Did you know Jesus said, “If you aren’t gathering with Me you are scattering“? “If you aren’t for Me you are against Me”? I suspect most who claim Jesus as their Savior haven’t heard Him say these things. It is a trap to think that once you say, “I believe in Jesus” you are safe. Folks there are many verses in the Bible that tell us there is more to the Christian walk. Do you want to know more? Read on and let’s see if we can find out.
In my opinion the most important chapter in the Bible for today is Matthew 25 for the Lord is telling us what He will say to those who loved Him [the least of His brothers] while living on earth and those who didn’t. You can argue with me that we are saved by GRACE and I will agree but from that point on there is much to accomplish for Him. In this chapter Jesus pointed out that those welcomed into Heaven are those who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave drink to the thirsty, visited the sick and imprisoned and invited in the stranger. Does this sound like “work” to you? Folks it isn’t work it’s free flowing love.
Work, in my mind, is what we do to earn something for the effort and time spent. Love is a simple and natural way of living our lives in Him. Do you recall we are told to live in Him and allow His Words to live in us? This means He has absolute control of us in the best sense of the word “control“. Jesus isn’t a task master but One who leads by His own examples. His disciples watched him in his ministry and then he sent 70 of them to go out and so the same. Do you recall they came back so excited that the devil was subject to them? He told them it was far more important that their names are written down in Heaven. Is your name written down in His Book?
The moment we’re born again there’s some writing going on in Heaven. Our names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Lord is going to keep us in the palm of His hand and no one can snatch us from it either. I can’t fathom anyone jumping from it but I suppose we could. This brings up His warnings of the apostasy. Do you know many will fall away in the last days? They will for one reason, they were never born again. Once Jesus is living inside us and we have died to our own life we are safe. But, for those who attend worship services and live their own lives too I suspect they are part of the group that will be lost. I once was one myself.
Why isn’t this preached is beyond me. Please read the five chapters of First John and see what the Lord says to you. I call it a book filled with dynamite. It has enough for anyone to come into a saving relationship with God and then, all they will need to walk it out. One of the “gems” within the first chapter is verse 9.
“If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. Amplified Bible
I hate to use it, for when I do it means I’ve strayed from my Lord. Do you recall He gave His life for us so we don’t “have to” sin anymore? We sin after temptation once we’re born again. Before then it’s the natural thing to do for most folks. If we didn’t have the 10 Commandments to warn us most would be breaking them constantly, but not after being born again. If you are one who is sinning all the time I must warn you, you may still be lost. If you are do what everyone must do, go to Jesus and admit it. As you do, seek His forgiveness and you will find it.
Then do what most don’t do, “receive” Jesus as your Lord. I believe we inhale His Spirit when we do. It’s His Spirit within us that makes us His. I believe the devil and his angels [demons] believe in Jesus more than any human. They know what’s going to happen to them too. Do you remember the demons cast out of the demoniac? After begging Jesus to not be sent to hell and to be sent into some hogs near by the whole herd of about 2000 rushed into the lake and drowned.
If Jesus is in you no one has to tell you. I shed a million tears in repentance and was released into freedom to live and love like Him. Before then I was a miserable person even though working hard in my church. Until we are set free by Jesus we’re slaves to our own appetites and desires. This doesn’t mean we don’t get to do “fun things” afterwards. We do, but they’re generally things that bring joy to others too. Do you want to be one of His? We must surrender to His Lordship for nothing short of it will do!
In His Service,
Capt. Ben Marler
captben61@gmail.com
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