A Heavenly Focus

Matthew 6:19-21

                                                                                           

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; For where your treasure is, there will be your heart be also.

If the question were raised, What are we living for, earthly wealth and status or eternal wealth which is salvation? Our scripture text tells us that wherever our priorities are then that is where the heart is. If it is on earthly wealth and status then that is our focus, but on the other hand if spending eternity with God is our priority then heaven is our focus.

Matthew 6:33 encourages all believers to seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first and then as promised God will supply all our earthly needs (Philippians 4:19).

Seeking the kingdom of God carries a connation of allowing the rule and power of God to be demonstrated in our daily lives so that unbelievers will see God's manifestation in our lives and come to know Him. Seeking God's kingdom allows believers to yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who keeps believers from falling prey to Satan's lies. Seeking the kingdom of God states that all believers have committed themselves to obeying God's commands and to do His will as well as possessing Christ's righteousness, remaining separated from this world and its system while displaying God's love for the world to see (Philippians 2:12-13).

With that being said, a heavenly focus is putting God and His righteousness first and everything comes after.

A heavenly or an earthly focus, which do you choose? Heaven is best.

Comments are welcome.

Author's contact:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday

Matthew 20:19

And shall deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify Him; and on the third day He shall rise again.

Two of the most significant days in Christian history and putting in perspective the events that occurred on those two days we can pause and thank God for His love, grace and mercy. Man being God's special creation had become separated from our creator as a result of sin. God's redemptive plan was to pour out His wrath on His Son Jesus Christ who became man's propitiator as His precious blood was shed that dreadful day on Calvary's cross.

On Crucifixion Friday prophecy was fulfilled and as God's Son hang dying on the cross God's other created elements went out of control, the moon closed its eyes and refused to watch God's Son dye, the sun turned its face back to God and said, "I cannot look and watch Your Son dye" and the earth became dark as midnight. The earth reeled and rocked like a drunk man as if the weight of its axis was too much to bear because the sins of the world was on the Son of God's shoulders. The curtain in the temple was rent from top to bottom signifying that man could now go to God in prayer as our Savior Jesus Christ had paved the way. When Jesus Christ said "it is finished," He gave up the ghost and the dying process was complete. Thank God for Sunday (Resurrection) morning our Savior rose with all power in His hand. Through Christ's death, burial and resurrection, believers have victory because Christ took away the stain of death; sin has been forgiven, and rendered Satan powerless. All who believe in Jesus died with Christ on Friday and rose with Him Sunday morning and can shout glory hallelujah. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

All praises to a risen Savior and a forgiving God. Jesus is His name.

Comments are welcome.

Author's contact:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

April Devotional

All;

Below is the link to my devotional. Read and be blessed.

http://issuu.com/white8613/docs/april_2012__devotional.

The Cross

Galatians 6:12, 14

As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution of the cross of Christ. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Reflecting on the significance of this week these questions come to mind, What do the cross mean to you? Does it mean that all had sinned and come short of God's glory (Romans 3:23) and this posed a love dilemma for God and the cross was God's perfect solution as He is righteous and cannot look on sin? Do you believe that the cross of Christ was where God's wrath and love collided? Do you believe that God poured out His wrath on His Son so God's love and forgiveness could be lavished upon us?  Does it mean that the horrific death that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered for our salvation is worthy of our steadfast faith in Him? Does it mean that all who believe in Jesus Christ suffered and died with Him on the cross and was raised with Him on Resurrections Sunday to a life of righteousness? Do you believe it was necessary for Jesus to go by way of the cross and to shed His precious blood to atone man's sins as man lacked the ability to atone his own sins?

The cross means that Christ bore the wrath of God the Father for our sins to redeem man back to the Father all out of love. Without the cross of Jesus Christ there is no salvation and no hope for tomorrow.

The cross is the beginning of Friday's and Sunday's events; Crucifixion Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Thank God for both.

Comments are welcome.

Author's contact:

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

                                                                                                                   

Give Of Thyself

Matthew 10:7-8

…Go preach; saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give.

The background of our lesson study is the mission of Jesus' twelve disciples as Jesus gave them power to drive out evil spirits and heal the sick. They were instructed where to carry the message, to whom and what they were to do upon arrival.

Christ's purpose was that the kingdom of heaven and its powers would bring salvation, peace and healing to His people. With that being said, Christ sent forth His disciples to spread His message and that message continues today to all lost souls.

The attitude of Christ's disciples is that they left all and followed Jesus taking no thought for tomorrow, but freely giving of themselves just as Christ freely gave His life the for the sins of the world. All believers are to have the same attitude by freely giving of his or herself in kingdom building. Christians are asked to give reasonable service to God, which isn't much when compared to what was given so that all who believe will have salvation. These questions come to mind, How much are you willing to give to the Lord and how often are willing to witness Christ? Do we say like the words of this song, Lord I give myself to You to be used by You?

God loves a cheerful giver.

Comments are welcome

Author's contact

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Live To Please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1-9

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication; That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; For God hath not called us into uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Being that all believers have been called and sanctified by God to a life of holy living, then believers must refrain from continued unholy living, thus defiling the honored vessel as believers are the residing place of the Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit will not live in an unclean vessel-our bodies.

With that being said, given the fact that society immorality is common place as is all manner of other evils what must believers do? Believers are called to a life of righteousness through separate living while remaining in this world. Believers would not want Christ our Lord and Savior's atoning work of sanctification to be in vain by continuing to live in sin.

Believers can live to please God by continuously dying to sin daily and being renewed by the Holy Spirit who gives believers the strength to refute sin and live holy. Believers can live to please God by being transformed individuals who has committed him or herself to God and His ways.

Living to please is easy with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Comments are welcome

Author's contact

white3285@sbcglobal.net

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com

Be A Fruit Bearer

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.

In his writing to the Christians at Galatia Paul outlines the comparison between works of the flesh to those of the Spirit and the results of each. Paul makes it very clear that the works of the flesh is in stark contrast to the works of the Holy Spirit. Works of the flesh bring forth all manner of evil and hatred while works of the Spirit bears all manner of good as they represent God's character. Paul makes a profound declaration of the fruit of the Spirit that there is no law against them and cannot be legislated. These character traits are of God who cannot be legislated or regulated because He is God.

With that being said, believers being of God and bearing His spiritual fruit has the God given freedom to bear fruit according to His will and believers are to live so that the world will see God's glory shinning in our lives.

There is a true saying that "a tree is known by the fruit it bears", then all mankind is known by the fruit they bear. If you are a child of God then you will bear fruit of the Spirit and if one is a child of Satan, the fruit of wickedness is what the world will see.

Believers bear good fruit.

Comments are welcome

Author's contact

white3285@sbcglobal.net     

http://willie-writing.blogspot.com