Jesus forewarned us of perilous times to come. He told us to be wise, yet gentle. He told us to be good to our fellowmen. He gave ALL of us the great commission to go to the highways and byways to compel men to come to Him. How often do we indulge ourselves and simple "leave to prayer" the persecuted Church and missionaries? It's to our shame. It would be godly to deny ourselves as Jesus said and to take up our cross.
It's hard not to love the world when we have so many "treasures". It would be wise to "live loosely." Build treasures in heaven!
It would do us good to prepare for the hard times by indulging ourselves less and living less in comfort. Perhaps less of a shock on the system when hard times arrive. Give the excess to the Kingdom work. Live a life of prayer and faith, live well within or under your means if you can help in Kingdom work.
May God give us a revelation of our blessings here. We can worship freely while many others have to go underground. May God put a heart like His in us where we have such a burden to help! May He give us a glimpse of the Christless eternity and spark the desire to reach out to our neighbors; if we can pluck them from hell's flame! O to have a burden for the lost fueled by Christ's love for them! It would make it so easy to not seek good for ourselves selfishly but to do all we can for those reaching the hopeless.
While waiting, may we pray and pray without ceasing.
Psalm 86
Our very best is a poor, needy human, in desperate need of the Lord's mercy. O to realize and pray knowing He hears us! Cry unto Him daily.
May your life be a life of prayer. It's not prayer that has power but to Whom we pray who has the power! There's no power but in Jesus! He is good, ready to forgive, plenteous in mercy to those who repent and beg His salvation. He is able!
He is our Refuge in the day of trouble. Seek Him and live! There is none like Him.
All will bow the knee and proclaim He is God. He is the Only One True God! Fear Him and pray for His leading. Praise Him sincerely. He is merciful, and our Deliverer.
The ungodly don't submit to Him now but they will. Repent. He is compassionate, gracious, long suffering, merciful and truthful and He hasn't changed! He is our strength.
Save us Lord, You are our Comfort!
Matthew 10
All power is in and through Christ alone. He will equip those He chooses to use. Prepare for eternity without delay. Truly, this was the central theme of all Jesus' messages. Live by faith. Be frugal. Prepare for persecution. We've been forewarned! Count the cost of serving Christ! Don't be anxious but trust God! Lay your anxiety on Him. Trust Him completely.
Guess what?
He has already won! He is leading His people through persecution into His glory!
Be sure you endure to the end. The fear of man brings a snare. Beware lest you fall! God puts a precious worth on us and shows exactly how much He cares about us that even something so "insignificant" as hair is counted! Trust Him! Don't deny Christ! Enmity against God will break even the dearest relationship. Don't love or cleave onto anything more than Christ. Deny yourself: your appetites, fleshly living, luxuries included. Take up your cross DAILY and follow Christ. He will more than recompense any "loss".
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