STRIVE TO ENTER

Luke 13:24 (NKJV) 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
    This remarkable statement, has been missed by so many, Jesus clearly states not many people will find eternal life, not many will complete the work of this life and enter into rest with Him in eternity. What is the problem?
    It is so easy to pretend to be something we are not, it is not hard at all to put on a face and dress up a bad attitude, however, that will not change the heart. I once heard, "You can put a coat on a mule but it is still a mule," pretense is what God wants to put away in our lives.
    The work of seeking God is exhausting, it requires the deliberate spiritual action of prayer, it must be the work of our lives. Similar to a battle in which we engage the enemy physically, so is the exercise of earnest prayer. "You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin," Hebrews 12:4 remember it is Jesus the Son of God who commands "Strive to enter!"
Heavenly Father, we thank You for reminding us the work is not finished until we take our last breath. Help us today to enter into your rest by being diligent to seek You. Help us to endure, that we may be found faithful. Amen

FEAR HIM

Luke 12:5 (NKJV) 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
     A man cried on his death bed "Help me I don't want to die," "What is your fear," I asked, he replied, "I am not sure God will accept me." His life was one of ups and downs never really trusting the Author of Life.
     Jesus is revealing to his disciples that misplaced fear has no credit, man can do nothing to keep us from God, however, God can send us away from Him and that is the fear we should acknowledge. God created, He breathed into man the breath of life, it is in His Power alone to give and take.
    The man above listened intently as I explained, he had followed the wrong ideas about salvation, the heart must be given to Jesus and not taken back, we are to ask, seek and knock on the door of Eternity, Matthew 7:7,  our eternal lives depend upon it.
     What do you fear, I pray it is not misplaced?
Heavenly Father help us to look to You, help us to trust You, Help that we might seek no other, for we know there is know other Name given among men, that is Jesus Christ, for Salvation. Amen

DID NOT DRIVE

Joshua 13:13 (NKJV) 13 Nevertheless the children of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
    A man in prison said, "One sin will not leave me alone, I cannot stop its control over me," he was asked, "You can't or you won't?"
    The Israelites were commanded to eliminate all who challenged their possession of the land, it was a gift from God. However, there were obstacles to overcome the people of the land had been given over 400 years to repent and exalt God, they had failed to drive sin out of their lives. When the Israelites entered the land they saw the sins of the people and began to embrace the sins forbidden by God, the sins of the land choked the Word of the Lord and the people failed TO DRIVE SIN OUT.
    Friend, God has covered every sin with the innocent blood of His Son, nothing can stand against this Redeemers gift of Life. Romans 8:37-39 You must choose however to make God first in your life, anything less will result in failure. What a sad testimony, "They almost made it to Heaven, but would not completely trust Jesus in their lives!"
Heavenly Father may we acknowledge sin is an enemy, and trust You to destroy every vestige of its power over us. May we look to You to eliminate the control of sin in our lives, and trust You with every area of living. Amen

MORE THAN THAT

Luke 11:28 (NKJV) 28 But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
   Talking with a couple in a nursing home they were giving praise to God for their long life together, the wife hard of hearing said loudly, "What did you say," her sweet husband replied, "I said living with you has been sweet because of our God," she smiled and nodded knowingly.
    Someone tried to change the subject, Jesus keeps the focus on the only thing we need, to hear and obey the Word of God. So many distractions, so much to do, we are not better off with the conveniences of this century, we have grown colder and indifferent to worship and walking with God. The quiet voice of our Creator is being obscured by the volume of the noise in our ears, by the flash of color in our lives and the sad reasoning of our justifications. The Word of God is the most important thing for living, more than everything else, we must obey Him.
Heavenly Father the life we live in you is evidence of what we really believe, help us to stick to your Truth and avoid the distractions that destroy. Help us to hear and keep your Word. Amen

ONE THING

Luke 10:42 (NKJV) 2 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
   One person is busy attending to the needs of others, another person wrestles with God speaking to the heart about character, who is doing God's will? Ask Martha, she will answer, meeting an others needs, ask Mary, spending time with the Savior, will be her reply. Dig into to Hebrews Chapter 4 and discover God is calling us to enter into rest, that is a rest from the struggles of this world, a rest of satisfaction in the saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   Which one is right, Jesus says Mary has chosen the One thing, the good part that can not be taken from the child of God. We can be robbed and we may rob, but the relationship we embrace with Jesus Christ cannot be taken away. John 10:28-29
Heavenly Father may we hear everything You are saying, may we carefully embrace all the Truth You are supplying, may we hear see and obey everything You have planned. Amen
   

HOPE IN GOD

Psalms 42:5 (NKJV) 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. 
    A child was quiet and sullen, "What's wrong," the mother inquired, "I don't have anyone," came the reply, "You have daddy, Nanna has Papa, I don't have anyone." Sometimes we feel there is not another soul that understands, sadness seems more a friend than any single person. Such is the nature of man to long for the presence of the One who meets every need, the One that will be a friend when no other will, the One who cares about me.
    Friend you are not in strange company, we all need something that no person can supply, it must be the assurance that all will be well, that comes only from the Throne of God in the person of His Son. Jesus is the answer to my alone emotions, my soul can be satisfied no other way than the presence of God in my life.
    Have you completely trusted the Savior with every thing in your life, have you sold every possession in your heart, to the One who owns all things, absolute surrender to Jesus is the key to satisfaction in this life. Once your affections rest in Him you will desire no other.
Heavenly Father let every thing be put away, but let me have You, let every article of life be destroyed, but let me have You. May all the things that once held the heart, be nothing, give me the life in Christ. Amen

THE WHOLE MULTITUDE

Luke 8:37 (NKJV) 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
   How sad one group wants nothing to do with Jesus, He has removed the stain of sin and exposed the root of evil in their lives, the other group can't wait for him to return. The world in 2000 years has not evolved into anything better, because it cannot change without The Change Agent.
    The majority of people today reject the undeniable truth that the presence of Jesus, (the One who died for everyones sins, and then walked out of deaths grip,) is the only Way. Why, man cannot exist without Him, God has proved to us, John 14:6 that men will in no way find everlasting peace with out Him.
    Have you asked Him to leave, won't you right now ask Him (Jesus) to return, and forgive your sins and come into your life? Don't let worldly fear ruin your life for a Heavenly Eternity!
Heavenly Father, we need You, help us to trust every difficulty to You, help us to turn to You, help us to look up, may all our doing encounter You? Amen