Keep That Message

Keep That Message

1 John 2: ²⁴ Be sure, then, to keep in your hearts the message you heard from the beginning. If you keep that message, then you will always live in union with the Son and the Father. ²⁵ And this is what Christ himself promised to give us—eternal life.

 

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On the way to the game, we shouted chants handed down from years past. It was something to see everyone dressed in the school colors When the players took the field, we shouted in excitement! But when the team started losing, our excitement died down. It went back up when we won the game!

 

• For a while we got pretty quiet.
• When it seemed like we were going to lose, we stopped chanting.
• When our expectations of winning all the time were not being met, we quickly went into complain mode.

 

John tried to address the “fair weather fan” of JESUS. In other words, he tried to give encouragement to those who followed JESUS, but things were not going as well as they expected. They had given their lives over to CHRIST, only to be met with persecution from those who did not believe.

 

My Observations:

• GOD’s message of love is that JESUS died for you and me to save us from eternal destruction that HE will enforce.
• GOD’s message of love is to be spread to as many people as possible.
• GOD’s message of love should transcend any problem I face or trouble I find.

 

Life can be difficult. I mean, there seems to always be something to worry about. Whether it is an ailment, finances or broken relationships, there always seems to be something difficult going on. Even the wealthiest people get sick and die. What chance do we have? GOD has a remedy.

 

HIS message of love and eternal life confounds those who seek answers form the world. JESUS loved us so much that HE was willing to die in our place. By keeping that message in my heart, I can look at the current situation and say , “I am loved!” I am so grateful to JESUS for this great message!

 

Challenge

• What does the writer want everyone to “be sure” of?
• Have you ever lost heart about something?
• Will you keep GOD’s message of love in your heart by returning to it regularly, on purpose, so you can face life’s difficulties with everlasting hope today?

Growing

Luke 13: ¹⁸ Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

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Furious, I stormed into the grocery store. I grabbed whatever I was purchasing and went to the counter. The cashier looked at my face and did not bother to say anything but the amount owed. Silently I paid and left.

• There are times when I show my anger to many people.
• There are times when I show my disappointment to many people.
• There are times when I show my hatred, fear, lust, prejudice and greed to many people.

JESUS describes the kingdom of GOD as a mustard seed planted in a garden. This seed grew and became a large tree for which many birds nested in its branches. How does a seed parable apply to me?

• GOD says to me “Each day you plant something whether you like it or not.”
• GOD says to me “You can sow seeds for MY kingdom or sow seeds for yours every day.”
• GOD says to me “You are MY seed and I plant you where I need you, for the time I need you, and I will grow you into a large tree.”

Each and every day I have a choice to make. I can make people miserable and adversarial or I can choose to be with people and show them GOD is in control in spite of my problems. Even my absence speaks volumes and plants a seed. Once I realize GOD has placed me somewhere for HIS purpose, it makes me think differently.

Wicked people aren’t as wicked and the argument I was about to jump into doesn’t seem worth winning when I choose GOD. Showing GOD’s love is important to HIM. When I choose to do so, especially when I don’t feel like it, HE grows me beyond my belief.

• What seeds are you growing?
• Are you making many people miserable around you?
• Can you choose to have GOD grow you to a point where you are growing other people for HIS purpose on a daily basis?

Herbs and Spices

Mark 4: ³⁰ Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; ³² but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

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“You should learn this new way of doing things” exclaimed one of my coworkers. Yes, the world had changed and a new way of thinking had emerged. I now had to go on a new road and learn. “I wonder when this road will change” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I get busy chasing new philosophies.
• Sometimes I get entrenched into learning new ways of doing things.
• Sometimes I get involved with new thinking, new values and new beliefs.

Out with the old and in with the new was my way to stay ahead of the crowd. I would learn new ingredients to success by attending philosophical discussions and grab a new herb of knowledge. Many birds would flock with me to these spicy meetings. BUT GOD had another plan for me.

• GOD says to me “Tell people about the simple message of MY love for them.”
• GOD says to me “MY kingdom’s message is simple, just believe that JESUS died for all of mankind and you will be saved.”
• GOD says to me “MY yoke is easy and MY burdens are light.”

What a tiny seed GOD gave me. I mean HIS message of grace far exceeds any new herb and spice I could ever learn. In fact, GOD’s message of grace grows in me and in the hearts of mankind stronger than any other way of thinking. Branches of joy, love, forgiveness and peace flow from this simple message of HIS grace. GOD’s message is simple, HE loves me.

• Are you busy trying to learn the “new” thing?
• Do you think the new way of thinking will save you?
• Can you turn your thinking towards GOD for a moment and absorb the simple message of HIS love for you?