Saturday, March 30, 2024

The Untold Story


There is something about the Baltimore bridge collapse on Tuesday that no one is talking about. It's rather significant but nobody sees it. It is the symbolism of what happened on that dark, tragic morning.

First, the word allegory is defined this way - The representation of abstract ideas or principles by characters, figures, or events in narrative, dramatic, or pictorial form.

On the surface this event seems like a horrible accident. There are questions about the ship's owner (Singapore) and if it was an act of terrorism. Who knows? Not me. But here is what I found interesting.

The name of the bridge. It's the Francis Scott Key Bridge. And who is Francis Scott Key? He is the writer of our national anthem. He was born in Maryland, where the collapsed bridge is located.

The Star Spangled Banner is a song written out of pride for our great nation. It is a symbol of American patriotism, sung at sporting events and other major happenings.

The allegory is that a bridge named after the writer of our nation's anthem was destroyed by a foreign merchant ship. Isn't 'America's economy' being destroyed by those of the rest of the world? Or are we destroying our OWN economy?

Could God have allowed this event to happen as a warning to our country for the direction it is taking on just about everything?

Our nation is led by corrupt politicians, of both parties. Corruption trickles down through federal, to state, to local officials. We all have lost our way.

In the Bible, God uses allegory in the Books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and other places. But nowhere is it as prevalent as it is in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 12 says, "I will bless those who bless you (Israel) and curse those who curse you." Hasn't our government turned its back on Israel?

I think it's about time for a change. If we don't repent of our ways we will soon be facing the wrath of Almighty God. It is written . . .

"It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God." - Hebrews 10:31

Why did the ship loose power? Why did it strike that particular bridge? We may never know. But regardless, it's time for a change of heart in this country, and around the world. A time is coming when things will get much worse.

"The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.

Whoever has ears, let them hear." - Revelation 13:5-9

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Majesty


"Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty
and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all." - 1 Chronicles 29:11

There are currently 8.1 billion people living on earth. That's a lot of people! Not to God though. He created the heavens, the stars, the planets. He can number of grains of sand on the seashore and can count the hairs on 8.1 billion heads. He is all-powerful! Yet . . .

He loves us individually. He cares about us. However, many of us choose to ignore Him or to not believe in Him.

For those people, here are a few verses to consider:

"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except fhrough me." - John 14-6:44

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." - John 6:44

Think about it for a moment. If you are a believer in Jesus, God has chosen you! Out of 8.1 billion people! That fact should have an immediate effect on us. A humbling effect.

"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" - Psalm 4

However, if you are not currently a believer in the God of the Bible, I strongly urge you to consider saying 'yes' to His calling. There are eternal consequences to the answer we give.

Despite God's majesty and power, He allows us to chose, even though He has already chosen us. Does that make sense? He already knows the answer we will give to His calling. We must acknowledge His majesty, repent of our sins, and humble ourselves before Him. Then we will receive in us the greatest of His amazing gifts - Himself.

Majesty - Michael W. Smith

Monday, March 25, 2024

The Parable of The Snow Storm


Neither my wife nor I watched the weather Saturday night. Perhaps we should have. We were both planning to go hear our granddaughter sing in church on Sunday but, when we awoke, snow covered the ground. It was then that we found out it was supposed to snow all day.

"It can't!" my wife exclaimed. "I have to take treats in to church. I want to hear my granddaughter sing!" Yet the storm had come, whether we liked it or not. And there we were.

Just yesterday we were outside. I went walking in the woods, enjoying the clear, cloudless sky and bright sunshine. This all reminded me of something Jesus said.

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all." - Luke 17:26-27

Oh, wonderful.

Have we become too busy these days? Maybe it's just me in my retirement looking back at the busy life I too used to live. But people just seem so busy. Too busy to even care about Jesus.

Maybe that's to harsh. Maybe people care about Jesus but just don't have time to read or study or serve or worship or even love.

It has been said that 'idle hands are the devils workshop.' I think Satan likes busy hands as well. Too busy for God.

And I'm just as bad. When I saw it snowing Sunday morning I didn't really want to drive into church. And I didn't. Is my safety more important than worshipping God? Ouch.

The point is this: Life can be full of distractions, if we let it get that way. Satan will try anything to keep us from worshipping, praying, and serving in Jesus' name. The question is, what would Jesus be doing? We're supposed to be like Him. Where would Jesus be?

Being safe is one thing, but allowing ourselves to become too busy is another.

Can we worship "in spirit and in truth" if we keep looking at our watches because the pastor is running late with his message? Or do we eventually stop going to church just because we don't like the church we're going to? "It's too inconvenient" or, "I don't like the music."

Decisions, decisions. We need to get beyond ourselves and do what is right in God's eyes.

If we have chosen Christ, the answer should be simple. Then why isn't it?

Saturday, March 23, 2024

The Perishing


Are there people in your life who don't know Jesus? Who put Him off in favor of living their own lifestyle? We need to pray for them boldly, as we see the day of our Lord quickly approaching.

"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Perishing . . .

God has given us a sign here, an indicator for us to observe fruit in others regarding their faith, or in this case, their lack of faith.

Of course, we cannot know what is truly in someone's heart, but we can see their "fruit."

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." - Matthew 7:16-19

Jesus was talking about false teachers here, but the same fruit inspection concept applies to ALL people. Scripture even supplies us with a fruit inspection guide.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is lovejoy, peaceforbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23

So, we can know who these people in our lives are by observing their fruit. Next, we must pray for them and talk to them lovingly about the lifestyle they have chosen. Which is really no life at all. It is a death sentence - "cut down and thrown into the fire" as Jesus calls it.

The first thing I would do is ask to meet with them - one-on-one. Then, ask them straight out, "So, what do you think about Jesus? I mean, who is He in your life?"

Their answer should clarify things. It will be the starting point.

It may be they have a different idea about who Jesus is. A warm and fuzzy Jesus perhaps rather than the one  who brings division and a sword.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." - Matthew 10:34

If a blind person was waiting to get on a train and you saw them standing a bit to close to the track, would you say anything to them before the train came? Of course you would.

Jesus is the train. It's time to get onboard.

"There is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!" - Luke 15:7

People Get Ready - Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck


Wednesday, March 20, 2024

A Thousand Pieces


Life is good. We can be living out our lives without a single care, when all of a sudden life gets turned upside down. It explodes into a thousand different scattered pieces. The illness of a loved one, the loss of a job, a car accident, or a divorce. What do we do then? We feel so helpless.

The default answer is always to pray. But then comes the waiting. And sometimes the wait can be long. What then?

If you are hurting, reach out. If someone is adrift at sea, won't they wave frantically at a passing ship? Wave!

And for those on board that ship, keep your eyes open! We never know when God might place someone in our paths who might need prayer or just someone to talk to.

The other day I met someone like that. He is going through a divorce and has two kids. He works third shift and struggles to find hope. BUT . . . he goes to a church filled with loving people. "You should talk to so-and-so. I think you would both benefit."

God is love, right? His greatest commandment is to love. How do we express that love? Compassion, mercy, grace, forgiveness, sacrifice. Help them put their puzzle back together.

First, sort all the pieces and put them in some kind sort of order. Assemble the border and then do the work.

Love takes many shapes and comes in many forms. Our job is to apply it, liberally. Assembling a puzzle always goes faster with more than just one person. Ask the question.

"Need some help?"

"How are you doing today?"

"How may I pray for you?"

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

You Talkin' To Me?


One of the important things to consider when reading the Bible is WHO is being spoken to. Check this out.

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nationsbaptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:16-20

This passage is referred to as The Great Commission. Pastors often use this text to encourage churchgoers to "spread the Gospel." But WHO specifically was Jesus talking to?

Jesus was only talking to the 11 disciples. Not to ALL of His disciples. Just the 11. He put them in charge of forming The Church. They traveled far and wide, preaching The Word, performing "signs and wonders," and setting up local churches.

Here's another example on the same command from Jesus. Note that he is now speaking to the 11 Apostles.

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen." - Acts 1:1-2

Again, there were only 11 apostles left of those that Jesus had chosen.

[Side note: Apostles are also disciples, but not all disciples are apostles.]

The Great Commission is also mentioned in Mark and Luke. In Mark, the writer refers to them as "the Eleven" (capital E). And Luke, who also wrote the Book of Acts, again used "the Eleven." But additiomal names were ALSO mentioned - the two walking to Emmaus, one specifically named Cleopas.

The point of all this is to say that the Great Commission was given specifically to a very few people. Not to all of Jesus' disciples. And they DID go to "the ends of the earth" at that time. They established the foundation for the church. True, they took other disciples with them, to help them, as they went, but the 11 were in charge.

We here in today's world, some 2,000 years later, were not given the Great Commission. The church already exists. Yes, we evangelize, Yes, we become missionaries. But the foundation of the church was already laid 2,000 years ago by the Apostles. They came up with the structure, the qualifications for church leadership, etc.

If we truly ARE disciples of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit lives within us, we can't help but share the Good News with others. It is the Holy Spirit urging us to share that Good News.

Your faith and personal story of how Jesus changed YOUR life was given to you from above. It's a wonderful story. Share it!

The Foundation of The Church - Gotquestions.org

You Talkin' To Me? - Robert de Niro

Monday, March 18, 2024

The Terminator


I watched a little bit of the old Terminator movie this past weekend. "I'll be back." Remember that? There's a lot of great lines in that movie.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays the terminator and his mission is to "terminate" Sarah Conner. He is very relentless but ultimately fails in his quest. That's because a man from the future (Kyle Reese) comes back to protect Sarah.

When Mr. Reese finds her Arnold is shooting up a night club where Sarah is nervously waiting. Then Kyle says these words:

"Come with me if you want to live." - Kyle Reese

I thought about that statement for a minute. It sounded familiar.

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." - Matthew 16:24

Close enough. But that got me thinking about other similarities between the Terminator movie ans the story of Jesus.

The Terminator is Satan on course. Sarah is Mary, the mother if Jesus. Kyle is the Holy Spirit. Kyle and Sarah have a baby together - John Conner - the one who saved the planet. His initials by the way are J.C. Jesus Christ?

Sarah Connor was faced with a life and death decision. Would she follow a man that she never even met before? Or would she face certain death? The choice was simple. The same choice is ours today?

Will we follow a man we've never even met before. The Holy Spirit leads us and cincicts us of our sin. It is by followong the Holy Spirit that we meet Jesus.

Our alternative is certain death. Eternal death. Have you made that choice? To follow Jesus? I pray that you have.

Remember what Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 14.

"I'll be back."

Or something like that.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." - John 14:3

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The Tiny Life


I am currently building a tiny house in my yard. Its design and construction has taught me some valuable life lessons.

Prior to building it, I attended a tiny house seminar where they taught me some things to consider. Like this gem...

To get ready for living in a tiny house, go through everything you have and get rid of 90% of it. Then, do it again.

I also learned this valuable design concept....

Everything must have more than one purpose or it has not been thought through completely.

An example of this would be the couch in the "living room." It's a couch (1) that folds out into a bed (2) with storage underneath (3).

The roof over the door (1) comes off for transportation and then covers the front window to protect it from flying road debris (2).

In my old age I also use this tiny house concept of doing multiple things. When I go downstairs to get something I think, "What else do I need down there?" So I won't have to make the trip twice.

It's all about living efficiently, and with a purpose.

When I drive to visit friends I will listen to the Bible and pray along the way. I combine shopping trips with a round of disc golf before or after, and pick up litter as I play. Efficiency.

And moms, I don't have to tell YOU about multitasking.

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

When my wife goes grocery shopping she buys some extra food items and drops them off at the food pantry.

Try this one. When you are paying for your meal at a drive-thru restaurant, also pay for the meal of the person behind you in line. You will not only touch them with the kindness of your hearts, but the heart of the cashier as well.

We are here for a reason, and a multitasking purpose. To love God, to love others, and to bring glory to God in everything we do. Multitasking in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

"Less is more." - Mies van der Rohe

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:35


Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Ping!


First, this is not a political post. And although you might recognize the woman in the picture above, this isn't about her either. Today's story is about technology and how we are never really alone.

Fanni Willis is the district attorney in Fulton County, Georgia where she is prosecuting former president Donald Trump. During the proceedings her relationship with Nathan Wade came into question.

They admitted to a romantic relationship beginning in 2022. But then evidence came to light proving that that was a lie. And that is the REAL story here:

"Nathan Wade’s phone has been tracked to District Attorney Fani Willis’ home late in 2021, well before the pair claim they were a couple, according to a bombshell new court filing." - Newsmax report

Wade's phone was traced, in 2024, back three years ago to 2021. They were able tell where he was three years ago! Today!!

I have several questions. What kind of records do our phone companies keep on us anyway? And how can authorities even track our phones to begin with?

Last question first. There are apps available that will "ping" your phone. If your phone goes missing, or you want to find out where your kids are, there's an app for that.

What does all of this have to do with God?

God knows exactly where we are and what we are doing every single second of our lives. He sees everything. He knows everything. Yet somehow we think we can get away with things? I don't think so.

"O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!" - Psalm 139:1-6

We need to remember whose we are at ALL times. Someone, it seems, is always watching. Ping!

"The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching." - John Wooden

Oh, and regarding the first question: What kind of records do our phone companies keep on us? Whatever they want. We signed the user agreement when we bought the phone.

Have a nice day! 😳

Monday, March 11, 2024

Becoming Less


Today's verse, and topic for consideration, is from John The Baptist. 

"He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30

What does becoming less look like? How can we become less? What can we do to make God increase in our lives?"

Step #1 - Examine Ourselves.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

What is "the excess" that we carry with us each day? What are the things we do that do not bring glory to God? Make a list.

Step #2 - Refine Ourselves.

Begin removing those things, those impurities in our lives we just listed. Get rid of the distractions that separate us from God.

Step #3 - Fill the void.

Nature abhores a vacuum and so do we so fill the empty spaces in our lives, not with our thoughts and desires, but with God's.

Read and study more. Engage more. Love more.

Step #4 - Apply it!

What gift(s) has God given you that could be used for His glory? Make a list and start checking things off today!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." - James 1:17-18

Be that good and perfect gift in someone's life this week. Let God use you. Let go of what's troubling you and let God fill the voids in your life. You'll be glad you did.

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Live In The Now


The world we live in today is a whole lot different than when I was a kid. Of course, that was 50+ years ago. A lot of things have changed since then, and not all of them for the better.

This generation of today lives by the mantra featured in my story title - live in the now. There's no thinking about the future or possible consequences. "Just do it," says Nike.

Back in the 60's the Boy Scouts had a motto - "Be Prepared." Everything we did was in preparation for some future event.

First aid, tying knots, foraging for food, exercising, camping, handling knives and axes, civil service, attending church. Everything was a training exercise for the furure.

And now? Most of today's kids don't even know what a checkbook is, much less how to balance one.

What do they do when the power goes out? "Well, my phone has a flashlight." And when the battery dies? "Umm . . . call mommy and daddy?"

I'm not a big prepper but I do believe in being prepared. The extent of each person's preparedness is up to the individual.

My preparation for the future has led me to Christ. Through Jesus, I know exactly what my future holds.

Yes, my wife and I buy things in bulk when they go on sale. Yes, we stock up our pantry and our freezer. We have a generator, we have a wood burning fireplace. But our faith and Hope for our future lies in Jesus.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Live for the future.

Live In The Now - Wayne's World

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

A Slap and a Hug


I woke up this morning to a slap in the face, followed quickly thereafter by a loving hug. No, my wife is still sleeping. Let me explain.

First, some background information. I used to be a youth leader at my church. Lots of high schoolers to shepherd and love, as a father loves his children. And I still love them to this very day. Even after some of the choices they have made.

The Slap - I opened up Facebook (I know, there's a mistake right there) and I saw a picture of one of those youth group kids, a girl. She was lovingly being embracing by her same-sex partner. That kind of hurt.

A quick prayer from me, followed by continued scrolling.

The Hug - Suddenly there appeared a video from one of my favorite pastors. He was speaking about suffering for the Gospel. So, I watched it.

I was reminded how Paul suffered for the Gospel.

"Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea." - 2 Corinthians 11:24-25

Paul goes on from there to list many other sufferings, not to mention that he eventually died for the sake of The Gospel.

We who follow Christ will face decisions in our lives, sometimes daily. How will we face those decisions? How will we answer those tests from God?

Recently, Alistair Begg, a prominent pastor in Ohio, was criticized for advising a grandmother to attend a gay wedding. His marriage advice podcast was pulled from USAToday. He was rebuked by his fellow pastors. Begg refuses to repent.

This generation has perverted the wedding ceremony as if it were only for themselves. Is not an earthly wedding a foretaste of our soon-coming heavenly wedding? The bride (The Church) and the bride groom (Jesus)? Did not God create us men and women for a purpose?

For those who choose to stand firm in their faith, they are sure to be chastized and rebuked by those living in "the world." It hurts. But the pain does not breed contempt in the heart of the Christian. Rather love leads to compassion, and that compassion leads to impassioned prayer.

We all have people in our lives who make poor choices. We only have to look in a mirror to see an example. We are ALL sinners. But those who have chosen Christ must follow HIS path, not the path that this world has taken. Sin leads to death!

"Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." - Philippians 1:27-29

And again . . .

"To live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21

And . . .

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Repent + Jesus = New Life

Suffering For The Gospel- Voddie Baucham

Monday, March 4, 2024

The Man With The Pitcher


As Easter approaches I thought it might be a good time to examine an often overlooked detail in one of the stories about Jesus' crucifixion.

This story requires a little digging, but before we begin our excavation, our "dig site" will be in the Book of Matthew. We are looking for clues so bring your Bible along. You will need it to make sense of what we are going to find. Are you ready? Let's begin.

"On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

So He sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them." - Mark 14:12-16

As you can see I have highlighted a few things to consider. But we're going to focus on the man carrying the water jar today.

If you open up your favorite web browser and search for "man water jar constellation" what do you get?

Aquarius. Interesting.

If you click on the Wikipedia link you will find that Aquarius is Latin for "the water carrier." Water carrier? Hmm. A man carrying a water jar. Just like in Mark 14!

Aquarius is also a zodiac sign (not that I believe in that stuff but) its time spans from January 20-February 18th. We actually just passed through "The Age of Aquarius."

Jesus was telling His disciples to literally "follow Aquarius" - a man with water. Also interesting. Jesus, the man the disciples were following for three years, was literally "the well" where they could get living water.

"Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” - John 4:14 

We who call ourselves Christians, are we not to follow the Man with living water? Won't He take us into an "upper room" where we will eat at "the wedding feast of the lamb?"

And if we follow the man with the water jar (Aquarius), what's next? What sign in the Zodiac follows Aquarius? It's Pisces. And what is Pisces?

Fish.

Are you kidding me? The "fish" (Pisces) follow "the man with the water jar? (Aquarius).

Now, with all this in mind, read this:

"And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. - Matthew 4:19

Interesting.

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Bacon And Eggs


"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed."
- Martina Navratilova

This is a problem in the church today. And also in the hearts of many of its members, I am sad to say.

To use the pig and chicken analogy, Jesus wants us to be committed, not just involved, only Jesus used two other animals to tell us this - sheep and goats.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." - Matthew 25:31-32

What does it mean to be committed to Jesus?

Step #1 - Believe Jesus is who He says He is. Not only is He the Son of God, He IS God.

Step #2 - Believe that He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is currently sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

Step #3 - Repent of all your sins. No one gets into heaven carrying their sins with them. Change your ways. Jesus has paid the penalty for your sins.

Step #4 - Allow Jesus to be Lord over your life. Follow Him and His commands. Commit to His Lordship.

It's really very simple, but it IS a commitment. The real question is, are you willing to take that step?

I pray that you would consider it. You may have to give up some things. Actually, you must be willing to give up everything. But you will gain so much more. Take a stand. Make the commitment. Be the bacon. Be the sheep.