What if you knew your destiny? What if we knew when we were going to die and how? Would you want to know, when and how? I don’t think I would want to know. Then we could possibly change the outcome? I don’t want to know the date I’m going to pass away. I would be more focused on that date than living my life. Would it change the way you’re living if you knew your destiny?
We should live our lives to the best of our abilities like today is the last because tomorrow is not guaranteed to us. I believe each day is a gift from God and if you’re not living the way you should, we may not live a long and fruitful life. On the flip side of that, is it so bad to die? I mean the ultimate goal is to live a life pleasing to God and to go to Heaven, through our belief in Jesus Christ and God’s grace. However, I will feel sad for the people that I leave behind that love me, my wife, my children and loved ones.
I believe we should shine our lights and try to sow seeds with unbelievers, so they can have what we have, everlasting life. I think that if you are not trying to expand God’s Kingdom, we may not live a long and fruitful life. If you have everlasting life and you’re not worried about dying, or what happens when you die, then you can focus on living your best life and spreading the good news about Jesus and telling people that Jesus died on the Cross for our sins so we don’t have to worry about dying and going to a Devil’s Hell, which wasn’t even created for us, therefore we do know our destiny. If you’re a believer, you’re going to Heaven and you’ll have everlasting life.
In our Sunday school lesson this week we are studying being obedient as a Christian. And while we are not meeting in Sunday school, my wife and I try to keep up with our Sunday lessons.
In the introduction our lesson states “Sometimes we can complicate the concept of following God. Following God can be summed up simply as obedience. This is really all that God demands of His people. He does not call believers to be perfect, for God knows that perfection is impossible for mortal human beings. All God asks is that we obey him. Christianity is really that simple. This lesson challenges the believer in the area of obedience. Are you willing to be obedient to God even though it may result in opposition by men? We find a great example to follow from the apostles as they remained obedient to God despite the opposition they faced. More firsts develop in Acts 5:17 – 32: the first miraculous escape from prison and the first beating.” (Baptist Expositor Learner/Spring 2020 Witness to Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria: A study of Acts 1-8)
As Christians we get persecuted because we believe in something that others may not, because we believe in God and that we are saved by God’s grace. That he sent his only son to die on the Cross for our sins so that we may have eternal life in Heaven. You can see in the below scripture that the apostles stood fast in their faith in God, even though they knew they were going to be persecuted.
17 “Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
22 But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned and told,
23 Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
24 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.
25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.
26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Bible Gateway King James Version 2020)
It’s hard to stay the course and have faith as Christians, but that is exactly what we are called to do. Love, Pray and Fish (more on that later).
Would you give up everything you have, all your possessions, which God allowed you to have, to follow Jesus, to serve him and learn from the ultimate teacher? What an honor it would that would be.
Matthew 19:16 “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.” (Bible Gateway King James Version 2020)
I don’t know how long it would take to sell all your things and donate the proceeds to the poor, but can you imagine the opportunity to go and serve Jesus? Jesus knew the man wouldn’t sell his belongings and donate his wealth to the poor and come and follow him. What would you do? I would like to think that I would. Now, I believe I would, but a few years ago, I may not have. Now, I know what an honor it would be and we should want to do this, not because we are sure to be rewarded in Heaven, but because Jesus died for our sins. It’s the least we can do.
God allows us to have our possession anyway. Why not give it all back for him, for we will be paid back (rewarded) in Heaven. “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Bible Gateway King James Version 2020). What would you do?
Should we live in fear? With all the uncertainty of staying at home, or going out in public, and opening up the economy. Should we live in fear? No, having said that, I am not taking unnecessary risks. I am following the guidelines, six feet apart, no gatherings of more than 10 people, all that jazz. Only one person from our family goes and does the shopping, we don’t take the whole family to the store. I don’t even know if that is allowed?
I did go to Walmart a few weeks ago to get necessities and I didn’t wear a mask. I don’t think I had one to wear, now we are wearing one when we go. I’m saying all this to say that, while we are following our State’s guidelines, we shouldn’t live in fear.
I have faith that God will take care of us, one way or the other. Maybe I need to have more faith, but I’m not taking unnecessary risks. My work has closed the office to the public and only a few people are allowed to work in the office at a time, the rest are tele-working from home.
I’m not afraid to go out in public.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had faith, they didn’t worship the false God.
13 “Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was won’t to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.” (Bible Gateway King James Version, 2020)
Believers, we certainly shouldn’t live in fear, maybe we just need to have more faith.
I’ve been praying a lot lately, and washing my hands. I’ve been praying that God has mercy on us and wipes out the Corona Virus. Or, God certainly has the power to wipe us out, but I pray that he doesn’t. I’ve been praying that we turn back to God and seek his face, that we put him back number one in our lives, that we don’t have false idols. When I am reading the Bible, I notice that worshipping anyone other than God makes God mad. I’m praying that we repent from our sins, we’re all sinners, and none of us are perfect. And, I’m so thankful that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.
When Michael Jackson died in 2009, that’s all you heard about on the news was how distraught everyone was about losing him. Kobe Bryant just passed away and I hope we are not worshipping entertainers, athletes, anyone except God. Sports, has been shut down, School is closed, but then again we’re not allowed to pray at school anymore either.
I’m praying that the kids can get back to going to the parks and playing, and that they can get back to school soon too. That we can get back to watching football, and basketball (sports in general). We just need to be careful not to worship the players and Sports and not to put it before going to Church and worshipping God, and I’m washing my hands.
I’m praying that we can get back to attending Church in person and that I can get back to attending pastoral meetings with my fellow brothers, so we can find the Pastor that God has in store for our Church and I’m washing my hands.
I’m praying for people that may not have accepted Jesus into their lives or that don’t believe in Jesus. I pray that they come to know Jesus and accept him as their Savior before it’s too late. We live in an unpredictable time, we are seeing tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, diseases, hurricanes and more. We need to be ready to go and meet our maker.
I’m also thanking God, on a daily basis for my countless blessings that I don’t deserve. I’m truly blessed. Let’s not forget to thank God, even in these times of despair and uncertainty.
And, I’m praying that God will forgive me of my sins. I know I am not perfect, that I am a sinner. I’m repenting for my sins and washing my hands – Stay Safe and God Bless You.
Are you blessed or lucky? Am I blessed or lucky? My family returned from Germany, March 20th, after visiting my wife’s family and celebrating her 40th birthday with her twin sister. We arrived on March 10th and planned on staying until March 25th, but our plans were changed by the Pandemic, Corona Virus.
First, we were told all American’s had to be back with in the U.S. by Friday, March 13th, but we just got there three days earlier and ignored the warning. And, the 4 0 celebration was planned for the following day. However, our return flight kept getting cancelled. My wife spent hours on the phone trying to book our return flights. We finally got a flight that didn’t get cancelled, however, we had to fly from Frankfurt, Germany with a layover in London, England and then to Dallas, Texas, five days early, as opposed to or our original flight from Frankfurt, Germany, straight to Dallas, Texas.
On the way over to Germany, I sat two seats away from someone that coughed the entire flight and didn’t bother to cover their mouth. We walked through Dallas Fort Worth Airport, and Frankfurt Am Main Airport and I don’t think we practiced social distancing lining up, to check in on the way over. On the way back, they did ensure we spread out when we exited the plane in Dallas, before we checked in with the CDC that was waiting for us there.
We arrived in Dallas and were screened for the Corona Virus, passed our screening and were told to self-quarantine for 14 days at home. We did and never developed any serious symptoms, yes, we had a sniffle or a cough, but nothing to get too worried about.
I said all that to say this, am I lucky or am I blessed that we flew all the way to Germany to visit with family, celebrate my wife and sister-in-law’s 40th birthday and to visit with some old friends and made it home safe. God was definitely with us when we drove back from Dallas to Arkansas, because we were exhausted. We took turns driving, but somehow made it home. Are we lucky or blessed? I believe we are blessed, God was definitely with us.
I’m blessed! I have a beautiful family that loves me, and we are healthy. I have a job right now, when according to CNBC ‘Another 6.6 million file for unemployment’ (9 March, 2020). I have a roof over my head. I have a loving Church family, and have many more things to be thankful for.
First of all, this is just my opinion, but I think we need to slow down. I believe that God slowed us down by having some of us shelter-in-place and some of us even quarantined. We have such busy lifestyles now, people working Saturdays, and even Sundays, which is supposed to be set aside for the Lord, a day of rest to glorify God. I think God slowed us down for a bit, telling us Don’t forget about me, don’t forget to put me first, don’t forget to worship me, and don’t forget to enjoy the beauty of the world that he (I) made. It reminds me of the song So Will I by Hillsong Worship, “And as You speak a hundred billion galaxies are born, in the vapor of Your breath the planets form.”
Exodus 20:8-11 ESV “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Mark 2:27 ESV “And he said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Those are just two passages about the Sabbath day in the Bible, there are many more. God wanted us to slow down, especially on the day of rest and I think we did for a while. I just hope we can learn from this and heed his warning.
Another point I want to make is that we need to turn back to God and put him first. Oftentimes we get caught up in our world. We need to put God first in everything we do. We need to make sure we don’t have false idols and that we are not worshipping anyone or anything but God. We just saw Kobe Bryant pass away and I saw many Facebook and Twitter posts of how people were distraught and I am sympathetic towards his family and friends. I tried to not get too distraught over his passing. I just hope we are not worshipping entertainers, actors, actresses and athletes.
I especially feel sorry for anyone that doesn’t know Jesus as their personal Savior. My prayer is that people that are lost, that they turn to Jesus in this time and accept him into their hearts and repent from their sins and ask to be forgiven to have everlasting life with him in Heaven.
And even all Christians, we are sinners and maybe we are getting caught up in our busy lives and may not be putting God first in our lives. We all need to repent, and ask God for forgiveness. We need to turn back to God and put him first, take time to pray and read our Bibles. In this time of social distancing, many Churches are turning to social media, and Facebook to put their Church services on, and their devotionals. We need to take time to watch them and worship God, to get back in the word of God.
Also this time has allowed us to spend more time with our family. We just got back from Germany on 20 March, and my family was quarantined for 14 days, with schools being closed there is more time to spend with family. While it was a good time, it did get stressful too, you have to get creative with things to do as well. It rained a lot here in Arkansas and we were not able to get outside much and some states have shelter-in-place in effect. I just hope we come out of this Corona virus stronger and that we learned something from it and that may be different for every person. For me I got to spend time with my family and slow down and was reminded to appreciate God’s beautiful work that he created. The beautiful mountains, creeks, rivers, lakes, and forest here in Arkansas. And how much I love and don’t want to take my family for granted and to remember to put God first in everything I do. I believe there is more work to do, there are more revivals to have, more Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames to have, more seeds to plant and more hearts for God to convict. God Bless you all.
In Samuel, Hannah, married to Elkanah, couldn’t have children and Hannah desperately wanted to give her husband a child. In those days, if you couldn’t have a child, you were considered inferior. Peninnah was also married to Elkanah and she taunted Hannah about not being able to have children, driving Hannah to the point of tears. Also, in those times, if you couldn’t have children you were looked at as inferior.
Hannah wanted to give Elkanah a child so bad, she prayed this prayer: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut” (Holy Bible Gift & Award Edition, New Living Translation, Second Edition 2007) And the Lord blessed Hannah with a son, she named Samuel. You can read more about Samuel in the Bible.
This is Jesus’ instructions to his disciples when asked how to pray: Luke 11:1 “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples. 2. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3. Give us day by day our daily bread. 4. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Holman KJV Study Bible 2012)
Hannah wanted a to give Elkanah a son so bad, she dedicated him to the Lord, for his service. When we pray, are we praying for our own selfish desires? Or are we praying to honor the Lord, for God’s glory?
I was recently listening to a daily devotional from an old Air Force friend and he inspired this article. It’s easy to justify just about anything, when we pray. I just recently bought a truck and I prayed that if it was God’s will, I would be able to buy it, that it would still be there when I went to look at it and that I would be approved for the loan. I also said that I would use the truck to haul things in, like firewood, or whatever, trash to the dump. I mean everyone in Arkansas has a truck, but like I said, it’s easy to justify it to the Lord, but is it really justified in God’s mind? I was able to purchase the vehicle. I use it to go fishing and it’s better to drive down dirt roads, than my other vehicles. I make sure to thank God for allowing me to have it, every day.
But we must be careful when we pray to ask ourselves, are we praying for our own satisfaction, or are we praying worshipfully? Are we ready to hand over our children to the Lord for his service, like Hannah did, or are we praying for their health and safety so we can hold on to them longer?
Are we praying to be able to use our possessions to glorify God and for his will to be done, or are we simply asking for things to fulfil our selfish desires? I hope that is not the case with the purchase of the truck.
If we are not careful, our selfish desires could turn out to be things we idolize or covet and that would anger God. We’ve read many times in the Bible not to have false idols, whether it be worshipping false Gods or possibly other things we could idolize. We certainly want to put God first in everything we do.
Kobe Bryant recently passed away, I am sympathetic towards his family and friends, but we must be careful not to idolize entertainers, actors, athletes or anyone else. We now have the Corona virus wreaking havoc on the World, and it could be because we are not putting God first, we need to turn back to God. I especially feel bad for the lost people that do not know Jesus.
I’m guilty of this, my password should be based off Jesus. I should do a better job of putting Jesus first.
One question we can ask ourselves when we pray is: How is my prayer seeking God’s glory? Or is my prayer for my own selfish desires? We need to pray more like Hannan did.
If you don’t know Jesus Christ and haven’t accepted Jesus into your life as your personal Savior, now would be a great time to, especially with the uncertain times we live in now.
Below is a site that tells you how to accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your Savior.
Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s help.
Be willing to change your mind and turn from your sin (repent).
Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.
Through prayer, invite Jesus into your heart to become your personal Lord and Savior.
Here is a prayer you can say to invite Jesus into your life:
Please forgive me for my sins. I believe that you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins.
I believe that you love me. I believe in my heartwho you are. You are theSon of God. I confess with mymouth that I am a sinner. I accept you Lord Jesus as my savior. Please cleanse me from my sin and create a new and clean heart in me. I do believe that you are my savior and I now want to live for you as myLord andmy God. I know that I have eternal life in you because of the workyou did on Calvary’scross for me. Thank you, God. In Jesus Name. Amen.Here are the scriptures behind this prayer:
I was praying the other day, and I was talking to God, telling him that I was a sinner and thanking him for sending his only Son to die on the Cross for our sins. I thanked him for being a sinner saved by his grace. I told him that I had backslid for a while, that I had gotten away from going to Church that I only prayed when I wanted something, used to drink alcohol (I’m not saying drinking is a sin. I’m saying I told God that I quit drinking and it’s best for me not to drink) and was asking for his forgiveness, but I told him I was back that I was thankful for all his blessings and how I didn’t deserve them, but he continues to bless me anyway.
And I got the most peaceful feeling I have ever had. I felt goosebumps all over my body, but these goosebumps weren’t on the outside of my body, they were on the inside of my body and they traveled from my head to me toes real slowly. I was thanking God for his presence. I was feeling the Holy Spirit. It was amazing and I didn’t want it to end. It lasted for a few minutes. I believe God was telling me it’s alright, that I’m back now, going to Church, worshiping him, reading the Bible, shining my light, spreading the good news about him to others, and that everything is going to be alright, as long as I don’t take him for granted again and continue on his path he has set out for me.
Carry the Load 