God Hears Our Prayers

Jesus said… “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father in heaven.  For where two or three have gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst.”

Matthew 18:19-20

There is power in prayer.  We need not be sitting in a great cathedral with a congregation of 1000 people to pray.  We can pray wherever we are, alone or with other Christians and God hears and honors our prayers. 

The Good Stuff

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

We own lots of stuff, but more important than things are our relationships with Jesus and our families and our friends. 

Treasure that which cannot be replaced—your faith, your family and others.

No Guru Required

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.

1 John 4:15

There are all sorts of spiritual gurus who promote do it yourself salvation.  Some use crystals.  Some use chants.  Some require money.  Some have secret rituals that only their followers can access.  All have one thing in common: they discount being a born again Christian as being too simplistic. 

The truth is that Jesus is the only way to God.  When we confess Jesus as our Lord, Master and Savior, and we are redeemed.  We have a path to God through Jesus.  God loves us just the way we are and He is waiting for us to come to Him. 

Ask Jesus to be your Lord, Master and Savior, and be welcomed into the family of God.

No guru required.

Throwing Rocks

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye.”

Luke 6:41

My Father-in-law, the late Reverend Everett Mill, Jr., told a story about some children who were caught throwing rocks and breaking basement windows at a church he attended.  At a church board meeting he expressed his anger that parents did not teach their children to respect the church and demanded that the children’s parents pay for the damage.

The board members agreed and informed Everett that his son liked to throw rocks.

It is easy for us to judge and condemn others for shortcomings.  What is not so easy is to recognize that we are not perfect either, and that perhaps we need to clean up some things in our lives.

Run That You May Win

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may win.

Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things.  They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  Therefore I run I such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. 

1 Corinthians 9:23-27

The Apostle Paul had plenty of faults to overcome when he became a Christian.  He was a bully and unmerciful.  He put himself above the laws of God which he thought he was enforcing.  But Paul’s conversion put all those things behind him and created in him a new attitude of mercy.  Out of this came the dynamic evangelist who boldly proclaimed the gospel.

How did Paul become such a dynamo?  It was the power of God in his life which transformed him, and Paul not being timid readily admitted that he struggled with temptation.  Paul is an example to us, that we too can purposefully live our lives in service to God, so that we can gain the imperishable prize – eternal life.

Do not discount your salvation.  Seize the promises of God, and run in such a way that you may win.

A Time to Preach, A Time To Run

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Matthew 7:6

Jesus said this not to discount the power of the Gospel in reaching the unsaved, but as a caution that it is not always the right time or place to proclaim the Gospel.  An example of this would be if you find yourself in the middle of a riot or a heated argument which has the potential to turn violent, then it would be prudent to do your best to excuse yourself from the situation so that you can live another day to preach the Gospel.

The idea is to use wisdom at all times and to remember we represent Christ on earth.