"A Rose Garden"

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world".  John 16:33

Years ago, there was a popular country song whose words were:  "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden.  Along with the sunshine, there's got to be a little rain sometimes".  In our relationship with Jesus, He never promised us a "rose garden" type of life.  As we said yesterday, when we come into a relationship with Him, along with that relationship comes tribulation, persecution, self-denial, affliction and suffering.  But if that was all we had to look for, the "worse", it would be a relationship that no one would want to enter into.  

He told us to "count the cost" before entering into it, and in His love for us He let us know just what that cost would be.  He doesn't, won't, never has and never will deceive us by promising us something that it not true.  He warned us of the cost but He didn't leave it there.  While He might not have promised us a "problem free" life, let me tell you what He did promise us.

He promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  He promised to be with us always.  He promised to meet and supply all our need.  He promised to give us strength in weakness; peace in confusion; power to overcome temptation; grace that was sufficient; hope in hopeless situations; freedom; His Word to light our path; His Spirit to guide and comfort us; beauty for ashes; the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; faith to remove mountains; healing and deliverance; power over all the powers of the enemy; wisdom to do what is right; enlightened understanding to know what to do; weapons to destroy the enemy; and His unconditional love to sustain us.  No, He didn't promise us that there would be no problems, but He did promise to be with us through each one.  

Have a great day.  Jesus didn't promise us a rose garden.  (We forget that roses have thorns.)  But He did promise that the sweet fragrance of the relationship would outweigh the pain of the thorns. 

"For Better Or Worse"

"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me".  Mark 8:34 

All marriages begin with an exchange of vows: for better or worse; richer or poorer; in sickness and in health, etc.  Every couple who stands before one another making such vows stands there all "starry eyed" and so "in love" that they don't really give a whole lot of thought to what they are saying.  They are so "in love" that when they say those words, they don't fully comprehend the meaning of "worse", "poorer" and "sickness".  Then when "worse" happens and the reality of what it means sets in, they start trying to get out of the marriage.

 

People often go into a relationship with the Lord the same way.  Like marriage salvation is a covenant, it involves a vow, it is a relationship and it is meant to last our whole lifetime.   Most people enter it for heaven, for blessings, for the peace Jesus gives, for all the "good things" He bestows on them.  But, like marriage, there is a "worse" part of our relationship that will come.  At that point many give up and turn from Him-- they want a "divorce".    

 

They entered into a relationship with Him because they wanted to go to heaven.  They fell in love with Jesus.  They looked forward to the blessings and good times, but He didn't promise all "good times".  He said we would have tribulations.  He said we would have affliction.  He said that by having a relationship with Him, we would be hated by all men.  We would be rejected, mocked, attacked, persecuted, imprisoned and our own families and friends would turn on us. 

 

In any relationship there is a cost that should be counted.  Every relationship will cost us something.  Every relationship won't always be full of the "better"-- even our relationship with the Lord.  When you enter into it with Him, be aware of the cost and realize too that it is worth it.  "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us". (Romans 8:18)

 

Have a great day.  Every relationship will have a "better" and a "worse"-- even our relationship with Jesus.  But don't quit or turn from it.  It is worth it.    

"Filled Already"

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled".  Matthew 5:6

We sing songs in church asking the Lord to "fill us up".  We pray prayers asking the same.  But sometimes what is needed is not a filling, but an emptying. 

A glass, or any vessel, that is already full has no room to be filled with anything else.  Even one that is partially full only has the capacity to hold a little more.  Many times we are asking the Lord to fill us when we are already too full of other things and He is unable to fill us because there is no room.  We must first become empty of whatever else is occupying us in order for Him to fill us.

He does desire to fill us with Himself, His Spirit, His gifts, His blessings, His peace, His grace, His goodness, etc.  But if you are already filled with other things such as anger, hate, malice, bitterness, jealousy, pride, unforgiveness, greed, selfishness, lust, self-centeredness and just full of self in general, there is no room for Him to fill you with anything else.

The first prayer needs to be one of repentance.  Repent for the "wrong" that is filling your vessel/heart.  Ask Him to wash it away.  Ask Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.  Ask Him to create in you a clean heart.  Ask Him to purge out the "old leaven".  Ask Him to empty you of anything that is in you that is not of Him.  Once you are empty, then ask Him to fill you up with Him.  After the house has been "swept and cleaned" (so to speak), then get filled up.  Stay filled up with Him and don't allow there to be room for anything else but Him.   

Have a great day.  He fills what is empty, but purges, removes and delivers what is already full to make room for what He desires to fill us with. 

"Eternal Decision"

"...now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation".  2 Corinthians 6:2b

We were having a discussion the other day about the return of the Lord, and rapture of the church.  Some say it will happen before the tribulation, others say during and still others say after.  There are several schools of thought.  One has to be right, He is returning.  We just don’t know when.

So, the point I want to stress is this:  we don’t know when He will come, so be ready.  We don’t know when our time individually on earth will come to an end, so be ready.  We have to be ready at all times because we don’t know when our life will end, one way or another.  We can’t put off making sure it is well with our souls until tomorrow—tomorrow may never come for us. 

I know I have talked about this subject recently, and a lot in the past, but this is the most important decision that you will ever make—or that you will ever neglect to make.  And you can’t afford to neglect it.  Every other decision you make in life is a temporary one.  The decision about who you will marry is important, but marriage is temporary.  It will end one day.  The decision concerning your career is important as well, but it is temporary.  It will end in retirement one day.  The decision you make, or neglect, about your soul is eternal.  It is the only one that will not end.  Therefore, it is too important for you not to give your attention to but instead make that decision today.  Make the decision to receive eternal life through Jesus Christ today. 

Have a great day.  Every decision you make in life is a temporary one, except the decision concerning your soul—it is eternal.  Have you made it yet?   

“All Or Some?”

“For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had”.  Luke 21:4

Jesus was in the temple watching those who were giving their offerings.  He noted that the rich men were giving a little in proportion to the size of their abundant riches.  He also noted that a certain widow woman gave little as well, but her little was all she had.  Jesus said that she had given more than all the others because she gave all. 

This story is about more than giving God our money and offerings.  There is a spiritual parallel here.  It represents what He is looking for.  He is looking for those who will give Him all—all of themselves. 

These men were like most people.  They give to God, they are willing to even give themselves to God, but they are only willing to give Him a little.  They give Him what they want Him to have.  They only give Him part of themselves.  They will not surrender it all to Him.

This widow gave her all, even though in the eyes of man it wasn’t much.  These men gave some of what they had and in the eyes of man it looked like much.  But in the eyes of God, she gave the most.  Jesus was more pleased with what she gave than what they gave.  He isn’t looking for “quantity”.  He is looking for those who will give their entire selves to Him.  She gave from her heart.  The others gave out of duty or pride. 

Which one of these two would describe you?  Are you one who is giving God some but not all?  Are you holding back part of yourself?  Are you giving Him only what you want Him to have of you?  Or are you like the widow and giving all of you to Him?

Have a great day.  God is looking to see if you will give Him all of yourself, or if you will give Him only what you want Him to have reserving the rest for yourself.