“But if any man love God, the same is known of him.” I Corinthians 8:3
Tag: March 29
A Scripture for Today, March 29th, 2023
“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
Thomas missed the evening (vs. 19) service in John chapter 20. And he missed seeing the Lord. And he went a whole week doubting and missing great joy and peace that he could have had. We will never know what blessings we might miss if we choose to not to go an evening service.
A Scripture for Today, March 29th, 2022
“Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” Proverbs 28:26
A Scripture for Today, March 29th, 2018
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18
Who Will Be Closest to Jesus?
Everyone wants to know, ” Who will be closest to Jesus in Heaven?”
That answer might be whoever will choose to be close to Him while they are alive on this earth!
John 14:1-2 says,
”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
It is interesting to note that the Greek word that “mansions”, was translated from is present in John 14:23, as “abode”.
”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.”
That “abode” is the same Greek word as “mansions”!
”Who will be closest to Jesus?”
Maybe God is asking the exact same question.
”Who among you wants to be close to Jesus?”
Why should we wait for Heaven?
We can be close to Jesus now!
”Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am…” John 17:21
Spending time in prayer holds us in God’s presence, for a little while, and it gives us strength to face the day. It is something God wants and commands.
”Watch ye therefore, and pray always…” Luke 21:36
His last night on this earth, Jesus desired his disciples to spend it with him in prayer.
In the Garden of Eden, man both walked and talked with God freely on this Earth.
For us, the privilege of walking and talking with God, came at the price, of the shedding of blood of the precious Lamb of God Jesus Christ. We too often forget that.
We say prayers, “In Jesus’ name” because it took the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ to allow us back into the presence of God.
You say you don’t have time? God gave you this day to serve Him, and He surely allotted some time to spend with Him in it.
George Washington, the first President of the United States of America, found time to pray an hour each morning, and an hour each night. He called it his “daily sacrifice”. If he leading a country, and fighting a war, could find time for prayer, what excuses could many of us find?
The man, or woman, boy or girl, who would be close to Jesus surely, finds time daily for this.
We also need, not only to talk to, but also listen to Jesus.
Jesus said, ”Search the scriptures; …they are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)
He also said, ”… 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.” John 14:23
This, is one way we can get close to the Lord.
”…if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee…” Exodus 33:13
Jesus Christ, after spending forty days, without food and water, spoke these words:
”… It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
”… I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12
If we truly love Jesus, we will spend time in His Father’s Word.
Meditating daily upon His Word is something God commands us to do. He expected this especially of the leaders of Israel. If we are not busy leading a country, how can we say we do not have time to study and meditate upon God’s Word.
We need not only to talk and listen to Jesus, but also walk with Him.
”…The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” II Chronicles 15:2
One thing the rich young man, would not do was leave everything and follow Jesus.
”All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” Matthew 19:20-21
Men often treat spending time with the Lord, as a indulgence of sorts. They take time to do their prayer and Bible study, then run off never, seeking the direction that God would have them go.
The Bible says we are supposed to seek His face. He does not follow us, we are supposed to be following Him. Do we hurry and rush off, without first asking the Lord where He wants us to go?
”… and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.” Matthew 9:9
”And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” Luke 9:23-24
Speaking of places where the Lord wants us to go, His Church is the only institution that He promised to be with until the end of the world! (Matt. 28:18-20)
Many treat God’s Church as though it has little or no value, but it is the only institution God promised power to accomplish His will, and that access to ALL POWER, in Heaven and in earth.
”Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3
Sin separates us from God. If we want to be near Him, we won’t keep sin in our lives. We will quickly come to God’s throne in prayer, confess it, and have it forgiven.
John 14:21 says,
” He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
When we live lives pleasing to God, He will shew Himself to us.
Here are just a few ways the Bible teaches us to be close to Jesus on this earth. …Who will be close to Jesus?
Where to Serve?
“Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.” Deuteronomy 12:13-14
There is a place, that the Lord has for us to serve and worship. It is not in every place we see. It is not on every high hill and under every green tree.
In Exodus 40 we read how the Lord’s presence came down on the tabernacle, after it was finished.
”…So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” Exodus 40:33-38
This signified the Lord’s presence, the place where He would dwell, and the place where He set His name. The place for Israel to serve and worship.
Did a sign ever come from down from Heaven again like this?
Yes it did.
”[T]hey were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” Acts 2:1-3
On the day of Pentecost visible fire, came down from Heaven, and rested upon upon the Lord’s Church, the organization He instituted, the place where He promised to be until the end of the world.
Jesus said to Peter, the little stone, ”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Peter himself tells us,” To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:4-5
It was upon Christ the big rock, not upon the little rock Peter that Christ built his Church. Peter, in the book of I Peter explains this to us too. He tells us that we are stones. He tells us that when we are built together on Christ ( who is the chief cornerstone vs. 6), we are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God. It is not when we are by ourselves. It is not singular stone. It is the stones that are built up together that are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God.
It is the Lord’s Church!
”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
”For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
And it is in His Church, where the Lord wants us to serve!
” Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
When Ravens Cry 