EXCUSES, EXCUSES!

                                            EXCUSES, EXCUSES!


The Bible says: “He (Jesus) said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:59-62)


Note: Jesus was calling these men to follow Him, but they both had other priorities in their lives …Having their “EXCUSES” for NOT accepting the call to follow Him. Some may read these verses and think to themselves, what was going through the minds of these two men? If Jesus would have asked me to leave ALL and follow Him…I would have done it, without giving it a second thought. Is that so?  Jesus is calling people today… To FOLLOW Him, to SEEK Him, To LIVE for Him and to KEEP (Obey) His Commands…And still till this day people hesitate and have other priorities…And MANY excuses for not following Him, for not seeking Him, and not Obeying His commands. (Luke 6:46, Titus 1:16)

When we care more about what other people are going to think or feel about us living a devoted lifestyle to the Savior…Then we have to admit to ourselves that we don’t really love the Savior like we say we do… Jesus says that those that truly love Him will follow and obey His commands. (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5:2-3) Amen! Jesus says: “…Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.” (Matthew 10:38) Jesus also says: "NO ONE who puts a hand to the plow AND LOOKS BACK is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62)

Some say, living the Christian life is too hard…It’s only hard because you have not surrendered your life completely to Jesus. The only people who have a problem living the Christian life are those who do not love Jesus and are still holding on to the world. Jesus says: “NO ONE can serve two masters. Either you will “HATE” the one and “LOVE” the other, or YOU WILL BE DEVOTED TO THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER.” (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13)

Note: We handed our lives over to Jesus the day we asked Him to come into our lives and hearts and become our Lord and Savior …  So our lives are now crucified with the Savior and the life we now live in our bodies;  MUST BE lived for THE LORD. (Galatians 2:20) The Bible says: “YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:17, 19-20)

The BIBLE Says: "He (Jesus Christ) Replied, “My mother and brothers ARE THOSE WHO HEAR GOD'S WORD AND PUT IT INTO PRACTICE.” (Luke 8:21, 11:28) Amen! Jesus also says: "IN SAME WAY, THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT GIVE UP EVERYTHING YOU HAVE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLES." (Luke 14:33) Amen!

Jesus says: …"Whoever wants to be my disciple “MUST DENY” themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, (Watch This…Don’t Miss It!)à but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, AND THEN HE WILL REWARD EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.” (Matthew 16:24-27)



Remember, what Jesus has also told us...“MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR, Because "MANY", I Tell You, Will Try To Enter AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO." (Luke 13:24) Amen!

Note: Jesus said "MAKE EVERY EFFORT" …NOT EXCUSES! Making every “effort” is what it will take for anyone who wants to enter Heaven. (Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 4:12-13)  If we truly love The Savior…”WE WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT” and we will commit, devote and discipline ourselves to obey our Lord's commands and His teachings.

Friends, we MUST live daily as our Lord Jesus lived...It is what the BIBLE commands us to do! (1 John 2:3-6) Amen! OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE BIBLE ADMONISHES US "TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT" TO BE FOUND HOLY, BLAMELESS AND AT PEACE WITH JESUS WHEN HE RETURNS. (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, Hebrews 4:11-13, 14:12, 2 Peter 1:5-11, 2 Peter 3:14, 1 John 5:2-3)

How will we know what pleases the Lord? (Ephesians 5:10-11) Or how can we unlearn bad habits, worldly thinking, and worldly attitudes if we don’t spend time daily in the word of God?  The Bible tells us: “DO NOT CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD, (Watch This … Don’t Miss It!) àbut be transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) Amen! Spending time with God daily, in Bible studies and prayers will remove all bad habits, worldly thinking, and worldly attitudes. Jesus says: “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) Amen!

Remember, the Bible also says: “FOR WE MUST ALL APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, so that each of us may receive what is due us FOR THE THINGS DONE WHILE IN THE BODY, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

If we want to enter Heaven and receive a rich welcome into the kingdom of God…We have to stop with all the excuses and we MUST become doers of the word of God. (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, Luke 11:28, James 1:22, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5: 2-3, 2 Peter 1:5-11)



Jesus has already given us the warning about this in the book of Matthew… “NOT everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, (Watch This…Don’t Miss It!)à but only the one WHO DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)

The Bible says: “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, WHO TEACHES YOU WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU, WHO DIRECTS YOU IN THE WAY YOU SHOULD GO.”  (Isaiah 48:17) Amen!

SO NO MORE EXCUSES … Because Jesus can help you, guide you, and teach you how to live the Christian life; but you will have to be willing to devote (Commit) yourself to Him DAILY. (Matthew 6:33)



The LORD Says: “…FOR WHO IS HE WHO WILL DEVOTE HIMSELF TO BE CLOSE TO ME?’ DECLARES THE LORD.” (Jeremiah 30:21) Amen!


GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW & ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA

 

DO NOT JUDGE

DO NOT JUDGE!!


Jesus says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned” (Luke 6:37)

We’ve all been there… When we say! "I will never do what he or she did"! "I will never put up with what they put up with"! And then, we find ourselves doing and putting up with the same things that we said “ I Will Never Do Or Put Up With” (That’s where the saying comes from… Never say, Never!) At times when we pass judgments on someone else and we don’t even know what’s going on in their lives or why they are going through that particular situation. This brings to mind an old saying, "Do not judge a man, unless you have walked a mile in his shoes"!

I also love this saying also! And one we should always apply to everyone... “NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYBODY UNLESS YOU’RE HELPING THEM UP!!”

What a different world this would be, if we instead of judging, criticizing, and talking behind people’s back … We would extent the love of Christ to them and instead of kicking people when they are down… We would pick them up, help them out, and give them encouragements from the word of God!! Do you know how many lives would be healed, saved, and transformed by the "LOVE" of the living Christ? All of this can happen by just doing what the Lord has taught us to do..."Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31)

Jesus says:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

Note: We must be very careful on how we pass judgments on others and how we talk about people! Because according to the Lord’s own words… The judgments that we pass on to others will come right back on us!! Knowing that, we must think twice! Before rushing into passing judgments and criticizing others.

We just have to stop and think! If I were in that situation, what would I like to hear? What would I want someone to do for me? If it is encouragement, then encourage. If it’s a listening ear that you would need… Then be a listening ear for them too! Jesus says: "SO IN EVERYTHING, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

In the book of Romans the Apostle Paul says:

“You, therefore, HAVE NO EXCUSE, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Romans 2:1)

Note: The Apostle Paul is telling us through the book of Romans that when we judge others… We are condemning ourselves! The Scriptures say, that we who judge others… Do the very same things that we just talked about, criticized, and judged another person on! This is called Hypocrisy, my friends! This is not what Jesus Christ has taught us to be like!

The Lord taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and to treat people the way that we would like to be treated! (Mark 12:31- Matthew 7:12) This is what Jesus says: “ If you love me, you will obey what I command.” “ Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ” (John 14:15- Luke 6:46) So if we truly love the Lord like we say… THEN we will show it by obeying HIM!

The Lord was compassionate towards people when He was here on earth! Whenever Jesus saw a need… HE was there to help! Where there was sickness, He healed! The hungry, He feed! The Lost, He saved!  Praise the Living God for His Compassion, Mercy, and Grace! Because He is good to all! … "He has compassion on all he has made!" (Psalms 145:9)

Let me give you a couple of examples from the Bible on how Jesus treated people…

Jesus met Zacchaeus at the sycamore-fig tree! And the Lord said to him… “ Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today ”… (Watch the crowd’s reaction to Jesus dinning in Zacchaeus house) “ All the people saw this and began to mutter (to complain or grumble), He (Jesus) has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’ (This is the miracle that happens when we love people like the Lord commands! Watch this don’t miss it...) “ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “ Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”(Wow, this is what happens when we love people instead of judging, criticizing, and looking down on them!!!
God’s ways are always THE best way to Go! Always!) Jesus said to him, “ Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. (Thank God for this part...) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

The next example is found in the book of Mark…

“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “ I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” His disciples answered, “ But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” “ How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “ Seven,” they replied. He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When He had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them.”

Note: Mark tells us that Jesus fed about four thousand people with just seven loaves of bread and a few small fish…Wow! (What a miracle the Lord performed for that crowd) “For nothing is impossible with God!” (Luke 1:37) And the Holy Scriptures say: that the people ate and were satisfied. (Mark 8:1-9) What a loving and compassionate Savior we serve! And this, my friends, is how we should treat our fellow man with love and compassion!! And NOT with judgments and criticisms…

“WHOEVER CLAIMS TO LIVE IN HIM MUST WALK AS JESUS DID” (1 JOHN 2:6)

GOD BLESS YOU NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA