"Playing Religious Games"

"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 5:20

So many people are playing games with their soul.  They think if they accumulate enough "religious points" they will make it to heaven.  For example, I was talking with a guy the other day about his salvation.  He told me he had been baptized in water and has the baptismal certificate.  He thought that certificate was his passport to heaven.  He was surprised to find out that it wasn't.  Several years ago, I asked another man about his salvation.  His reply was for me to turn on the television on Sunday morning to a particular channel and I would see him singing in the choir.  What?!  Sadly, he really thought that because he attended church and sung in the choir he was on his way to heaven.

Never once in either of these answers did I hear anything about Jesus.  I said earlier that people are playing games with their souls.  They are playing "religious games".  If you think you can earn your way to heaven, if you think you will win in the end just because you have accumulated some "religious brownie points" you are sadly mistaken and deceived.

The Pharisees and scribes were the religious leaders of their day.  They practiced religious rituals.  They taught others the commands of God.  They could quote scripture after scripture.  They were in the temple every time the doors were open.  But Jesus said they would not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 

Our righteousness doesn't save us-- it is like filthy rags.  Our good deeds don't save us-- they are all wood, hay and stubble that will be burned up.  Our religious knowledge doesn't save-- we know only in part.  The ONLY thing that saves us is faith in what Jesus Christ did for us at the cross.  You may think that is a bold statement.  Well, let me ask you something since you may be the one playing games with your soul.  If you have ever played any sort of game whether it is a board game or a field game, are there numerous ways to win?  Or is there only one?  To win you always have to get to the finish line, get around the board, run the bases in order, etc.  So why do we think there are many ways to get to heaven?

In any game there are rules.  In life there are rules.  If you are going to live life you are going to have to follow the rules.  If you are going to heaven, you have to follow the rules that God has established, or you will not win/go.

Have a great day.  Are you playing games with your soul?     

For further reading:
Matthew 7:21; 18:3
Isaiah 64:6
Titus 3:5
Ephesians 2:8,9
 

"Messenger Of Blessings"

"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord."  Palm 118:26

This verse was a prophecy concerning the Messiah who was to come.  It was fulfilled in Jesus when He made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday riding on the colt of a donkey.

This verse was fulfilled in Christ Jesus, but it is a continuation to what He fulfilled.  It is continued through the Body of Christ.  "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!' (Isaiah 52:7) 

He fulfilled it, but we continue to make it known.  When we share the good news of salvation with others, we do not share it in our own name or authority.  We do it in "the name of the Lord".  We are His messengers, announcing peace and proclaiming good tidings.  We are "blessed" messengers bringing "blessings" to others.  The Greek word here for blessed means:  to invoke a blessing upon a person.  Each time you share the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, each time they hear the Good News that Jesus saves, each time you testify to someone about Jesus, you are bringing a blessing into their lives.  (Of course, it is up to them whether they receive it or not.)

Do you want to be a "blessing" to others?  The best way, the greatest way to do that is by sharing Jesus-- sharing the message of His love, His saving grace, His salvation, His mercy and His power.

Have a great day.  We are messengers of the Lord who bring blessings to others as we share the good news that Jesus saves.

For further reading:
John 12:13
Matthew 21:9

"Praying It From The Heart"

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."  Matthew 6:10

When Jesus taught us to pray after the manner of the Lord's Prayer, it was a guideline and model for praying perfect prayers to the Father.  He did not intend for us to pray it out of form, ritual, only from memory or off the top of our head.  It isn't some meaningless, mindless recitation you pray when you don't know what else to pray.

It was meant to be prayed, and any other prayer we pray, from the heart.  It was meant to be prayed in sincerity.  It was meant to be prayed in faith.  It was meant to be prayed with reverence. 

How do you pray it?  How do you pray any prayer to the Father?  Do you pray it from memory only and don't give much thought to what you are saying?  Do you consider it a "stand by" that you pull out when you know you need to pray but don't feel like it?  Do you think you can "throw it up to heaven" and feel justified that you "have prayed"?  When you pray those words, "Thy will be done", do you really mean them? 

I believe we should pray the Lord's Prayer-- I do myself often.  But when we pray it, we should do so from the heart and in faith.

Have a great day.  When you pray the Lord's Prayer, are you just reciting words or is it coming from your heart?

For further reading:
Matthew 6:9-13; 15:8 
 

"Protect The Fruit"

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " Galatians 5:2,23

When we come to Christ as Savior, one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to produce the Fruit of the Spirit in us.  This Fruit of the Spirit is the nature and character of God.  It is revealed in our attitudes, actions, reactions and dealings with others.  Where we once walked in hate, we walk in love.  Where we reacted in unbelief, we now walk in faith.  Where we were once living in pride and arrogance, we now live a life of meekness and humility.  We should be people who manifest the Fruit of the Spirit because we are people who represent the Lord to this world.

Not only is the Fruit of the Spirit produced in our lives, but it is also to be protected.  I have only raised a few fruit trees, but the one thing about them all is that they need a little TLC in order for them to produce.  We had to take certain measures to protect them from the elements, parasites, and diseases.  They can't be ignored or neglected. 

We have to protect the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives so that we will bear good fruit and glorify God.  We have to protect it too from "disease", "parasites" and the "elements" of this world.  We have to protect it from the spiritual diseases of bitterness, criticism, fear, anger, etc.  We have to protect it from being contaminated by the mindsets of this world.  We do that by transforming our minds with the Word of God.  

Since the Fruit of the Spirit is God's character revealed through His children, its purpose is so that others can "taste and see that the Lord is good".  If we don't protect the Fruit, it will become diseased and contaminated by flesh, and people will not get a true revelation of who God is through our lives.  Instead, it will leave a "bitter" taste in their "spiritual mouths" causing them to not want to have anything to do with Him. 

Have a great day.  Since the Fruit of the Spirit is being produced in our lives, we must make sure we protect it.

For further reading:
Psalm 34:8

 

"They're Like Bees"

"They compassed me about like bees: they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them."  Psalm 118:12

Do you ever feel like the pressures, cares, problems and temptations you encounter are like "bees" swarming around you?  They are like "bees" in the fact that they are not the things that are big and monumental-- earth shaking -- but lots of little things.  They are like bees in the fact that they threaten to "sting" you and cause pain.   They are also like bees because they are "flying" all around, keeping you constantly going in circles swatting at them. 

These problems and cares are small, numerous and annoying.  So, what are you doing about them?  The Psalmist said that it was in "the name of the Lord" that he would destroy them.  You deal with them "in the name of the Lord".  This means you:  1) acknowledge the Lord and bring Him into the situation.  2) You look to His strength and ability to help you deal with and destroy them.  3)  You use His Word as the sword and stand on His promises to attack them.  4)  You speak His powerful name over the situation and command them to "stop".

It is the "little" things that tend to do us harm or destroy us.  They can't be ignored.  We must deal with them.  But we deal with them in the name of the Lord, not our own ability.

Have a great day.  Even the little things are often out to destroy us.  We deal with them the same way we deal with the big issues... in the name of the Lord.

For further reading:
1 Samuel 17:45
Psalm 118:10-12; 124:8