Wash, Eat and Go

 

Wash, Eat and Go

Revelation 22: ¹⁴ Happy are those who wash their robes clean and so have the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life and to go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But outside the city are the perverts and those who practice magic, the immoral and the murderers, those who worship idols and those who are liars both in words and deeds.

 

============

 

After flying so many miles, I was invited to become a member of the airline’s lounge club. This was an “exclusive” lounge that had snacks and beverages, serving as an oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle.

 

I felt special.

I thought to myself “This is cool!”

I did not have anything to worry about concerning my flight.

 

John, the disciple JESUS loved, heard JESUS speak to him. JESUS explained how blessed the people are who wash their robes clean. This may be a reference to becoming sin-free through the belief in the death, burial and resurrection of JESUS. Because of this belief, followers became family members of the almighty GOD.

 

My Observations:

Belief in JESUS “washes” my sins clean.

Accepting JESUS as my Savior gives me the privilege of “eating” from the tree of life eternally.

Freedom to “go through the gates” will be my reward because of my belief in JESUS.

 

Being excluded is my choice. I mean, GOD made salvation extremely easy for all humans. JESUS volunteered to become a human, die for your and my sins and was raised from the dead. I did not have to do anything, yet I received a gift of eternal life. Unfortunately, there will be those who reject this gift.

 

All humans sin. There is no one who is righteous. BUT JESUS redeemed those who believe in HIS act of love. Those who reject HIS love remain in their sin. Every sin is remembered and eternally accounted for, to those who reject the LORD. I gladly surrender my life to JESUS, who was, is, and is to come.

 

Challenge:

What rights are told to the writer?

What rights are withheld and who are they withheld from?

Will you surrender your life of fighting JESUS to be placed in HIS loving family today?

Priorities Addressed

Priorities Addressed

Jude 1: ³ My dear friends, I was doing my best to write to you about the salvation we share in common, when I felt the need of writing at once to encourage you to fight on for the faith which once and for all God has given to his people. ⁴ For some godless people have slipped in unnoticed among us, persons who distort the message about the grace of our God in order to excuse their immoral ways, and who reject Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord. Long ago the Scriptures predicted the condemnation they have received.

 

============

 

After planning and making several trips back and forth to the hardware store, I finished installing my sprinkler / irrigation system. I was excited and as I began to program watering times, clouds gathered. These clouds were darker than usual. Suddenly, tornado sirens sounded! But instead of rushing into the house, I finished setting my sprinkler system. The tornado touched down two blocks over. I should have gone inside.

 

• Another priority came up that needed to be addressed immediately, but I ignored it.
• A danger that threatened life arose and I did not take heed.
• A warning was clearly given for me to take action, and I kept doing what I was doing.

 

Jude, human brother of JESUS, begins his letter with a strong warning. At first he was going to write about salvation. This topic, while extremely important, was put aside to address a more immediate problem, namely false teaching. He was aware of what people were saying about JESUS by those who pretended to be part of HIM but were not.

 

My Observations:

• Many people mention the name of JESUS who do not believe the HE is GOD who became a human to die for the sins of humanity and was raised from the dead.
• Those who do not believe, provide solutions that keeps him or her doing things that do not please GOD, trying to justify their actions using GOD’s name.
• GOD sees my heart and wants me to fight for my faith to make sure I am not influenced by those who oppose HIM.

 

False teachers look like real teachers. I mean, when half truths are told and omissions take place, its hard to tell false teachers from real teachers. BUT GOD knows and HE is ready to point them out.

 

GOD sees the heart and know who is for HIM or against HIM.HE knew liars would talk about HIS SON in a negative way, yet HE allowed HIM to die on the cross for you and me. False teachers do not want to surrender their lives to this teaching, instead he or she add philosophies that may oppose CHRIST. I am glad GOD protects you and me form those who pretend to love GOD.

 

Challenge:

• Why does the writer change the topic?
• Have you ever heard something that sounded true enough to be credible, like commercials, yet were false?
• Will you seek a relationship with JESUS by reading the Bible, HIS Word, today?

Ready for the Return

 

Ready for the Return

2 Corinthians 12: ¹⁹ Perhaps you think that all along we have been trying to defend ourselves before you. No! We speak as Christ would have us speak in the presence of God, and everything we do, dear friends, is done to help you. ²⁰ I am afraid that when I get there I will find you different from what I would like you to be and you will find me different from what you would like me to be. I am afraid that I will find quarreling and jealousy, hot tempers and selfishness, insults and gossip, pride and disorder. ²¹ I am afraid that the next time I come my God will humiliate me in your presence, and I shall weep over many who sinned in the past and have not repented of the immoral things they have done—their lust and their sexual sins.

 

============

 

When the teacher stepped out, it was our chance to get up and act silly. It looked like fun. And for so long, I had never participated in the foolery. This time I decided to join in. Unaware of time, I was caught when the teacher returned; meanwhile the others dashed to their desks.

 

• I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing.
• I got caught in the act.
• I could not say anything because I was guilty.

 

Paul spoke about his impending third trip. He mentions that he is afraid of what he will find when he gets there. While He had taught what was right, he was afraid the people had chosen not to follow GOD.

 

My Observations:

• One day JESUS will return and wants to catch me doing HIS will.
• One day JESUS will return and desires to see me following HIS ways.
• One day JESUS will return and will judge my actions according to HIS standards.

 

Believing in JESUS as the Savior also means believing that HE will return one day with all power. Not even JESUS knows when HE will return, only the HEAVENLY FATHGER. While JESUS has forgiven me of all my sins, past present and future, it does not give me the license to wildly indulge.

 

Sin distracts me. It makes me doubt GOD loves me and I question HIS love. No wonder Satan tries to tempt me. BUT GOD knows where I am. HE provides the strength to follow HIS ways and to seek the imminent return of JESUS. I am grateful so I choose to follow JESUS this day.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever been tempted to sin a little?
• What part of the writer’s list do you see that may be a bit convicting?
• Will you increase your fear of the LORD by desiring to please HIM and follow HIS ways little by little, knowing you will never be perfect?

Meanwhile

Meanwhile

John 11: ⁵³ Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. ⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

⁵⁵ And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. ⁵⁶ Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?” ⁵⁷ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

============

After observing what everyone was doing, I could see the flaws. I quickly assessed what to do and began to tell them the corrections. When things were going as “I” expected, I took a break. Someone came to me with “suggestions” on how I could have handled things better. I did not notice “my” mistakes.

• There have been times when I wanted to see people act like me.
• There have been times when I desired to see the results of what “I” told people.
• There have been times when I paid so much attention to what other people were doing, that I forgot to do the things I was supposed to be doing.

The church leaders had taken their hatred of JESUS to the final level. They banded together to kill HIM using legal technicalities of the Bible. They spent their time, in which they should have been preparing for the Passover, spying for JESUS in a quest for murder. Meanwhile, JESUS prepared to save the world.

• GOD wants me to focus on HIS love every day.
• GOD wants me to sing praises to HIM every day.
• GOD wants me to tell people about JESUS every day.

When I sing, praise and speak highly about JESUS, there is no room for hatred in my heart. Unfortunately, it holds true for the opposite. When I try to control others, or get mad at them easily or speak slanderous words, I am not filled with GOD’s SPIRIT and am acting on my own.

GOD wants me to bring people to HIM and let go of them. I can only run one life, which is mine, and most times I do not do that very well. BUT GOD forgives me and I am delighted to tell others HE can do the same for them.

• Are you busy thinking what someone else should be doing?
• Do you easily see the flaws in others and not yourself?
• Will you take a step back and allow GOD to grown them and you in HIS own way today?

People Checklist

Luke 3: ⁷ Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. ⁹ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

============

Looking at my calendar I realized I was triple booked with events. I made an appearance at each gathering spending only minutes with the host. I made sure they knew I was there and had the best intentions, but I was busy. In later years, I was triple booked again, only this time it was for funerals.

• There were times when I went to a lot of events.
• There were times when I spent more time going to the events than being at the event.
• There were times when I wanted to be seen at the event than actually “being” at the event.

John was filled with the HOLY SPIRIT and discerned the hearts of those who came out to be baptized. Some people may have come there because everyone else was there or to be seen by the ”right” people. He tried to change their perspective because some of the crowd may have felt they deserved to be there because their families were long time church goers.

• GOD wants me to serve others with my heart filled with HIS love.
• GOD wants me to not to think more highly of myself because I attend church.
• GOD wants me to bear fruit worthy of repentance rather than “looking good” on the outside and being rotten on the inside.

Having people on a checklist is not always the best. I do understand that I cannot save everyone and if I do not set boundaries, I could burn myself out. BUT GOD does want me to spend quality time with people so I can bear HIS fruit.

Only GOD’s fruit is good. HE looks at my heart and can tell when I am bearing fruit for myself rather than for HIM. HE wants me to point to HIM by sitting and crying and laughing and praying with people all while pointing to HIS amazing grace for me. HE want me to be there for people rather than check listing my appearance.

• Are you treating GOD as a checklist item?
• Do you sympathize with people?
• Can you spend some quality time with those who need you today?

Heart Sorrow

Matthew 18: 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

============

“Say you’re sorry” a teacher demanded. “Sorry” was my pitiful response, but I wasn’t sorry at all!

• JESUS wants me to have empathy over anger.
• JESUS wants me to have forgiveness over being right all the time.
• JESUS wants me to have a heart that is truly sorry over saying I’m sorry to get past an argument.

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” tells me to have forgiveness all over. If forgiveness is not in my heart then I will pursue others onerously. GOD wants me to know the main reason I am here is for HIM in the first place. HE forgives, so should I.

• Are you harboring ill feelings for someone?
• Why are you holding onto so much negativity?
• Will you let go of the hurtful thinking and ask GOD for a forgiving heart?