“Jesus replied, ‘Don’t let anyone mislead you,’” v. 5 (NLT) read more here
There is a lot of talk about the end of the world lately. With the earthquakes, tornado’s, and floods, people seem to be on edge lately. We even have people claiming that the world will end on May 21st. However, all these things are described by Jesus in Mark chapter 13, but He starts by saying to be careful of being misled.
I do believe that we are seeing signs of the return of Christ, but no-one truly knows the day or hour this will happen. This can be scary for those who do not know Christ or have a relationship with Him. But for those that believe Jesus is the Messiah and have confessed and surrendered to Him as Lord and Savior, can have confidence that what ever happens on this Earth, their Eternity is secure in the Grace of God and the redemption of Christ. So here’s the question ….
Today, when it comes to the End of the World, do you stand in fear, or do you have Faith that Jesus is still in control?
“You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” v.22 (NLT)
Really? Will God answer any prayer I pray? The fact is, this verse is not a guarantee that we can get anything we want simply asking Jesus for it believing He will do it, and closing our prayer in His Name. God does not grant requests that would hurt us or others or that would violate his own nature or will. Jesus’ statement is not a blank check. To be fulfilled, our requests must be in harmony with the principles of God’s Kingdom. The stronger our belief, the more likely our prayers will be in line with God’s will, and then God will be happy to grant them.
Today, do your prayers align with the heart of God and His Character? If so, a prayer offered in faith is very powerful! Spend sometime today praying and seeking the Lord.
“At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!’” v. 25-26
Is God hiding? Could there be more of Him than what you and I have experienced? The answer is Yes! The things of God are hidden to those who do not believe! If you don’t believe me check this out, “But people who aren’t spiritualcan’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT) When you believe and surrender your life to Christ the Bible says that the Holy Spirit comes to live in you heart. The Holy Spirit reveals the things of God to us. The more we surrender our lives to Christ, the more we learn about God and experience Him in our daily lives. On the day of your salvation, the day you
Admitted you were a sinner!
Believed Jesus died on a cross because of your sin and resurrected from the dead to offer the forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
Committed your life to Jesus by surrendering everything you are for everything He is.
you received all of the Holy Spirit. But in the everyday surrender of your heart, where you become more like Christ, is not you getting more of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit getting more of you! This is why it so important to be in the Word and Pray. Its our opportunity to give our life away, so we can gain a life we can’t produce on our own. And it all starts with a child like faith that believes Jesus is who He says He is and He will do what He has promised to do. So the question is, are you playing hide and seek with God, or are you Following the Leader?
Today, seek the Lord in a new way! Do something different that allows you to experience Him in a new way or causes you to grow deeper in Faith!
“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body[b] and live in holiness and honor—5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife,[c] for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.” v. 3-8
Strong words with deep meaning. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we are made Holy. However, to live in Holiness means to live pure in a sinful world. Almost every passage of scripture that encourages us to turn from sin starts with sexual sin. If you look at our world today the number 1 temptation we face involves sexual thoughts and or actions. Why, because because sex sells! Therefor, its everywhere.
If we are going to live pure in a dirty world we have to begin by examining our thoughts, what we watch, and what we listen too. Have you ever listened to what some of the main stream music is talking about? I am guilty here of getting wrapped up in a song and not thinking about what it is talking about. Often times Stephanie and I will talk about what the song is actually saying … it’s scary sometimes when you actually listen to the words and pick up on all the innuendos. We have to be even more careful now because our 3 and 6 year old like to sing along. It’s not good when you hear them singing along and then the phrase “pantie snatcher” comes over their lips. It creates a very uncomfortable situation. I had to apologize to him and tell him not all the songs on the radio are good songs and asked him not to sing that song again. He replied, well change the channel to a song I can sing. That’s innocence by the way.
Now please hear me, I am not saying that you need to only listen to Christian Music. What makes it Christian music by the way? That’s probably another topic. However, what you listen to, what you watch, and how you think, begins to be seen in your actions. This is all the more reason why we need to be spending time in Gods Word.
When we know the Word, we will begin to live it out daily. This begins to change our thoughts and our actions.
Today, what are you going to let fill your mind? Where will you spend your time? How will this impact how you live? Let’s not be defined by the world, but by the work of Christ in our lives so we can be Holy, as our Father is Holy!
Dan Gould 