"Your Answer"

"Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:68 

There is a hurting world out there. It doesn't matter if you live in America or Africa, you will find hurting people everywhere. Hurting people are looking for an answer to the pain they are experiencing. They look for it through drugs, alcohol, sex, education, entertainment and wealth, but to no avail. They may find it temporarily in these things, but it is only temporary, it soon wears off.

 

So, is there an answer, and if so, what is it? I have good news, there is an answer, His name is Jesus. Jesus is the answer for the world. Jesus is the answer to your questions. Jesus is the answer for your hurt. He is the answer to your pain and problems. You have probably heard this repeatedly for a long time, but it is still true. He is the answer. 

 

He was the answer when the Israelites were hemmed in between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army. He was the answer when they needed water in the desert. Jesus was the answer when the woman was caught in the act of adultery. Jesus was the answer for the lepers who were isolated from the rest of society. He was the answer when Daniel was in the lion's den. He was the answer for the thief on the cross. He was even the answer when Peter denied Him three times. 

 

Jesus has always been and will always be the answer. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God immediately came with their answer for redemption- Jesus. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15) At the end of the age, God will continue to reveal our answer- Jesus. "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:5)

 

Have a great day. Jesus is the answer to all of life's pain and problems-- He always has been and always will be. 

 

For further reading:

Matthew 11:28

John 14:27

Hebrews 13:6

 

"Revealed To All"

"At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." Matthew 11:25 

Spiritual revelation, insight and understanding comes from the Father. There is a knowledge that we can gain through study but the "spirit" of what is being said comes only from the Father through the Spirit. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) 

 

Many read their Bible but they never "hear" or "see" what it says. They just gain a knowledge of "facts and figures" about it. The Bible is more than facts and figures, it is a Person. From cover to cover, Genesis to Revelation, it is a revelation of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is a revelation of this wonderful Triune God and the great love He has for mankind.

I have come across many books that are so far above my understanding that it was pointless to read them. They are too intelligent in content for me to comprehend what is being written. The Bible is not like that although I have heard so many people say that the Bible is hard to understand. It is only hard when you are trying to understand it on a mental level. It is spiritual. And therefore it has to be read "spiritually". Now, the beautiful thing about that is, not only has God given us His Word, this wonderful revelation of Himself, but He also gives us the understanding of what it means. And even more beautiful than that is the fact that He will reveal it to all- not just the intellectual, not just the learned, but He will reveal it even to a child. God shows no respect to persons. He desires to reveal Himself to all and will to those who in turn want to know Him and will humble themselves to seek Him. He doesn't deny a person just because they are poor, uneducated, young, of a lower social status, unpopular, etc. We see within the pages of the Bible that He revealed Himself to the elite, the wealthy, the poor, the prostitute, tax collectors, lepers, the outcast, the common people and babes. 

 

He desires to reveal Himself to you this morning, regardless of where you are and who you are. He loves us all and wants to show us who He is. Had He not, He never would have given us His Word or sent the Living Word, Jesus, into the world. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9)

 

Have a great day. God is not a respecter of persons. He desires to reveal Himself to all. 

 

For further reading:

Psalm 40:7

Hebrews 10:7

John 1:1,14; 3:16

Romans 2:11

 

"Eat And Give Thanks"

"And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat." Acts 27:35 

This scripture passage comes from the story of Paul when he was a prisoner on a ship heading to Rome. The ship had been caught in a storm for the past fourteen days. At this point Paul had received a word from the Lord that the ship would be destroyed but all the men would be saved. No one had eaten during the whole time. So Paul then admonishes them to take bread and as they did he gave thanks.

 

When you are in a storm, "take bread and give thanks". Don't wait until the storm has passed. Bread represents the Word of God. Keep yourself "nourished" with God's Word. Partake of it often. Feast on it. Consume it. Hold on to it. Believe it. His Word will give you strength, courage, guidance, enlightenment, wisdom, faith and everything else you need. Don't neglect His Word.

 

When you are in a storm, don't neglect to give God thanks. Prayers of thanksgiving and praise will bring His presence into your situation. Again, don't wait until the storm has passed to give thanks. He is worthy of praise, honor and thanksgiving regardless of the situation that you are in. Thanking Him even in the storm will get your eyes on Him and help you to refocus-- which will in turn strengthen your faith. When we are constantly focused on our situation, it robs us of our faith and breeds fear and discouragement. Thanksgiving will put us back where we need to be-- trusting the Lord to see us through.

 

So if you are facing a storm today, keep "eating" God's Word and giving Him thanks.

 

Have a great day. When you are facing a storm, don't neglect God's Word and giving Him thanks. 

 

For further reading:

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Psalm 119:105

"His Invitation"

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29

 Our Lord Jesus is offering us an invitation here to come to Him and take His yoke upon us. Both of these involve a choice on our part. We have to choose to accept His invitation or refuse it. Coming to Him or not is a choice you have to make. Taking His yoke upon you or not is a choice you have to make as well. It isn't automatic. The words "come" and "take" are both action verbs, therefore, they involve action on the part of the one to whom the invitation has been extended. 

 

Will you come to Him and let Him give you rest from the burden you are carrying? The invitation does not specify what the burden is, it invites you to come with whatever is weighing you down. Maybe it is a burden of grief, of pain, of confusion, a broken relationship, an illness, etc. The invitation is to bring it to Jesus no matter what it is.

 

Will you take His yoke upon you? This invitation involves an exchange. He is offering for you to not only take His yoke but give Him yours at the same time. What is this yoke? It represents two things. First it represents submission. Farmers would put yokes on their cows or oxen, and they would submit to the famer's directions and will. When we take on Jesus' yoke, it means that we are putting ourselves in His hands. We are letting Him lead us. We are no longer trying to go our own way. The result is "rest to our souls". Because when we are in His hands, we are no longer struggling with the burden we are carrying, we have exchanged it and it has now become His. 

 

Second the yoke represents grace. Grace is God's favor upon you. It is His merciful kindness being bestowed upon those who will receive it. It is His own influence and ability in our lives that will strengthen us, empower us, keep us, increase our faith and helps us to walk in the Christian virtues. That means His grace gives us peace in times of confusion, strength in times of weakness, faith in times of fear, help in times of trouble and love in times of betrayal. 

 

The invitation is extended from Jesus Himself, will you accept it? Will you come to Him? Will you take His yoke upon you? Will you submit to Him? Will you receive His grace? Will you give Him your heavy burden? Will you give Him the yoke you are carrying? Will you receive the rest that He is offering? The choice is up to you.

 

Have a great day. The only way to have true rest and peace is by accepting Jesus' invitation to come to Him and receive His yoke of submission (putting yourself in His loving hands) and His yoke of grace (His merciful kindness and ability). 

 

For further reading:

2 Corinthians 12:9

Isaiah 53

"Real Love"

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV) 

Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day. It's a time for expressing our love to family and friends. Many exchanged cards of affection, candy and flowers hoping to relate a message of love to the recipient. It's nice to receive a card that says you are loved, candy, flowers or some other token. But these aren't real love, they are only material expressions. They can be given with no genuine love behind them. As a matter of fact, some are given out of duty or pressure because the holiday dictates that you do it. 

 

Just because a gift of love is given doesn't mean that love exist. Love is not a gift, it is not a feeling, it is not some show of affection. Love is a person. "God is love". We can't truly love as we should without the person of love (Jesus) in our hearts and lives. It is then that we experience real love and can give real love to someone else. 

 

Real love is not a material item that you give as a gift, real love is demonstrated in your treatment of that person. You can say, "I love you", all day long; you can buy the biggest box of candy in the store; you can buy dozens of roses; you can buy the most expensive ring they make, but that is not the real proof of love. The greatest expression of love is that you are willing to lay down your life for that person. Yes, it means literally if the situation comes to that, but I am mostly talking about laying down your life by putting yourself last and the person you say you love first- above your own self and desires. Real love treats that person with kindness, not rudeness. Real love isn't abusive, proud, overbearing, dominating or cruel. Real love doesn't cheat, it doesn't take advantage, it doesn't hurt, it doesn't do evil against them. 

 

The material expressions that we have named are only temporary- cards get lost, flowers fade, candy is soon eaten, jewelry can be stolen- but real love lasts day in and day out regardless of the tests it is put through. Real love is evident and expressed in word and action even when it is not pressured by a holiday to acknowledge it. 

 

Have a great day. Real love is not some material item you give to another person. Real love is demonstrated by the way you treat that person. 

 

For further reading:

1 Corinthians 13

1 John 4:7,8

John 15:13