your heart any further?

Forsaken

Mark 15: ³³ Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

³⁵ Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, “Look, He is calling for Elijah!” ³⁶ Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down.”

³⁷ And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.

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After a very bad day, I left work to catch the train. It was raining and I wasn’t dressed properly. At least the train ride wouldn’t be long because I parked in my “free” location. When I arrived at my car I noticed a dent the shape of the end of a baseball bat. I guess my observation skills were slow as I also saw my windows were attacked. “Why is this happening?!” I cried out.

• There were times when I had some very bad days.
• There were times when I wanted to just scream.
• There were times when it felt like nothing was going right.

After a strange and mysterious darkness, JESUS says something similar to my cry. “MY GOD MY GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME?” This cry of anguish could only come from a human experiencing a great deal of stress. But this was no ordinary human.

• JESUS saw it was no gain to be GOD and decided to suffer and die so I would not have to.
• JESUS knows what it feels like to be misunderstood and blamed for HIS existence.
• JESUS can empathize, sympathize and rationalize all of the feelings I have because HE felt the same way.

Half way listening, the crowd thought JESUS was crying out to Elijah instead of hearing HIS empathetic anguish. They had no idea what GOD was doing on the cross. Sometimes I have no idea what HE is doing too. When I scream out “Why?!” I want whatever pain I’m going through to end right away.

JESUS knows what I am going through, just like the FATHER knew what JESUS would have to go through. This permanent transformation to humanity included a special relationship change between the FATHER and JESUS. Now JESUS would be the only human that fully understands the power of GOD, because HE IS GOD. HE can forgive me because HE knows what I go through.

• Are you crying out to GOD?
• Do you feel forsaken?
• Will you give your anguish to GOD today and allow HIM to give you peace HIS way?

Left Alone

Matthew 27: ⁴⁵ From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

⁴⁷ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

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With a huge task at hand and no one around to help I cried out “LORD what!?” I meant to say to HIM, “Why did you bring me to this point only to drop me off in the middle of nowhere, alone!?”

• Sometimes I feel alone.
• Sometimes I feel forsaken.
• Sometimes I feel by myself only with onlookers instead of participants.

Even when I asked for help the onlookers would offer me something I did not need or they did not know how to help. Others, stood there and wanted to see if I would fall all the way down or if something truly amazing was going to happen.

JESUS faced the same thing. HE was on public display and blamed for every sin of every human that ever existed. Gawkers wanted to see more parlor tricks as they stared at a dying man. JESUS felt left alone.

• JESUS understands my loneliness so HE sent a comforter.
• JESUS knows how I feel when I cry out to HIM.
• JESUS cares tremendously when I feel left alone.

Sometimes I even go as far as JESUS did and blame the FATHER for leaving me alone. HE said “MY GOD, MY GOD, why have YOU forsaken ME?” I asked GOD the same question, especially when the pressures of the world are creeping around me.

GOD says to me “I will never leave you nor forsake you” and that gives me peace. The problems of the world melt away and I look for HIS deliverance in HIS time, HIS way.

• Do you feel alone?
• Do you feel like you have no one helping you?
• Can you turn to GOD and ask HIM to fill you up with HIS comfort today?

Take the First Step

Zechariah 1: ² “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. ³ Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.

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Choosing to “get away from GOD” was probably one of my worst choices. What the choice meant was I was tired of following rules and not getting my way. I wanted to be as wild and “free” as I wanted to be. When I looked at those who did not believe in any god but themselves, I saw prosperity and hedonistic pleasure. I wonder if I should try that.

• Sometimes I look at GOD as being too strict.
• Sometimes I look at GOD having too many rules.
• Sometimes I look at GOD as if HE were the problem, not the solution.

Looking back at those pouting years, I could see my immaturity towards GOD. I had already accepted the fact that JESUS died for my sins, yet I abandoned following HIS ways. When life started to unravel I did not know what to do.

• GOD said to me “I WILL always be with you.”
• GOD said to me “I WILL never leave you nor forsake you.”
• GOD said to me “Return to me, declares the LORD Almighty, and I WILL return to you.”

After licking my wounds I decided to turn back to GOD. It felt rather strange at first. I mean restraining myself from “freedom” and becoming a slave to GOD was not my first choice. It seemed like I would never have “fun” again!

After a while I realized I was simply following a lie. “Fun” is found within GOD, so is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The hole in my life was finally filled. I had to take the first step to return to GOD and HE has never let me down!

• Are you thinking about turning away from GOD?
• Have you already left GOD and are too ashamed to return?
• Can you stop believing lies and take the first step by turning back to GOD?

Overcoming the Unknown

Isaiah 42: ¹⁶ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
    along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
    and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
    I will not forsake them.
¹⁷ But those who trust in idols,
    who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’
    will be turned back in utter shame.

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Scared was my first memory of school as my mother let go of my hand in preschool. Frightened was my first thought as I rode multiple busses to high school. Fearful was my first reaction as my father gave a driving lesson. Worried was my first thought as I ventured into the unknown after a long and glorious career.

• Sometimes the unknown can be scary.
• Sometimes the unknown can be frightening.
• Sometimes the unknown can be dark and rough.

Whenever I was frightened or worried or fearful I could not enjoy the moment. I turned good situations into bad and soon I was on a path of destruction. I mean if I never got over the stifling fear of the unknown then I could not get settled enough to enjoy my surroundings. How can I get over this?

• GOD says to me “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known” which means HIS knowledge will be imparted to me.
• GOD says to me “I will turn the darkness into light before them” meaning HE is the way the truth and the light for my path.
• GOD says to me “I will not forsake them” which means HE is the only one powerful enough to keep promises.

GOD knows I can get scared of the unknown. HE is not mad at me for being worried. HE knows I am blind and reaches out to grab my hand and lead me besides still waters and restores my soul. As long as I let HIM lead me, I will be just fine!

• Are you scared?
• Are you worried?
• Does the way you are going seem dark and mysterious?
• Can you allow GOD to lead you?
• Will you put your total trust in HIM today?