But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
2 Thessalonians 3:13
When we are tired of working our prayer is: Lord, revive me!
Our work is more than making widgets or pouring coffee or crunching numbers, our work is taking the Gospel to the world. We do this by ministering to those around us through kindness, consideration and overlooking that which is annoying.
Jesus didn’t sit down on the job and neither should we.
Get revived and get busy doing good.
Jesus said:
“What woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!” In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Luke 15:8-10.
Every day, God is looking for you. He does not take a day off or a vacation. God wants to be in your life and for you to know that He loves you. You are important to God. He values you.
So, if you are feeling lost or lonely or far from God, know this: No sin is too big for God to forgive and no person is too bad too be forgiven.
Jesus came once and for all. There are no conditions of forgiveness, only a willingness to acknowledge our sin and ask and receive God's forgiveness through Jesus.
Come ask Jesus into your heart today and know that you are welcome and forgiven.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
The Apostle Paul preached this same message over and over again because it was the truth. We cannot work our way into heaven. The only path to God is faith in Jesus. Salvation is a gift from God; all we have to do is receive it.
But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up.
Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep.
So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”
Jonah 1:3-6
Under appreciated. Made fun of. Punchline of a joke. Left out.
As Christians we sometimes get no respect by those outside of the faith, but when things get tough, who are they going to call? Who do they ask for help? Who offers hope that perhaps things are not as bad as they seem?
We are not called to judge others, but to help others. When those outside the faith are in need of encouragement, we are to offer it.
When things get tough, even those farthest from God, warm to the idea of a God who cares for them.
Don't underestimate the power of your testimony and the calling of God to do something. Be ready.
Prayer changes things.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry.
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:11-13
The Bible is clear on this point: Jesus came for everyone. God does not refuse anyone who comes to Him.
Ask Jesus to come into your life today. He is waiting for you.
When they (Jesus and His disciples) had crossed over they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
When they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, and ran about that whole country and began to carry here and there on their pallets those who were sick to the place they heard He was.
Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside, they were laying the sick in the market places, and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were being cured.
Mark 6:53-56
Is this a picture of how Christians should be perceived or what?
Jesus and the disciples were not seen as hypocrites or judgmental or holier than thou. The people of Gennesaret saw them as being sent by God to minister to their needs and to heal the sick. And, Jesus and the disciples did just that.
When we minister first to the needs of people, we open their hearts to hear the Gospel.
