Luke 18:17 17 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein."
This verse is especially meaningful to me since I accepted Jesus as my Saviour at a very young age. I have a vague remembrance of the experience; however, I know that Jesus became my Saviour that day. This verse says that we must "receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child". Why a little child? A "little" child does not understand what salvation means. A "little" child does not fully understand what sin is. A "little" child does not know who the Holy Spirit is. Jesus says, "suffer the little childen to COME unto me". A "little" child COMES and Jesus does the rest.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Hebrews 13:8 8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
It is comforting to know, in our changing world, that Jesus never changes. When we sin, He forgives us. When we are distant, He is waiting. When we are unlovable, He loves us. When we call out to Him, He hears us. In this world of uncertainty, there is Jesus.
It is comforting to know, in our changing world, that Jesus never changes. When we sin, He forgives us. When we are distant, He is waiting. When we are unlovable, He loves us. When we call out to Him, He hears us. In this world of uncertainty, there is Jesus.
Friday, December 10, 2010
THE RIGHT WAY TO PRAY - Part 1
MATTHEW 6:5-6
v5 When you pray, do not be like proud, selfish people. They love to stand up and pray loudly in the houses where people meet and on the street corners. They want other people to see them. What I tell you is the truth. They have received their complete reward already. v6 But when you pray, go into your room alone. Close the door. And pray to your Father in heaven, although you cannot see him. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
These verses are not referring just to the unsaved, but also Christians. Jesus said, "DON'T BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES ARE, FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING ON THE STREET CORNERS". Such people are not really praying to God. God wants us to pray in a private place. He can see what we do in secret, and he will reward us. Jesus did not mean that nobody pray in public meetings with other people. But he wanted people to be sincere whenever they pray. Christians must not pray so that other people will admire them.
v5 When you pray, do not be like proud, selfish people. They love to stand up and pray loudly in the houses where people meet and on the street corners. They want other people to see them. What I tell you is the truth. They have received their complete reward already. v6 But when you pray, go into your room alone. Close the door. And pray to your Father in heaven, although you cannot see him. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.
These verses are not referring just to the unsaved, but also Christians. Jesus said, "DON'T BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES ARE, FOR THEY LOVE TO PRAY STANDING ON THE STREET CORNERS". Such people are not really praying to God. God wants us to pray in a private place. He can see what we do in secret, and he will reward us. Jesus did not mean that nobody pray in public meetings with other people. But he wanted people to be sincere whenever they pray. Christians must not pray so that other people will admire them.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
LAZARUS, COME FORTH!
John 11:41-43 (King James Version)
v. 41 Jesus prayed, ‘I thank you, *Father. I thank you because you listen to me. v42 I know that you listen to me always. But I said these words so that all these people can hear. Then they will believe that you sent me." v43 Then Jesus shouted, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
Lazarus was dead. Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could help their ill brother because they had seen the miracles that Jesus had done. But Jesus did not do what they expected. He did not go to them immediately. Why did Jesus wait four days? Verse 42, of His prayer, tells us.
Sometimes, when we pray, God seems to do nothing. It may even seem that he has not heard our prayer. But God always answers our prayers. When we ask him, he can make good things happen, even in a bad situation. But he does not always do this immediately. God always knows when it is the right time for him to act in order to bring glory to him.
v. 41 Jesus prayed, ‘I thank you, *Father. I thank you because you listen to me. v42 I know that you listen to me always. But I said these words so that all these people can hear. Then they will believe that you sent me." v43 Then Jesus shouted, ‘Lazarus, come out!’
Lazarus was dead. Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could help their ill brother because they had seen the miracles that Jesus had done. But Jesus did not do what they expected. He did not go to them immediately. Why did Jesus wait four days? Verse 42, of His prayer, tells us.
Sometimes, when we pray, God seems to do nothing. It may even seem that he has not heard our prayer. But God always answers our prayers. When we ask him, he can make good things happen, even in a bad situation. But he does not always do this immediately. God always knows when it is the right time for him to act in order to bring glory to him.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
WHAT IS YOUR EXCUSE!
I Corinthians 2:3-5
v3 "...I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
v4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of God's power:
v5 THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT STAND IN THE WISDOM OF MEN, BUT IN THE POWER OF GOD."
In verses 3 and 4, Paul revealed his human fears and weaknesses to the church. He admitted that he was afraid and trembled when it came to speaking to a crowd of people. Paul wrote beautiful letters to the churches, but evidently he was not a good public speaker. This did not stop him from telling others about Jesus.
What is my excuse for not witnessing? I have always thought that my life was my witness to others. But that is not what the Bible says. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Jesus does not send us out alone, because he also said, "lo, I am with you always ...."
What the Bible has told me today in this scripture is that God has commanded me to tell others about Jesus. A person's inabilities and fears are no excuse. Paul had these same reasons not to witness, but he knew that it was "God's power" that changed the lives of people -- not what he said.
v3 "...I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
v4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of God's power:
v5 THAT YOUR FAITH SHOULD NOT STAND IN THE WISDOM OF MEN, BUT IN THE POWER OF GOD."
In verses 3 and 4, Paul revealed his human fears and weaknesses to the church. He admitted that he was afraid and trembled when it came to speaking to a crowd of people. Paul wrote beautiful letters to the churches, but evidently he was not a good public speaker. This did not stop him from telling others about Jesus.
What is my excuse for not witnessing? I have always thought that my life was my witness to others. But that is not what the Bible says. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Jesus does not send us out alone, because he also said, "lo, I am with you always ...."
What the Bible has told me today in this scripture is that God has commanded me to tell others about Jesus. A person's inabilities and fears are no excuse. Paul had these same reasons not to witness, but he knew that it was "God's power" that changed the lives of people -- not what he said.
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