LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!
Have you ever asked yourself when a bad thing happens… Why did this happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? No matter what you did to make that situation better, it didn’t turn out like you thought it would? Sometimes things happen to us because of the bad choices we make. And other times we make all right choices and live right and still we are faced with terrible heartaches. Why?
Let me tell you what the Bible says about this…
First we’ll examine what takes place when we knowingly and willingly sin against GOD, then we will examine when calamity comes upon us for no cause of our own.
King David was a man after God’s own heart.(1 Samuel 13:14) But one night he made a bad choice, which he paid with very painful consequences. The Bible says, that in the spring, when Kings are supposed to go to war, King David did not go and stood at his palace…
“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite”? Then David sent messengers to get her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home.” (2 Samuel 11:2-4)
Note: Knowing that Bathsheba was married to Uriah didn’t stop King David from wanting a married woman. The Bible says that once he slept with Bathsheba he sent her back home. David probably thought, that’s the end of that night… Little did he know, Bathsheba became pregnant from that one nightstand. Something, I’m sure David wasn’t counting on! (2 Samuel 11:5)
We can sometimes make an already bad situation, WORST! King David thought… I know what I’ll do… I’ll call her husband who’s fighting in my army… Have him sleep with her and Uriah will think that the baby is his. David’s plan didn’t turn out like he thought. Uriah instead slept at the entrance to the palace and didn’t want to go home. So, David came up with plan B… The first plan didn’t work! So He thought to himself, I’ll send him back to the battle and I will make sure Uriah dies in battle the field. (2 Samuel 11:6-15) Talk about, “ Out of the fire and into the frying pan”
David rebuked for his sins…
Just when we think… No one is going to know what I have done. God always KNOWS! God sends the prophet Nathan to rebuke King David for the sins he had committed.
Nathan started by telling king David about a rich man and a poor man. The rich man had everything he wanted and needed but this poor man had nothing but this ewe lamb… As the story goes the rich man had a traveling visitor and instead of feeding his guest from his own flocks, he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and served it as dinner for his guest. The Bible says, that David was furious at this rich man for what he did to the poor man… David even said that the rich man deserves death for what he did. Then Nathan drops the bomb on King David and says this to him...“You are that man”! (2 Samuel 12:7) Now David knows the severity of what he had done. David was the rich man and Uriah was the poor man. David took what mattered most to Uriah … His wife.
God said to David…
“Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. (Watch this… Don’t miss it!) Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.”
“This is what the Lord says: Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.” …. “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the Lord show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.” (2 Samuel 12:9-12,14)
Note: David had his own wives and concubines… He could have been with any of them that night. Instead he wanted someone else’s wife and for this, God punished him. We want to be able to do what we want, when we want and not get paid back for any of our wrong doings. We definitely don’t like it when it is being done back to us either! David’s punishment was a very heart-breaking one… Strife was always going to be in his family, someone close to him was going to sleep with all his wives and the son that him and Bathsheba conceived was going to die. That one nightstand with Bathsheba, the killing of Uriah (her husband) cost David more than what he bargained for. This story if it teaches us anything, it teaches us to always… "LOOK, BEFORE WE LEAP!"
Sometimes we get the chance to back up from a situation… From a conversation and we know we shouldn’t go through with it… We say, “ I shouldn’t be here”! We push all those warnings out of our minds and do it anyway. Not realizing at that time, that painful consequences will soon follow and we will have to pay for what we have done! As I said in one of my previous blogs… No one gets away with anything! (Galatians 6:7-8) God will forgive our offences/sins but we’ll still have to pay for the consequences of our bad decisions nonetheless. (2 Samuel 12:13/ Isaiah 1:18) God says: “Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!" (Jeremiah 4:18) ~ In other words we bring this upon ourselves when we sin! David suffered the consequences of his sin, and so will we. There is no way around this one, my friends. (2 Samuel 12:10-12)
Note: As Christians… We have all been transform into a new creation in Christ Jesus our Lord and should not be sinning. But when we do sin … We have an advocate… Our High Priest (Jesus Christ) who is ready to stand in our behalf before the Father and says… My blood covers their sins! Hallelujah! (2 Corinthians 5:17/1 John 2:1-2/Hebrews 2:18-19) “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” We can have total confidence that “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” ( 1 John 1:8-9) According to the Bible we can come and ask God for forgiveness … And we will be forgiven! Wow… What a Loving and Merciful God we have!!!
You may say… I understand what happen to David and that what happen to him was a direct result of the bad choices he made. But what about a person like me? I haven’t sinned against God or my neighbor! And I’m facing some terrible times…
Note: Take for instance Job… What did Job do to bring all those calamities that came upon him? The Bible says: “Job was blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”(Job 1:8) A man that sought the face of the Lord daily and he still faced some terrible and painful calamities. WHY? Job didn’t know it at the time… But God was showing off about his servant Job to the devil. Satan said to God … “Does Job fear God for nothing? ” In other words, the devil was saying to God… Job only loves you because of all the good things you do for him. But here comes the test… Then Satan said “But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” (Job 1:11)
The devil challenged Job’s faithfulness to God… But the Lord knows our hearts and God definitely knew his servant Job’s heart. God knew that Job loved Him in spite of the material things. Job truly loved GOD and nothing could have ever changed that, not even all the devil’s schemes. After Job’s testing was over... The Bible says: “ The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (Job 42:12) Job got double blessings for all his troubles … What a loving and faithful GOD we serve! So if you are facing a difficult time in your life right now and you’ve been faithful to God. I want to say to you hang on, hold on… God is not done with you yet. What God did for Job, He can do for you!! Be encouraged my sister/brother in Christ, Trust GOD! He will never let anyone down, who puts his or her trust in HIM!!!
The Bible Says:
“A righteous man may have many troubles, (Watch This, Don’t Miss This) But the Lord delivers him from them all…” (Psalms 34:19)
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “ I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (Psalms 91:14-15)
Note: The Lord has already warned us in advance…
“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) So trouble comes to us all…But remember that God promises to deliver us from all our troubles. God is in total control… All we have to do is believe what God says in his Word. Instead of worrying… Spend time in God’s word and speaks His promises out loud to yourself every day… And watch God blow your mind… “EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
If we walk closely to the Lord and we seek Him in daily prayer and we study His word… We will minimize a lot of our mistakes and we will definitely have fewer regrets in life. We have to make GOD the center of our lives… If we want to be "Victorious Christians". Jesus already showed us what to do, so that we don’t fall into temptation… “ Watch and Pray” (Matthew 26:41). This is the key to have a successful Christian life. Spend time with God daily.
“ANYONE WHO DOES WRONG WILL BE REPAID FOR HIS WRONG, AND THERE IS NO FAVORITISM” (Colossians 3:25)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, July 11, 2010
"IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL OBEY WHAT I COMMAND"!
"IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL OBEY WHAT I COMMAND"!
Jesus Says: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15)
Question: Do we really love the Lord? Or do we just say that we do and not really mean it?
Note: If you truly love someone … You will never intentionally hurt him or her! Right? If your mate tells you "I love you" … You expect them to show you-- that what they are telling you...It's completely true and real. And the statement is definitely heard a lot louder when it’s followed by their actions! How would you feel if they told you “I LOVE YOU” but they are seeing other people behind your back, coming home at all late hours of the night, never spending any quality time with you? You will probably think to yourself this person does not love me at all...Because if they did? their actions would be completely different from what they are now doing.
So if we expect the people who claim to love us, to show it... Then why don’t we love GOD in the same way? Again Jesus says: “ If you love me, you will obey what I command ” The Lord tells us if we truly love him, like we say we do...We will NOT judge others! (Matthew 7:1), we would treat people the way that we would like to be treated! (Matthew 7:12), we would love and pray for our enemies and we would pray for those who persecute us! (Matthew 5:43-44), We would spend time in talking to Him (Quality Time) in prayer! (Matthew 6:6) And there are many more Scriptures in the Bible that teaches us that if we truly love the Lord, we would show it by our actions! Remember friends, “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”!!!
The Apostle John says it best… “We know that we have come to know him "IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS." The man who says, “ I know him”, but "DOES NOT" do what he commands is a liar, and THE TRUTH is NOT in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.(Watch this…Don’t miss it!!) This is how we know we are in him: "WHOEVER" claims to live in him MUST walk as Jesus did!" (1 John 2:3-6)
Friend, if we claim to love Jesus and we call ourselves "Christians"(Followers Of Christ) then lets prove it by our actions! “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 Corinthians 7:19, 1 John 5:3)
JESUS SAID: “IF YOU HOLD TO MY TEACHING, YOU ARE REALLY MY DISCIPLES." (John 8:31, 12:47-50) AMEN! FRIENDS, OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST LEADS TO HEAVEN!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Jesus Says: "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (John 14:15)
Question: Do we really love the Lord? Or do we just say that we do and not really mean it?
Note: If you truly love someone … You will never intentionally hurt him or her! Right? If your mate tells you "I love you" … You expect them to show you-- that what they are telling you...It's completely true and real. And the statement is definitely heard a lot louder when it’s followed by their actions! How would you feel if they told you “I LOVE YOU” but they are seeing other people behind your back, coming home at all late hours of the night, never spending any quality time with you? You will probably think to yourself this person does not love me at all...Because if they did? their actions would be completely different from what they are now doing.
So if we expect the people who claim to love us, to show it... Then why don’t we love GOD in the same way? Again Jesus says: “ If you love me, you will obey what I command ” The Lord tells us if we truly love him, like we say we do...We will NOT judge others! (Matthew 7:1), we would treat people the way that we would like to be treated! (Matthew 7:12), we would love and pray for our enemies and we would pray for those who persecute us! (Matthew 5:43-44), We would spend time in talking to Him (Quality Time) in prayer! (Matthew 6:6) And there are many more Scriptures in the Bible that teaches us that if we truly love the Lord, we would show it by our actions! Remember friends, “ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”!!!
The Apostle John says it best… “We know that we have come to know him "IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS." The man who says, “ I know him”, but "DOES NOT" do what he commands is a liar, and THE TRUTH is NOT in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.(Watch this…Don’t miss it!!) This is how we know we are in him: "WHOEVER" claims to live in him MUST walk as Jesus did!" (1 John 2:3-6)
Friend, if we claim to love Jesus and we call ourselves "Christians"(Followers Of Christ) then lets prove it by our actions! “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 1 Corinthians 7:19, 1 John 5:3)
JESUS SAID: “IF YOU HOLD TO MY TEACHING, YOU ARE REALLY MY DISCIPLES." (John 8:31, 12:47-50) AMEN! FRIENDS, OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST LEADS TO HEAVEN!
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Thursday, May 27, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
SAYING BYE TO THE OLD MAN
SAYING BYE TO THE OLD MAN!
The Bible says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"The old has gone", Paul tells the reader. The old way of thinking, the old way of behaving is no longer acceptable for any Christian to live by any longer. Everything about you should let the world know that you've been born again, that you are a new creation, a new person!
Note: Why would people want to have a relationship with Jesus, if we (Who claim to be Christians) behave and act like those who have no hope? They may say to themselves “If it didn't work for you ... It won't work for me either”. Friends, we represent the King Of Kings in this world and as the representatives of the living God we must walk, talk and act like Him... In "righteous and holy living". (Titus 2:11-14, 1 John 2:3-6)
The world is looking for peace, for love and permanent lasting solutions for the different problems that humanity is facing right now. The answer to all these problems is and it will always be in a committed and devoted relationship with Christ Jesus. Living a life of obedience to God will always bring blessings, but living your life in opposition to God’s commandments will always bring devastation, judgments and destruction. Only God can turn things around for our good but we have to be willing to follow and trust His plan for our lives. (Romans 8:28)
If the life you live consists in the total opposition to God’s way of living and you rebel against His commands, then, when things go wrong in your life, you can’t say, "why has God allow this to happen to me, where is God?" We can’t do what we want and then expect things to be great and wonderful in our lives. If you want to have success and happiness in this life then, my friends, only those that follow and obey the Lord will have a happy and a successful life. If you’re tired of going your own way and if you are frustrated that everything you have tried hasn’t worked… Then, try doing things God’s way. What do you have to lose? You’ve given everything else a try... God says; He will give success and happiness to all those that follow and obey His commandments, He will take care of you. (See Deuteronomy 28:8, 12, Psalm 34:10, Psalm 91:14, Matthew 6:25-33, Philippians 4:19)
The Bible says:
"In the same way, COUNT yourselves "DEAD TO SIN" but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore DO NOT let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. DO NOT offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are NOT under law, BUT under GRACE." (Romans 6:11-14)
"DO NOT" be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:7-8)
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But "DO NOT" use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; RATHER, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “ Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14)
What is in the old nature? This is what Paul tells the Galatians...
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) I warn you, as I did before, that THOSE who LIVE like this "WILL NOT" inherit the kingdom of God." (Remember these letters are written to the church … Saved people)- Galatians 5:19-21
Note: As Christians...We are made into “ A New Creation” we have no business wallowing up in sin any longer. That old life should not have a place in any Christian’s life, "NOTHING" about that old nature should be appealing to us. That old life was meaningless, empty and destructive. What’s so attractive about that? (Romans 6:16)
The life of a Spirit- filled Christian will be lived in this way- "The Fruits of the Spirit"
"BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envy each other." (Galatians 5:22-26)
Note: We have to be disciplined servants of the gospel of our Lord. We, who say to others … I am a Christian, we "MUST" walk, talk and live like Christ's commands... We must be faithful servants of the living God. (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, John 15:14, John 13:34-35, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5:2-3)
I can relate and understand to what Paul tells the Corinthian Church in how he deals with the old nature. I have committed myself to exercise everyday and to eat healthy. I want you to know that this is not always easy, but I am determined to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. Whether my body feels like it or not we exercise everyday and we eat healthy no matter how many fast food places we pass along the way. I made up my mind… I want to be healthy and with God’s help I will continue on this committed lifestyle and this same approach I have in my walk with Jesus. I stay close to my King in fasting, prayer and daily biblical studies. In the same way we should all have a committed lifestyle in righteousness, in holy living and in walking in obedience to our God. Make up your mind not to let sin be your master but count yourselves dead to sin once and for all. (Romans 6:11)
Look what Paul tells the Corinthians in how he deals with the old nature....
"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)
Let us follow Paul’s spiritual exercise routines, for righteous and holy living daily.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
The Bible says: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
"The old has gone", Paul tells the reader. The old way of thinking, the old way of behaving is no longer acceptable for any Christian to live by any longer. Everything about you should let the world know that you've been born again, that you are a new creation, a new person!
Note: Why would people want to have a relationship with Jesus, if we (Who claim to be Christians) behave and act like those who have no hope? They may say to themselves “If it didn't work for you ... It won't work for me either”. Friends, we represent the King Of Kings in this world and as the representatives of the living God we must walk, talk and act like Him... In "righteous and holy living". (Titus 2:11-14, 1 John 2:3-6)
The world is looking for peace, for love and permanent lasting solutions for the different problems that humanity is facing right now. The answer to all these problems is and it will always be in a committed and devoted relationship with Christ Jesus. Living a life of obedience to God will always bring blessings, but living your life in opposition to God’s commandments will always bring devastation, judgments and destruction. Only God can turn things around for our good but we have to be willing to follow and trust His plan for our lives. (Romans 8:28)
If the life you live consists in the total opposition to God’s way of living and you rebel against His commands, then, when things go wrong in your life, you can’t say, "why has God allow this to happen to me, where is God?" We can’t do what we want and then expect things to be great and wonderful in our lives. If you want to have success and happiness in this life then, my friends, only those that follow and obey the Lord will have a happy and a successful life. If you’re tired of going your own way and if you are frustrated that everything you have tried hasn’t worked… Then, try doing things God’s way. What do you have to lose? You’ve given everything else a try... God says; He will give success and happiness to all those that follow and obey His commandments, He will take care of you. (See Deuteronomy 28:8, 12, Psalm 34:10, Psalm 91:14, Matthew 6:25-33, Philippians 4:19)
The Bible says:
"In the same way, COUNT yourselves "DEAD TO SIN" but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore DO NOT let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. DO NOT offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are NOT under law, BUT under GRACE." (Romans 6:11-14)
"DO NOT" be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction” (Galatians 6:7-8)
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But "DO NOT" use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; RATHER, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “ Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14)
What is in the old nature? This is what Paul tells the Galatians...
"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissentions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Watch This...Don't Miss It!) I warn you, as I did before, that THOSE who LIVE like this "WILL NOT" inherit the kingdom of God." (Remember these letters are written to the church … Saved people)- Galatians 5:19-21
Note: As Christians...We are made into “ A New Creation” we have no business wallowing up in sin any longer. That old life should not have a place in any Christian’s life, "NOTHING" about that old nature should be appealing to us. That old life was meaningless, empty and destructive. What’s so attractive about that? (Romans 6:16)
The life of a Spirit- filled Christian will be lived in this way- "The Fruits of the Spirit"
"BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envy each other." (Galatians 5:22-26)
Note: We have to be disciplined servants of the gospel of our Lord. We, who say to others … I am a Christian, we "MUST" walk, talk and live like Christ's commands... We must be faithful servants of the living God. (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, John 15:14, John 13:34-35, 1 John 2:3-6, 1 John 5:2-3)
I can relate and understand to what Paul tells the Corinthian Church in how he deals with the old nature. I have committed myself to exercise everyday and to eat healthy. I want you to know that this is not always easy, but I am determined to be healthy in mind, body and spirit. Whether my body feels like it or not we exercise everyday and we eat healthy no matter how many fast food places we pass along the way. I made up my mind… I want to be healthy and with God’s help I will continue on this committed lifestyle and this same approach I have in my walk with Jesus. I stay close to my King in fasting, prayer and daily biblical studies. In the same way we should all have a committed lifestyle in righteousness, in holy living and in walking in obedience to our God. Make up your mind not to let sin be your master but count yourselves dead to sin once and for all. (Romans 6:11)
Look what Paul tells the Corinthians in how he deals with the old nature....
"Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)
Let us follow Paul’s spiritual exercise routines, for righteous and holy living daily.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?
In the book of Luke the Lord tells: “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
What is written in the Law?” he replied. “ How do you read it?”
He answered:“ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“ You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “ Do this and you will live.” (Meaning you will inherit eternal life if you love God and love your neighbor)
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “ And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “ A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest (One who suppose to be a man of God) happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (The Levites are ordained for the priesthood and to serve in the temple of God)
But a Samaritan (The Jewish people did not associate with the Samaritians ... They did not get along with one another), as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘ Look after him.’ He said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” (Mercy is when you see someone needs help, and you help him or her)
Jesus told him,” Go and do likewise.” (Luke10:25-37)
If we are prejudice or racist against a people or nation, we are sinning against Our God. We are willingly breaking the command “ Love your neighbor as yourself”. One designer created all the peoples of the earth and His name is the Lord.
The Bible says:
For by him (Jesus Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
In the book of Genesis says:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:27-28)
We all came from one source, Adam and Eve. We are all connected, we are all brothers and sisters, and we all have one Creator. As believers we should not let other people, the media, or your co-workers lead us into a path of destruction. Disobedience to Our God will bring a curse upon us. We are not supposed to be people pleaser but God pleasers.
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. (Acts 4:19) If we love all people, like the Lords commands regardless of their ethnic background, then we will be placed in the side of the sheep. (Matthew 25:34-40) but if we do not love all people like the Lord commands then we will be placed in the side of the goats. (Matthew 25: 41-46) Which side would you like to be placed on? If your answer is in the side of the sheep, then "WE MUST OBEY THE LORD"! “ LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF”
If you are prejudice or racist against people who are not of your race…Well let me tell you something heaven is not for you. In the Kingdom of God there are Chinese, African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasian, and many other races. (Revelation 7:9-10) If we can’t get along or love one another here on earth, what makes us think we will be any better in heaven? When we disobey the Lords commands, we are not acting like children of God but of the devil’s. Let me show you where God says this…
1 John 3:7-10
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “ I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Recently, in the media, we have seen attention being drawn the subject of illegal aliens in our country. This recent problem has caused racism against many that are of Latino decent, whether they are illegal or not. I myself, as a Puerto Rican, have experience this first hand. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Because of this, people born on the island of Puerto Rico are born citizens. Many times ignorant people will discriminate against Puerto Ricans or other Latin American groups that are citizens and/ or born in the U.S. because of the media or other people’s influence. These “Ilegals” as the media and people call them; these are our brothers and sisters. We are all God’s children.
As I started writing this blog, I witnessed another disturbing news on CNN. A policeman arresting a 15 yr old, who happened to be African American girl that broke a curfew law? She bit the officer, but I question does that justify the action he took, by punching her in the face and then pepper spraying her in the face also. He is a grown man and she is the child. I believe he could have handle this differently. Check this out on the web at www.MSNBC.Video.com Judge for yourself, if his action was right in dealing with this 15yr old teenager.
My friends, the Lord does not want his children divided. What parent, likes to see their children, not getting along and not loving each other? This behavior between siblings is heart breaking for parents to go through. The Lord wants his children united and loving one another. If this is something you been feeling against your brothers and sisters, ask God for forgiveness, to take away prejudice and racism from your heart and fill your heart with a sincere and genuine love for all your brothers and sisters around the world.
Who is my neighbor is the title of this blog and the answer is every human being living on this earth is our neighbor. And we must obey the Lord’s command to “ Love your neighbor as yourself”
The Lord says in John 15:12, My command is this: "LOVE each other as I have loved you."
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
In the book of Luke the Lord tells: “The Parable of the Good Samaritan”
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
What is written in the Law?” he replied. “ How do you read it?”
He answered:“ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, Love your neighbor as yourself.’
“ You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “ Do this and you will live.” (Meaning you will inherit eternal life if you love God and love your neighbor)
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “ And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “ A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest (One who suppose to be a man of God) happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (The Levites are ordained for the priesthood and to serve in the temple of God)
But a Samaritan (The Jewish people did not associate with the Samaritians ... They did not get along with one another), as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘ Look after him.’ He said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” (Mercy is when you see someone needs help, and you help him or her)
Jesus told him,” Go and do likewise.” (Luke10:25-37)
If we are prejudice or racist against a people or nation, we are sinning against Our God. We are willingly breaking the command “ Love your neighbor as yourself”. One designer created all the peoples of the earth and His name is the Lord.
The Bible says:
For by him (Jesus Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
In the book of Genesis says:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:27-28)
We all came from one source, Adam and Eve. We are all connected, we are all brothers and sisters, and we all have one Creator. As believers we should not let other people, the media, or your co-workers lead us into a path of destruction. Disobedience to Our God will bring a curse upon us. We are not supposed to be people pleaser but God pleasers.
“Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. (Acts 4:19) If we love all people, like the Lords commands regardless of their ethnic background, then we will be placed in the side of the sheep. (Matthew 25:34-40) but if we do not love all people like the Lord commands then we will be placed in the side of the goats. (Matthew 25: 41-46) Which side would you like to be placed on? If your answer is in the side of the sheep, then "WE MUST OBEY THE LORD"! “ LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF”
If you are prejudice or racist against people who are not of your race…Well let me tell you something heaven is not for you. In the Kingdom of God there are Chinese, African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasian, and many other races. (Revelation 7:9-10) If we can’t get along or love one another here on earth, what makes us think we will be any better in heaven? When we disobey the Lords commands, we are not acting like children of God but of the devil’s. Let me show you where God says this…
1 John 3:7-10
Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
1 John 4:20
If anyone says, “ I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Recently, in the media, we have seen attention being drawn the subject of illegal aliens in our country. This recent problem has caused racism against many that are of Latino decent, whether they are illegal or not. I myself, as a Puerto Rican, have experience this first hand. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States. Because of this, people born on the island of Puerto Rico are born citizens. Many times ignorant people will discriminate against Puerto Ricans or other Latin American groups that are citizens and/ or born in the U.S. because of the media or other people’s influence. These “Ilegals” as the media and people call them; these are our brothers and sisters. We are all God’s children.
As I started writing this blog, I witnessed another disturbing news on CNN. A policeman arresting a 15 yr old, who happened to be African American girl that broke a curfew law? She bit the officer, but I question does that justify the action he took, by punching her in the face and then pepper spraying her in the face also. He is a grown man and she is the child. I believe he could have handle this differently. Check this out on the web at www.MSNBC.Video.com Judge for yourself, if his action was right in dealing with this 15yr old teenager.
My friends, the Lord does not want his children divided. What parent, likes to see their children, not getting along and not loving each other? This behavior between siblings is heart breaking for parents to go through. The Lord wants his children united and loving one another. If this is something you been feeling against your brothers and sisters, ask God for forgiveness, to take away prejudice and racism from your heart and fill your heart with a sincere and genuine love for all your brothers and sisters around the world.
Who is my neighbor is the title of this blog and the answer is every human being living on this earth is our neighbor. And we must obey the Lord’s command to “ Love your neighbor as yourself”
The Lord says in John 15:12, My command is this: "LOVE each other as I have loved you."
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS,
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR HIM LATELY?
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR HIM LATELY?
“I tell you the truth,” he (Jesus) said, “this poor widow has put in more than ALL the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; BUT she out of her poverty PUT in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4)-NIV
God has taught his children to always share with those who don’t have… “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-16) When we give/share with those who are in need we will be fulfilling the commandment that the Lord gave to us… “Love one another” (John 13:34) Giving to the poor is like we are giving to God himself.
Note: Before the Israelites leftEgypt
“If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are.” (Exodus 12:4)
In the book of Deuteronomy 15:7-11 it says:
“If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.”
“Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. GIVE generously to him and DO so WITHOUT a grudging heart; (Obedience to our God will ALWAYS bring BLESSINGS!! Watch this next verse…) “THEN because of this the Lord your God WILL bless you in ALL your work and in EVERYTHING you put your hand to. (You Obey… And GOD will bless)
“I tell you the truth,” he (Jesus) said, “this poor widow has put in more than ALL the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; BUT she out of her poverty PUT in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4)-NIV
God has taught his children to always share with those who don’t have… “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-16) When we give/share with those who are in need we will be fulfilling the commandment that the Lord gave to us… “Love one another” (John 13:34) Giving to the poor is like we are giving to God himself.
Note: Before the Israelites left
“If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are.” (Exodus 12:4)
In the book of Deuteronomy 15:7-11 it says:
“If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.”
“Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. GIVE generously to him and DO so WITHOUT a grudging heart; (Obedience to our God will ALWAYS bring BLESSINGS!! Watch this next verse…) “THEN because of this the Lord your God WILL bless you in ALL your work and in EVERYTHING you put your hand to. (You Obey… And GOD will bless)
“There will always be poor people in
the land. Therefore
I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy
in your land.”
Note: Every human being on this planet has been created in the image of God… “Let us make man in our image…” (Genesis 1:26) We may have a different tents/ a different look on the outside but we are all made in the likeness of our Creator in the inside.
Note: Every human being on this planet has been created in the image of God… “Let us make man in our image…” (Genesis 1:26) We may have a different tents/ a different look on the outside but we are all made in the likeness of our Creator in the inside.
The commandment is “To love your neighbor as yourself”. If we really understood the word of God and what really pleases Him… Then we would understand, that when you give and help people who are in need, it is like you are giving to the Lord Jesus Himself. You would see the God that created you and me in them. Let’s show those in need what real love feels like… Let’s show them that the faith we have is not a blind faith, but a genuine one that’s ready to be put INTO action. The Bible says “God is love”… “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:16, 21)
In the book of Mark 12:28-31 the Lord was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The MOST important one” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O
In the book of 1 King 17:10-16 Elijah was send to a widow in Zarephath … In this story you will see the faithfulness of God to those who take Him at His word…
“So he (Elijah the prophet) went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink? As she was going to get it, he called, and bring me, please, a piece of bread. As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread – only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son that we may eat it – and die.”
“Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. (Watch this…something has to be done FIRST, in the part of this widow…) But first make a small cake of bread for me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land. She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. (The word of the Lord fulfilled in this next verse… Don’t miss it!!) “FOR” the JAR of flour was NOT used up and the JUG of oil DID NOT run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.”
Note: This widow obeyed the word of the Lord spoken through the prophet Elijah and that obedience brought her and her family great blessings… The jar of flour was NOT used up and the jug of oil DID NOT run dry… Hallelujah!! The Lord is FAITHFUL but we MUST learn to trust, believe and obey Him FIRST, just like this widow did.
Let me give you another biblical example… In the book of Job, we read that God is very proud of his servant Job and He asked Satan if he had notice how faithful Job was to GOD...
“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8)
Note: In chapter 31:1-40 you will read: Why God is so proud of Job. Job is telling his friends of the kind of life that he lived … Walking in the fear of the Lord and taking care of the poor and their needs. Job understood that the same God that created him also created the rest of mankind and he knew that not taking care of the poor would be a sin against God. (Deuteronomy 15:11)
Let me give you some of these verses in this chapter… (Chapter 31, verses 16-23)
Job says this…“IF I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, IF I have KEPT my bread to myself NOT sharing it with the fatherless – but from my youth I reared him as would a father, and from my birth I guided the widow- “ IF I have seen ANYONE perishing for lack of clothing, or a needy man without a garment, and his heart did not bless me for warming him with the fleece from my sheep, IF I raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in the court, then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. (Watch what this servant of GOD says, Don’t Miss It!!!) FOR I dreaded DESTRUCTION from GOD, and FOR fear of HIS splendor I could NOT do such things. ”
Note: The Bible says that Job was a very wealthy man and that God blessed everything he had. Why is this? Because Job loved God, he shuns evil and Job did not keep his blessings from God to himself … He shared it with those who had needs. God could count on Job to take care of the poor people in the land.
In the near future the Lord will separate groups of people to two sides: The Right side will be for the sheep (the righteous) and the Left side will be for the goats (the wicked). And these are the things that the Lord will say to each group…
“Then the King will say to those on his right (The righteous, those who did the Fathers will…), ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
(Watch This… Don’t Miss It!!!)… “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left (The wicked, Those who did not do the Fathers will), Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
(Watch This… Don’t Miss It!!!) “ He will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever YOU did not do for one of the least of these, you DID NOT do FOR me.’ THEN they will GO away to eternal punishment, BUT the righteous to ETERNAL life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)
Note: I believe we will see the widow of Zarephath, Elijah, Job, the disciples and many others standing on the right side along with all those that through out the Holy Scriptures have grasped the meaning of the command of the Lord… “Love your neighbor as yourself ”
Question: Which group of people do you want to be placed into? If you choose to be on the right with the sheep, you have to obey the Lord in taking care of the poor and following the Lord’s commands wholeheartedly. Only then will you be standing with the righteous… Standing right next to the widow of Zarephath, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the many others through out our history that have obeyed and followed the Lord and did not deviate from God’s commands.
The title of this teaching is: “What have you done for Him (Jesus) lately?” My prayer and hope is that we all choose to be faithful to the Lord in taking care of the poor and their needs. By carrying out our Lord’s commands… We will be blessed in this life and the next one to come! The Lord has given us this promise if we obey Him … “THEN because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. (Deuteronomy 15:10) Remember this… “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19) God will always keep His word but we have to trust, believe and obey Him in ALL things, FIRST.
James 2:17 says: “…FAITH by itself, if it NOT accompanied by ACTION, is DEAD.”
Note: Some may feel they don’t have anything to give. We have to follow and learn from the examples of the widow of Luke 21:3-4 and the widow that fed the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 17:7-16. God will show us what we can give… We just need to keep our eyes and ears open for the many opportunities that we can bless our fellow man with.
This is not biblical, but I want to mention it as an example that we all have something to give. You may all remember the Christmas song “The Drummer Boy”, he didn’t have expensive gifs to give to the new born King but he gave what he did have, his drums. All he could offer was his gift of music, and so he played his music for the new born King.
The economy in these troubling times has left many of us with a heavy financial burden, but money is not the only thing we have to offer. You may have canned goods that you can donate to the shelters, or clothes that you haven’t worn in a long time that you could give to someone else who desperately needs them. Some can give their time in helping adults and children in illiteracy programs, volunteer at a shelter, or be a big brother or sister and mentor the young, etc. We all have something that we can give/share with those that are in need and in this way we will be fulfilling the command of the Lord… “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31)
GOD BLESS YOU ALL NOW AND ALWAYS
YOUR FRIEND,
VICKY RIVERA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)