The LORD Delights
in those who Trust in His Mercy
and not their own Merit-less, Sinful State
As an eternal memorial of the mercy of God in Christ, Jesus showed mercy to a man who was likely a lifelong criminal sinner.
After rebuking the other thief for his unbelief, the penitent thief on the cross next to Jesus asked our LORD to remember him.
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
So, if the Son of God freely forgave and took to glory the repentant, seeking criminal next to Him on the cross, why would anyone believe He’s changed? Who is it that would deny that Christ would and is doing the same today?
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
WHEN you see people get arrested… it’s likely that God is setting them apart so He can save, so He can transform them. Pray for them. Jail is death and burial…. which must precede resurrection. Jesus is coming and eternity is all that matters!
—- We all get various spam emails and see ads for many things, including background checks. NEVER MIND mere man’s “background checks” … How does our background check out with Him? Isn’t that all that matters? The Almighty has the full version of the “background check” of our whole lives – including every thought and motive of our hearts (Proverbs 15:3; Hebrews 4:13). And He’s the only Judge before whom we shall all stand to give account ….. WHO do you fear? … David cried “Let my sentence (verdict) come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.”(Psalms 17:2) In other words David was only concerned about how the LORD viewed him and had no concern for what mere sinful men thought or said about him. ….. The apostle Paul wrote:
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Romans 8:33-37
“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” Psalms 147:11
According to Psalms 147:11, just WHO did your Maker and Judge say that He takes “pleasure in”?
- “them that fear him”
- “those that hope in his mercy”
Those who truly fear God will repent to be saved and will continually repent as needed (2 Corinthians 7:9-10; 12:21, etc.). “Repent” is the very first word of the Gospel (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30, etc.).
UNTIL, as an individual, you begin to realize just how wicked you really are, you will never begin to appreciate what our KING and Savior did on that cross!
Concerning your initial thoughts when you see that mug shot, examine yourself for a moment by answering the following questions:
- Do you hold out mercy and understanding for yourself while harshly judging others in your attitude, never knowing the shoes they walk in?
- Do you understand that Jesus promised that His children will be accused of “all manner of evil against” them “falsely” and instructed them to “rejoice” when this happens? (Matthew 5:10-12) Do you rejoice at persecutions?
- Do you know that Psalms 17:2 says our “sentence” ultimately comes from the LORD and not mere men?
Holding out mercy for others is important. Having a mercy-filled disposition is godly.
NO MATTER how hurt or mad you may currently be with someone, remember, Jesus died to save that person and is not willing that such a person perish (Luke 9:56; John 3:17; 2 Peter 3:9).
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7
“Refusal to pray because of the guilt of your sins is like refusing to take you bath because you are dirty. Pray.” Augustine Mario
Bible Hint: God says that if you want mercy, you must show mercy. In many cases, in eternity, things will reverse completely as the Bible teaches. Many of those in positions of authority in this brief life will be in hell for eternity (Ezek. 21:26; Lk. 16:19-31; Rev. 5:10; 20:4, 6, etc.). Many who are judges today and send people to prison, will themselves be submitted irrevocably and eternally to the prison of fire by the Judge of their eternal souls. as As they sat in their high seats (benches) and hundreds and even thousands of times sent souls to jail, they themselves ignored their own need to repent before a holy God and Judge against whom they has grossly sinned.
The fires of eternal damnation shall forever feed upon the hopeless souls who leave this earth without having received and walked in (to the end) the mercy of the Almighty which He offers all men through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
THE SINS THAT SHOULD CONCERN US MOST ARE OUR OWN SINS! why then do we wrongly judge others in our attitudes when the one who needs Jesus most is us? To his friends who wrongly judged him, Job said: “But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?” (Job 19:28)
Hell’s Mug Shots are Forever!
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
The Bible establishes the inherent sinfulness of all men and that would include you, my friend.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one … For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10, 23
May the only final law enforcement Judge who sits atop the Highest throne in the supreme court of the Universe show us our own mug shot today – the fact that we ourselves are completely guilty of sinning against Him and that we are in utter need of the One who came and bled that we might be forgiven.
The Bible establishes that the whole world – every human being, without exception – is “guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19)
Those whose mug shots we often see of those caught for their sinful activities and whose sins are made public are just like you – sinners! Just because our sins aren’t known to the mass public does not make them any less a violation to the holiness of our Maker and Judge. If you have ever stolen anything, lusted or hated in your heart, you are no less a sinner than the mug shot guy or girl. The only difference here is that they have been caught and are in jail for a temporary time in this brief life. When you die your doom or bliss is sealed. Don’t wait friend – turn to the Good Shepherd today. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” 1 Timothy 5:24
God sees/knows ALL sins. He knows ALL of the sins you have committed in your heart and then those you committed in action. Nothing escapes Him.
Do you realize that if you die in sin that you will spend eternity in the lake of fire?
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15
Will your mug shot be forever posted for all to see as you sizzle in the flames of eternal damnation?
Getting Off the High Horse
Here’s a Bible passage to prayerfully each morning this week:
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
The LORD delights in His people and wants them to see things the way He sees them (Romans 12:2). His first desire is to restore and show mercy and He does so when the sinner repents.
All is recorded in Heaven (Hebrews 4:13). God sees ALL your sins and will pull the curtains back and roll the tape of your life on Judgment Day. Every single thought and deed of your life is on file with God. He made provision to remove and desires to forgive all. If you die without His forgiveness, you will face the Almighty on Judgment Day in the Supreme Court of the Universe as a guilty sinner who refused to be pardoned. In trembling ruins you will stand shameful and without excuse before a holy God.
Put your own face in that mug shot! Admit to your own sins! Own up to your vile thoughts, meditations, lusts, adulteries, fornications of heart! And then begin praying for God to show mercy on others as He has shown upon your own filthy soul! Beg Him for a pure heart so that you can see Him! (Matthew 5:8; Proverbs 20:9)
Why do you self-righteously and arrogantly boast as if you have no need for divine mercy this very hour?
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
If you will be in Heaven eternally, you had better get in touch with your infinite need for divine mercy (Matthew 5:20; 21:31).
Let’s ask: Where are “the eyes of the LORD”? – “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3
What does God behold? – “beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3
What did Jesus tell us is going to be “covered”? – “nothing.”
“Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. “ Matthew 10:26
Word to the wise – You better get off that high horse or the flames of eternal damnation shall forever feed upon your helpless, conscious corpse!
It’s time to dismount from the high horse of pride and mount the lowly donkey of humility. God is going to eternally bless the lowly, humble souls who live to celebrate His Majestic, blessed only begotten Son who bled for our sins. Don’t miss this eternal celebration and bliss!
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10
Back to the Mug Shots….
The thieves on the crosses that flanked our blessed Savior were mug shot criminals! What is your view of them? What is your view of mug shot criminals today?
When is the last time you lifted the mug shot person in prayer? What about the flashy story on TV about some evildoer? Did you pray for them?
What is your very first thought concerning mug shots you see in print in your mail box or on TV or the internet?
Firstly, it’s time to get a clue! Do you know how many false arrests go on in this nation? Staggering! Do you know how many false imprisonments go on in our injustice system? Staggering! Do you know that many Christians are in jail right now serving sentences as a result of persecutions and false evidence fabricated against them in order to jail them? Many of the LORD’s most blessed patriarchs of Christ were jailed! Joseph, several of the prophets, John the Baptist, Paul, etc.
God does not forget people in this earth’s jails but he does forget those who left the earth outside of a relationship with Christ – those who chose to “forget” Him. They will forever be vanquished into the fires of damnation (Psalms 9:17; 50:22).
Concerning this matter, Mark McIntosh writes:
“Sometimes it’s BETTER to be in a PRISON and be found by JESUS and TRULY REPENT of our SINS than to be free in a world where your SOUL is in BONDAGE and hell is pending! Repent and BE FREE INDEED …. in jail, prison or in society … it doesn’t matter where … AMEN?”
But just what if that next person in a mug shot you see is truly guilty? Are they beyond God’s hand to redeem and forgive? Is God’s hand shortened? (Isaiah 59:1-2) Is God’s Word lying when it tells us that Jesus is alive and well at His blessed Father’s right hand and able to save from the uttermost to the uttermost? (Hebrews 7:24-25) Where is your faith? Repent of such evil thinking that is emanating from an uncircumcised heart! (Mark 7:20-23)
Think like a disciple of Christ, friend. Memorize Romans 12:1-2 today!
Are you still so very blinded by your own sin that you join the depraved hearts of the world’s sinners in condemning criminals? The reality is, that in the “Holy, holy, holy” eyes of the Almighty, you are in need of no less mercy that the vilest of criminals in this fleeting life (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
What did Jesus do to the two criminals who were at each of His blessed sides while He hung for YOUR sins? He gave both of them the full privilege to be saved into His eternal kingdom of bliss and praise God one of them received Him!
“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43
Looking for Mercy!
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
Do you realize that gutter prostitutes and the vilest of criminals in this world have a better chance at going to Heaven than self-righteous religious people who pastor churches, cast out devils, speak with tongues, serve in their church, sing in the choir, go on missionary trips, and do many wonderful works in Christ’s name?
The Son of God says to the religious leaders of His day:
“Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots (whores, prostitutes) go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31
Who did the LORD tell us will receive the full strength of undiluted judgment upon their own heads?
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against (triumphs over) judgment.” James 2:13
Did you catch what James says here?
Read it again and answer this:
- Who will receive to themselves “judgment WITHOUT mercy”? – Those who “shewed no mercy” to others in their thoughts and out of their mouths!
Some self-righteous soul may still be saying “But, but, but that criminal did this or that…” … Jesus died for unholy criminals like you and me! He found and saved your wretched soul didn’t He? Does He love that mug shot soul any less?
My advice to you is to genuinely surrender to Christ, to die to self completely, to cry out to Him to break you to the core of your being. Then, you will cease sitting in the seat of the scornful, and truly be able to be used of Him. Get low or to hell you also will go (Psalm 1). Whatever you do, read Psalm 51 and take special note to every word this time!
God’s Word tells us that those who will be saved are “looking for the MERCY of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” They do not stand in their own self-righteous, filthy, sinful rags but rather they stand looking to the LORD for His blessed mercy!
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the MERCY of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 1:21
Just what are believers to be “looking for” in light of the fact that we shall all meet our Maker soon? – “mercy”!
Live and Preach this – The Pharisee and the Publican
“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
The only one of these two guys who was justified and ready to survive the holy wrath and judgment of God was the one who cried from his needy heart “God be merciful to ME a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)
If you are being convicted by the truth and the Holy Ghost of God, it’s time to repent and truly turn to the LORD and be broken, crying out to the LORD for His mercy upon your own wretched, self-righteous and evil heart before it’s too late.
Read Psalm 51 and beg the LORD to forgive you as you cry out to Him to search YOU, to cleanse YOU … it’s only “THEN” that He can use you.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
Just because the mass public doesn’t know about YOUR sins doesn’t mean that your sins are hidden! The LORD saw your evil thoughts, lust, covetousness, and hatred! God saw you do it! What shall you do?
***We must make sure we are walking in the “true holiness” that is only possible by the mercy of God shown to us through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:23-25). Please beware of the false holiness that is being taught all around us. True or Feigned Holiness?
Apostasy
Billy Graham Promoted and Sent People to Go Join the Catholic Church
“One of the most troubling problems within the church today is the unwavering loyalty to a ‘christian’ personality rather than to Christ and His Word. The unwillingness to test every man’s teaching with God’s Word, coupled with a stubborn lack of discernment, produces fertile ground for deception to flourish.” Evangeline DiChristi
from Chick Publications
Billy Graham Still Sending Converts Back to the Pope
Billy Graham. We know that his messages are solid gospel. Few in or out of the Christian World have not heard of him. Since 1949 he has held the spotlight as the most prominent evangelist in Christendom. He has just finished his 416th crusade in Pasadena, California that drew over 300,000 people in four days. 13,000+ responded to his altar calls. Graham is now 86 years old and has one more crusade scheduled in New York City next year, health permitting.
The Pasadena crusade was on the anniversary of his first Los Angeles revival 55 years ago. It was after that meeting that Graham was “kissed by William Randolph Hearst” according to Dr Cathy Burns in her book, Billy Graham and His Friends. This meant that Hearst had decided to promote Graham’s ministry in his nationwide chain of newspapers.
Immediately, reporters and photographers were crawling all over the Graham meetings. Front page articles began to appear in the leading local papers wherever Graham held meetings. One reporter was assigned full time to travel with Graham’s team.
In 1991, Graham claimed that this sudden attention remained a mystery. Burns describes a more complex scenario. Regardless, the publicity propelled Graham into the national, if not international, limelight.
Jesus warned, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you.” Over the years, Graham became the friend of presidents and kings, a beloved “America’s Pastor.”
But the fame came with a price. In his book, Smokescreens, written in 1983, Jack Chick describes how Roman Catholic leaders viewed and used Graham as a key player in their ecumenical plans. As early as 1965, he was a guest speaker at Catholic Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina where he received an honorary doctor’s degree. A college official’s letter describes Graham’s address as “theologically sound” as may have been given by “any other Catholic preacher.” The letter further states, “I would state that he could bring Catholics and Protestants together in a healthy ecumenic spirit.” Graham was also speaking at several other Catholic colleges at that time.
This prediction was fully realized. In Smokescreens, Chick shows various illustrations. In 1971 Graham is shown meeting with Oakland, California, Catholic Bishop Floyd Begin who lauded Graham’s ministry. In 1972 he received a Franciscan Friars’ award for true ecumenism. In 1979 Graham praised the pope as a “moral and spiritual leader that believes in something.”
In 1981 he was closeted for almost two hours with Pope John Paul II. After the 1982 New England crusade, thousands of those who went forward for salvation were turned over to Catholic clergy for follow-up.
And this hasn’t changed. Before the Pasadena crusade this year, The Tidings, official newspaper for the Los Angeles diocese, reported that Cardinal Mahony had written to parish priests to encourage their members to attend the crusade.
Crusade officials bragged that they had “a marvelous agreement” with Graham to give all registration cards to the diocese, of the inquirers who identified themselves as Catholic. The object was to “reincorporate Catholic Crusade participants back into full sacramental life in the Catholic Church.” “This is ecumenicity at it finest,” said Alexei Smith, Ecumenical and Interreligious Officer for the archdiocese.
There is no doubt that hundreds of thousands have been swept into the kingdom during the Graham crusades. But how tragic that so many who responded to Graham’s call to salvation were then sent back to the spiritual bondage and pagan rituals of the pope’s prostitute church?
Jack Chick concludes the Smokescreens chapter: “Yes, beloved. Billy Graham, as much as I love him and hate to say it, I believe was cleverly used as a smokescreen and as a pied piper for the whore of Revelation.”
In Graham’s 1952 Pittsburgh crusade, the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph reported that Graham said:
“Many of the people who reach a decision for Christ at our meetings have joined the Catholic Church and we have received commendations from Catholic publications for the revived interest in their Church following our campaigns. This happened both in Boston and Washington. After all, one of our prime purposes is to help the churches in a community. If after we move on, the local (sic) churches do not feel the efforts of these meetings in increased membership and attendance, then our crusade would have to be considered a failure.” [Emphasis in the original.]
Did you notice that Graham was only interested in a church’s increased membership-but nothing was said about a person receiving Christ as his or her personal Lord and Savior. This is what is important-not church membership! Church membership could increase a 1000-fold but if people are not being saved, then all is in vain.
Graham also gave a boost to the Catholic Church (in 1952) when he added that he “hoped to hear Bishop Fulton J. Sheen at one of the masses at St. Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow. ” [Emphasis in the original.]
“In 1968, Graham was in a meeting in San Antonio, Texas. He said that the Roman Church had given ‘tremendous cooperation’ in areas where he had held crusades. He added, ‘A great part of our support today comes from Catholics. We never hold a crusade without priests and nuns being much in evidence in the audience.”
By 1973 nuns were singing in the choir at Graham’s crusades.
Continuing on with Graham’s ecumenical outlook, the June 10, 1966 issue of Time said that volunteers “will tactfully receive those stepping forward to make a decision for Christ, [and] steer them to the nearest church of their chosen denomination….”
In Poland in 1978, “Graham taught nuns and priests how to evangelize. A picture taken at the famous Polish Shrine of the Black Madonna shows Graham welcoming pilgrims to the worship of their Virgin.”
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Abiding
“David Encouraged Himself in the LORD his God” [podcast]
“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, … but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6
Gathering from several commentaries on this passage, one source notes the following:
“Faced with the devastating loss of Ziklag and a mutinous army threatening to stone him, David found supernatural resilience. Rather than yielding to panic or despair, he actively turned his focus away from the overwhelming crisis and strengthened his faith directly in God.
Key Context and Lessons
- The Crisis: Amalekite raiders had burned the city and captured all the women and children, including David’s own wives.
- The Breaking Point: His loyal men were now grieving and broken, turning their deep anguish into violent anger against their leader.
- The Shift: David did not look to his men, his own strength, or his circumstances for hope. He preached truth to his own soul, drawing on his past history with God’s faithfulness and inquiring of the Lord for his next steps.
Practical Takeaways
- Self-Talk: When no one else is around to lift you up, you must learn to speak God’s promises to your own heart.
- Refocusing: Encouraging yourself in the Lord means anchoring your identity and security in His unchanging character rather than shifting public opinion.
- Actionable Faith: David’s inward strengthening immediately led to outward action—he sought God’s direction and pursued the enemy, resulting in complete victory and restoration.”
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22
“In the world ye shall have tribulation”
“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
During seasons of great stress, this man after God’s own heart sought the LORD. This time only served as a blessing, hastening David to the feet of Christ. Beloved David gave us the most amazing Scriptures concerning seeking God.
“My soul followeth hard after thee.” Psalms 63:8
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Psalms 42:1-2
“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalms 27:4
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” Psalms 27:8
Prayer: Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus, please grant me, Your mere servant, to be possessed with a heart after You dear LORD. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Abiding
10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast]
The wise virgin saints are keeping their lamps full of divine oil, they are taking personal responsibility for their own spiritual state with Christ the great and soon coming Bridegroom. Read Matthew 25:1-13.
“The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold”
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:10-14
Did you notice in verse 14 that those who hot for Jesus are participating in the preaching of His Word to the end of the earth (Mark 16:15).
Anyone not devouring God’s Word daily is falling away, is not enduring to the end, is choosing the let their love for Jesus wax cold, and on the wrong, the losing end of this prophecy Jesus gave here on record in Matthew 24:10-14.
“I will spue (vomit, reject) thee out of my mouth”
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:16-17
Praying God will help you love Him more (Matthew 22:37-40). It really all boils down to WHO we love most. THAT is exactly who we are serving (Romans 6:16).
Loving God is everything as far as what’s in our control – because it’s a choice, daily, and will determine if one remains in Christ to the end.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
“Thou hast left thy first love”
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
1. When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in prayer each and every morning… When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in His Word each and every morning (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Chronicles 16:11).
2. When your love for God’s people is being reduced instead of increased (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 5:1) Marks of the True Christian …. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Romans 12:9-11) See John 13:35.
“And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” Luke 8:20-21
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1
Reading 1 Corinthians 13 today will refresh your heart and mind on the divine importance placed upon LOVE.
3. You are not denying self and not taking up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24; 19:27; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).
4. You aren’t communicating the light of truth to others because you no longer seek or fear the LORD and so His divine virtue isn’t teeming in and flowing out of you. Your cup no longer runs over but instead is running empty (Psalms 23). You have a lampshade over the light and are not letting His light shine in and through your life and words… “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)
5. You live in fear instead of faith and the joy of being with Jesus (Luke 21:28; 1 John 4:16-18; Proverbs 28:1; Psalms 2:11).
6. You preach promises and not conditions…following the apostate modern church and you don’t preach the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel which we are commanded to “earnest contend for.” (Jude 3) You begin meditating on and living by trends instead of truth (Jeremiah 9:3; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:1-2).
7. You have little or no true fellowship with other born- again Bible believing disciples of Jesus as is defined in God’s Word and not by the modern church world (Acts 2:42).
The Word of God is to run rich, to be abundant among God’s people … “In all wisdom” and “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” … “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)
8. You know you are backsliding when your main thrust and identity become politics, not the work of the Gospel. YOU are a blood bought disciple of Jesus, not a conservative. You are a Bible believing follower of Christ (Luke 9:62; Galatians 6:14).
9. When you love this world…..When you spend more time and money on hobbies and the things of this fleeting world than you do on attending to knowing, walking with the LORD and preparing to be used of Him (Mark 4:17-19; 1 John 2:15; James 4:4).
10. When you spend more money on trash and trinkets then helping the work of the One you claim to love and the poor. You know you are backslidden when you are not obeying God with what He’s placing in your temporal possession. He shall bring you into full account for this.
Regrettably, people will give their money to any and every pleasure under the sun but make excuses when the opportunity to support the work of the One they claim to love and serve. The Holy Spirit foretold that in the final days before the return of Jesus, there would be those with a mere “form of godliness”, “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7) According to the LORD, one of the main ways to measure our true love for Him or lack thereof, is by peering into our personal stewardship of the resources He’s placed into our temporary possession. Luke 12 and 16 offer a plethora of divine wisdom and warning concerning the judgment to come, the judgment we shall endure in giving account for our stewardship in this life.
The clear proof that God is working in our lives, that we are truly following Jesus, is that we are becoming less and less vested in this fleeting, fallen world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). And that we, our good works, our giving are more and more invested in eternity – in the eternal kingdom of Christ, laying up treasures in Heaven, sending them before us, relinquishing the things of this world for the glory of God – putting them to work for the eternal Gospel of Christ – for saints to be fed and equipped and the lost to hear the Word of God (Matt. 6:19-21).
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24
To underscore the importance of stewardship, we should realize that 16 of our LORD’s 38 parables involved stewardship. Those who now do not wish to face and confront this truth, are apparently those who are in the most need of hearing it.
PRAYER: Father I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. Please cause my conscience to be super sensitive to Your conviction, Your leading, and to evade all that defiles me in Your holy eyes, sin. Here and now I submit my life afresh to You dear LORD. You must increase but I must decrease. I am crucified with Christ and thank You for conforming me to His holy image. I am all Yours LORD and thank You that You are all mine. I love You Jesus. Please make me one with You and the Father and with Your beloved body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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