The Autobahn Or The Cow Path

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14.

I like to say the road to hell is twelve lanes wide, one way and faster than the autobahn.  And, like the autobahn, people sometimes end up in horrible wrecks.  The narrow road may look boring, but there are still bumps along the way.  The difference is that we are safe in the arms of Jesus. 

The Cure for a Hurting Humanity

“Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray.  Is anyone cheerful?  He is to sing praises.  Is anyone among you sick?  Then he must call for the leaders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

James 5:13-15

We are doing this wrong.  If we are suffering, we whine or complain or say nothing.  If we are sick, we go around looking tortured.  The right thing to do is to pray.  And, we should have no qualms about calling on our Christian friends to come pray for our recovery and they should have no qualms about coming to us. 

We are not islands, we are continents of Christian compassion and we need to act like it.  So, the next time one of your friends is whining about oppression, rotten kids or a stomach ache, say, “Let me pray with you.”  Then do it. 

Amen

Pray First

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”  Colossians 4:2

Rather than making prayer a last resort, prayer should be our first course of action.  God is never too busy to hear nor is He ever disinterested, because He is intimately acquainted with us.  Prayer changes things.  Prayer changes us.  Prayer brings into focus the will of God in our lives.  Prayer empowers us to do that which we think is impossible. 

Treasure Money Can't Buy

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.”  Luke 12:34

Treasure you family, your friends and your faith.  The most important things in life cannot be bought with money, stolen by thieves or rust away. 

Once and Forever

“For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”  Hebrews 7:26-28

Once and forever, God has redeemed us.  And, this why when we receive Jesus as our Lord, Master and Savior we are forgiven and our salvation is sealed forever, without further penitence on our part or God’s part.  

Ready and Talking

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”  2 Timothy 4:1-2

Are you ready?   Notice, the Bible doesn’t say be perfect, it says be ready.  This is why we study the Bible.  We never know when an opportunity will arise when we need to give a testimony of God’s grace and salvation through Jesus.  We are given this charge and God does not give us anything to do that He has not prepared us for.