God Cried For Us.

Jesus prayed.

 

Jesus - offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears.

 

Did you read that? Jesus prayed and entreated God with strong crying and tears.

 

JESUS cried and it wasn't a soft weeping, a silent tear or two. Strong crying, visible tears. You know what it means to cry strongly, don't you?

 

JESUS CRIED STRONGLY as He PRAYED and SUPPLICATED His Father.

 

In His human flesh Jesus was subject to human emotion. As the author of human emotion, Jesus knew feeling. As a human His feeling for mankind, His creation, was as deep as could be. He would offer salvation to mankind and He shed tears, strong crying, His heart ached as He fought to bring eternal life to us.

 

God cried for us.

 

Jesus was not immune to the pain and terrifying prospect of impending death.  He suffered. He prevailed! Praise God!

 

Heb 5:5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 

Heb 5:6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

 

 

 

 

May We Yield to God Seeking His Work In Us.

We yield-

 

-have mercy, blot out, wash me, cleanse me, purge me, make me, create in me, renew, cast me not, take not, restore, uphold me, deliver me, open thou.

 

We need God to do His work in us, and for God to do His work in us we must yield to Him and allow Him to have His way in our lives. Our transgressions come from a self-centered pursuit. We take our eyes off of God and focus them on ourselves. As soon as our eyes are upon ourselves we lose sight of God and need to turn our eyes back upon Him. Is it any wonder we are to wear the armor of God? With the armor of God on we cannot help but be constantly reminded of God, right? If you wear a uniform to go to work as soon as that uniform is put on you are reminded of where you are going and what you are doing. All day long as you do your job that uniform is a reminder to you. When you go home at night and take off your uniform you are no longer reminded of your work and generally do not have to concentrate upon your job, you are now on your own time, able to do your own business. With God as our way of life we need to be reminded of Him always, not just occasionally, not just during work hours, but always. A piece of jewelry a lot of people wear is a wedding ring. That ring is a constant reminder of their marriage. As a rule most people don't take off their wedding rings for much, and when they do it's not for very long if they can help it. The ring symbolizes the marriage to them and to all who see the ring.

 

We need to be remind of God always. God needs to be in all our ways.

 

When we lose sight of God, we endanger ourselves. We leave His protection.

 

Self-focus is not God-focus.

 

We all have sin tendencies, every single one of us without exception. We will never be without sin tendencies as long as we are living in this world prior to the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sin tendencies are not sin. Learning to recognize the sin tendencies in ourselves before they are indulged in and transformed into actual sin is very necessary. Striving against sin- resisting unto blood- Heb_12:4. We recognize the sin tendency, and we are at war against that tendency towards sin.

 

If we choose to indulge the sin, we choose to separate ourselves from God.

 

Is it any wonder after David chose to indulge in the lust of adultery with Bathsheba, and even went so far as to have her husband in a position to be murdered, that the separation he felt from God was devastating?

 

Nathan the prophet went to David and told Him God knew everything, and that David's sins were great. By David's own mouth he'd condemned himself, knowing the things he'd done, the sins he'd indulged in were worthy of death. And David said to Nathan-

 

2Sa 12:13  And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.

 

David recognized his sin and made no excuse for himself. David accepted by his own admission that his sin made him worthy of God's condemnation, of death. David sinned against God when he indulged in the sin of lust, and murder as a result of that lust. David's adultery led to his desire to take another man's life. David sinned as his eyes turned from God and towards himself.

 

David's repentance was genuine, the weight of his sin was felt, he despised himself. God in all righteousness could demand David's life. God had mercy on David and spared His life.

 

David prayed…

 

Psa 51:1  …Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 

Psa 51:2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 

Psa 51:3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 

Psa 51:4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 

Psa 51:5  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

Psa 51:6  Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 

Psa 51:7  Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

Psa 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 

Psa 51:9  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 

Psa 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 

Psa 51:11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 

Psa 51:12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 

Psa 51:13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. 

Psa 51:14  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 

Psa 51:15  O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 

Psa 51:16  For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. 

Psa 51:17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 

This needs to be our prayer as well. We sin every time we pursue self over God. We need God ever before us.

 

May we yield to God seeking His work in us!

 

We yield. He has mercy, He blots out, He washes me, He cleanses me, He  purges me, He makes me, He creates in me, He renews me, He casts me not, He takes not, He restores, He upholds me, He delivers me, He opens.

 

May we put on the whole armor of God daily and never remove it, sleeping in the armor, living in the armor always and forever reminded of our God we serve.

 

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

Eph 6:15  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

Eph 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

 

 

The Love of Many Will Grow Cold.

Psa 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 

 

Rom 7:22  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man

 

2Co 3:3  Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 

 

Joh_6:40  And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

Joh_15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

 

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment. 

Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

 

Transgressing the law of God by disobeying the royal law of the ten commandments, is sin. When we do not love God with all we are, when we do not love others with all we are, we are transgressing the royal law. The royal law points out the ways a man can reveal their lack of love towards God and others. The law itself does not offer salvation at all, it can't, it is a revealer not a savior. The law reveals the ways in which we fail to love as we should. Christ Jesus alone can save us from the failure to keep the royal law. Christ Jesus can save us as we seek forgiveness and repent through His prompting by the Holy Spirit working in us convicting our hearts of our failure to love. Christ Jesus saves us through His perfect love. Christ Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will enable us to love as He loves. The law to love will be written on our hearts perfectly. When we fail to heed the law written on our hearts we will be convicted of that failure by the Holy Spirit and we will be guided to keep our hearts forever focused on our Savior, Jesus Christ. Daily renewal through Christ.

 

We are wretched sinners prone to temptation, prone to sin, and our only hope of going and sinning no more is to cling to our Savior and His righteousness.

 

We can never use our humanity as an excuse to sin. When we start excusing sin we stop comprehending what sin is, and how awful it is to sin. We excuse our inability to love perfectly, and what we need to do is seek forgiveness, forever desiring to love perfectly through Christ. Sin is awful because it shows loveless-ness.  Every sin reveals a lack of love.

 

Is it any wonder Jesus magnified the royal laws during His ministry? Jesus was revealing the lack of love in more than a mere adherence to the strict letter of the law. Jesus wanted mankind to recognize their lack of love that the laws were revealing. Murdering someone isn't simply the act of the life taken, it's the entire comprehension of the lack of love leading up to the act of murder. Committing adultery is more than the physical act, it's the lack of love all the way leading up to the act of adultery.

 

Is it any wonder we need God to create a clean heart in us? 

 

Our loveless-ness is at an all-time high in the world. We are furious with each other at the least provocation. We live in a world of easily offended unlike at any other time. We live in a world filled with loveless-ness.

 

Mat 24:7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 

Mat 24:8  All these are the beginning of sorrows. 

Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. 

Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

 

May God help us to love! May Jesus Christ help us to love! May the Holy Spirit help us to love! 

 

May we live in love, Christ's love!

 

 

Bible Prophecy- Fact Not Fiction!

As a child I was raised to believe in God.

I was taken to church every week.

I was taught to pray at meal times and before I went to sleep.

I don't know how old I was when we stopped going to church every week.

I don't know how old I was when my mom no longer told me to say my bedtime prayers.

 

I do know that when I was 19 years old or thereabout that an elderly great aunt visiting for a family reunion brought with her a whole suitcase filled with Christian literature. She gave my mother and father a new Bible and left her books and pamphlets about the house. At some point not long after she left to return to her home in another state, I picked up one of the books she left and began to read it. I was intrigued. I began to write to her (this was before email- very few people had computers and no one had a phone with email capabilities etc. in 1982).

 

Growing more and more intrigued by the things I was reading I wanted to go to the church my aunt went to when she visited. Not wanting to go alone, my sister, Debbie was nice enough to go with me.

 

As it happened the church was just beginning to give lectures on prophecy from the Bible when we began going there.

 

Bible prophecy? I'd never heard about Bible prophecy growing up. What I knew about prophecy at that point was a little about Nostradamus, a bit from fictionalize movies, and fictional novels. I never actually thought too much about the Bible's prophecies. The stories in the book of Daniel focused on the three in the fire and not burning, and Daniel himself in the lion's den and not being devoured. The book of Revelation was well known as prophetic and the fiction movies such as - The Omen, touched on bits and pieces of that Bible book, and many other mostly scary movies and books would take parts of the Bible and use it for sensationalism. I didn't know Biblical prophecy as having real, relevant meaning for me personally.

 

Intrigued to find out what these prophecy lectures would reveal my sister, Debbie and I decided to go to them.

 

The things we learned from our Bibles shocked us!

 

We'd grown up with Bibles. We had to memorize Bible verses for church school that we attended before the weekly church service. I knew what the Bible was. I grew up reading and being read to from Bible story books, and yet suddenly the Bible came to life in a way it never had before.

 

I was reading from the Bible and the fact that it was a book of prophecy from Genesis to Revelation just floored me.

 

I read a prophecy written hundreds of years prior to the fulfilment of that prophecy and it threw me for a loop. I would go home to my mother and father and tell them excitedly about what I was learning, wondering how I could never have known these truths before.

 

A whole new world was given to me.

 

The Bible had a prophetic outline that spanned from Creation all the way to the end of the world.  Kingdoms, empires, countries… so many were predicted to be hundreds and hundreds of years prior to their existence! Did you know that Alexander the Great's rise to power is predicted in the Bible? Did you know the breaking up of the Roman Empire was a prophecy? Did you know the United States coming into being was predicted too? I didn't know any of this!

 

How could I not have been taught this before?!  My sister and I were stunned as the truth was revealed to us. Our spiritual eyes were opened, our hearts touched by the Holy Spirit as the prophetic truths were revealed to us. That our Savior's birth, death, and resurrection were all prophetically outlined was amazing! So many believe in the Savior, but know so little about the prophetic truths He gave to us in His word.

 

Jesus even taught about the state of the world and people in the time prior to His return when he will bring the Kingdom of God to realization for those He came to save, for those He died for. Jesus taught prophecy, yet we weren't taught that as children or even teenagers growing up.

 

Do you know about the amazing prophecies in the Bible detailing the past, present, and future? 

 

Heaven and earth are going to pass, it doesn't matter if you believe it or not, it will happen. 

 

So incredibly many prophecies came to pass just as they were given, there is absolutely NOTHING to stop the rest of the prophecies from coming to pass, nothing!

 

Jesus' words, not mine. Heaven and earth passing.

 

Mat_5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, the element melting with fervent heat.

 

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

 

The DAY of the LORD is almost here - prophecy has been written and it will come to pass.

 

I'm not stupid, I'm not deluded, I have the brains to logically ascertain truth. Facts, not fiction- the Bible prophecies are FACT not FICTION.

 

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

 

We are looking for a new heaven and a new earth!

 

We are awaiting the day of the LORD.

 

All by the grace and mercy of our Savior, Christ Jesus, now and forever may we be HIS and ready for HIM when HE RETURNS!

 

Convert Our Souls.

Desired more than gold… the law, the testimony, the statutes, the judgments of the Lord.

Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

 

The keeping of them brings a great reward- Salvation through our Savior.

 

Joh_14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 

Joh_14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

 

Can you imagine desiring something MORE than gold? Sure you can, though the desire for money is paramount in our lives. We live in a society where to survive you need an income of some sort. Those who do not possess an income are left destitute on the streets, reliant upon the charity of others. Is it any wonder we don't want to be without an income? We don't want to be left on the street.

 

To desire the Lord and all that entails- more than gold is in truth admitting all the riches of the world mean nothing without God, nothing.

 

The law of the LORD is perfect.

The law of the LORD coverts the souls.

The testimony of the LORD is sure.

The testimony of the LORD will  make the simple - wise.

 

We need the law written in our hearts.

We need the testimony of our LORD.

 

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psa 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

 

Psa 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Psa 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

 

We need to be cleansed from- SECRET FAULTS.

 

We need to be kept from- PRESUMPTUOUS SINS.

 

Our words, and the meditations of our hearts need to be acceptable in the sight of the LORD, our STRENGTH, our REDEEMER.

 

Secret faults and presumptuous sins are known to God, we can hide nothing from Him, nothing. Any time we would break the royal law we are held accountable. Every sin is a breaking of the royal law, every single one. There doesn't exist a sin that isn't a breaking of the royal ten commandments.

 

1Jn_3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

To love God and to love others- this is what sums up the entire law. When we fail to love God and fail to love others- we transgress the law.

 

Do you realize that there is no commandment to love ourselves more than others? That is what we do so often and in so many ways, sinning self-serving. God help us, cleanse us, keep us from the sins we commit presumptuously as we live our lives focused on self-serving over serving You, or others.

 

Please.

 

 

 

Hate Sin - Love the Sinner.

Unfeigned love- loving with a pure heart fervently.

 

Do we?

 

Do you love this way--

 

Unfeigned love- sincere, real, genuine, heartfelt, authentic, truthful, honest- do you love this way?

 

Is your love fervent--

 

Fervently- passionately, ardently, enthusiastically, eagerly, zealously, excitedly, intensely- is your love fervent?

 

Who exactly are we supposed to love this way? Others. What others? ALL OTHERS.

 

Let's get ONE thing clear right now, we are to HATE SIN, NOT THE SINNER.

 

People have deluded themselves deeply by the misconception that we are to hate those who are different from us, those who have different beliefs, different values, different ways. We have separated ourselves into various classes of people and in doing so we have erected barriers of hate against those not in our particular class.  The rich despise the poor, the poor despise the rich. Those of different ethnic backgrounds have separated themselves from each other and again, in doing so the hatred grows. This world is a huge powder keg of misunderstanding, of blind hatred, incomprehensible abuse for one another on so many levels. We who are Christ followers will hate sin passionately just the way our Savior hated sin. We also must LOVE the sinners. We must LOVE in truth with the love that is of God.

 

Rom_5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

We must LOVE OTHERS while they are what they are, no matter what they are, no matter how different from us, no matter what their sins are, no matter anything at all whatsoever. We can HATE the sins they may blatantly revel in, while loving them and longing for them to be convicted of their sins so they may repent of them and find eternal salvation in Christ Jesus.

 

LOVE UNCONDITIONALLY.

LOVE EVEN WHEN HATED.

 

We need to LOVE unfeignedly and fervently- LOVE in truth, in sincerity with great passion- ALL others, not just those we deem worthy because they please us in some way, or are friendly to us, or are family, or share common interests. ALL OTHERS means no exception to any.

 

Satan will spread discord wherever he can in whatever way he can through gross deceptions that fuel the masses. We cannot be a part of that deception. If you are a Christ follower then you must LOVE without secretly hating others, God knows the hearts of His people. God is giving every single person alive an opportunity to know His love and to belong to Him. We must do all in our ability to only reveal the love of God so we hinder NO ONE from choosing God.

 

Help us, LORD help us be YOURS, wholly YOURS! Help us to love unfeignedly, fervently all others! Please… please.

 

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

1Pe 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1Pe 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1Pe 1:21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

1Pe 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

1Pe 2:17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 

 

1Pe 3:8  Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 

1Pe 3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 

 

1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 

 

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 

Joh 13:35  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

 

Joh 15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another. 

 

Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

 

2Co 6:6  By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned

 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

 

1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

1Th 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 

 

1Ti 1:5  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned

 

Heb 6:10  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 

 

Heb 13:1  Let brotherly love continue.

 

Jas 2:15  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

 

2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

 

1Jn 3:11  For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 

 

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 

1Jn 3:15  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 

1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

1Jn 3:17  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 

1Jn 3:18  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 

1Jn 3:19  And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 

 

1Jn 3:23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

 

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 

 

1Jn 4:12  No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 

 

1Jn 4:20  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 

1Jn 4:21  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. 

 

1Jn 5:1  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 

1Jn 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 

 

 

Always Our Hope.

I confess… the Lord Jesus was raised from the dead by God.

 

Jesus will return to the earth He left, calling all those that belong to Him- the living and the dead- to rise and meet Him in the air.

 

Right now we are kept by the power of God. Kept through faith to salvation. Salvation that will be revealed in the last time.

 

We continue to live our lives in a chaotic world but we live with hope. Our hope isn't in this world, our hope is in the Lord to save us. Our hope is in heaven with our Savior. In a little while He will return. It may seem like it is taking a long time- but whenever we long for something we have to wait for doesn't it almost always seem to make time slow down. When we are waiting for something so incredible it almost defies comprehension, is it any wonder it seems to be taking a long, long time?

 

With each of us given a life time of generally no more than at the most 100 years (rare exceptions to this rule live longer), and most of us with much shorter lives, 80 years, and some 70, 60, 50…. And less. With each individual given a finite number of days, we each wait for our LORD's return equally.

 

Abraham, David, Paul, Peter, all of them were given just a lifetime the same as we are and then death ended their lives and they each entered the sleep of the first death. They waited for their Lord each in their own way. Some waited for the arrival of the Messiah, others waited for the return of a Messiah they watched die and rise from the grave. We wait for the Messiah to return having not seen Him upon earth. Like those who died with the hope of His first arrival, they did not see it happen but died in hope, we wait having not seen. Our hope because we live and our hope until we enter death's sleep will be in the Messiah to return to call us home with Him. Someday there will be people who are waiting who will witness the Lord's return- we may be among them but if we are not, it is always our HOPE.

 

Hope.

 

Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 

1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

 

Rom 10:9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

Rom 10:10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Rom 10:11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.