What a Deal!

Some parents bribe their children, saying, “if you don’t do this, I will give you that” Or they may say, “we can’t go there because we will go to this place.” When we become adults, the art of the deal remains the same. Everyone will have to give up something in order to obtain the bigger prize.

In Matthew 19:29 Jesus said, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father of mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” Anyone who gives up something valuable for Jesus’ sake will be repaid many times over, although not necessarily in the same form.

What Are You Talking About?

I don’t know about you, but I often find myself listening to someone speak, but I don’t understand what they are saying. My mind is bewildered and I am saying to myself, “What are you talking about?” We can have knowledge about a lot of things, but we will never know and understand all things. Where can we go to find the understanding that we need?

Matthew 19:25-26 says, “When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, ‘Who then can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” When we are bewildered and confused, we can turn to God and He will give us the understanding that we need. When we are facing an impossible task, God will provide what is necessary to accomplish the impossible.

Resisting the Winds

My wife and I have done some disaster relief. We have seen the damage that strong winds and raging waters can do. Homes can be laid flat to the ground. Trees can be snapped in half or uprooted, damaging nearby structures. Families face rebuilding their lives.

False teaching can have devastating consequences, as well. If we don’t stand firm against worldly thoughts, our world and families can be uprooted and destroyed.

Ephesians 4:13-14 says, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Pursue God’s truth in His Word in order to stand firm against false teaching and the winds of worldly thoughts.

Wildflowers

In our area, the wildflowers have begun to bloom. It is an interesting process where wildflowers die every winter and bloom every spring. I am also amazed at the variety of colors that they present at different times.

We went to a funeral today and celebrated the life of someone dear to us. As others, we feel the grief of his passing. But we find consolation, and even joy, in knowing that one day we will see him again. Only the next time that we see him, all of us will be in resurrected bodies in the new heaven and new earth. This is true because all of us have believed and trusted in Jesus as Savior and Lord. He made the following promise to us:

John 11:25-26 says, “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” The central truth of our faith is that Jesus Christ was resurrected after His death on the cross and is alive today, thus conquering death forever. Everyone who believes in Him receives eternal life. As Jesus said, “Do you believe?”

Mediation

Mediation is used in a variety of environments to bring two sides together. Sometimes, the two sides are opposed to each other and cannot come to an agreement. The mediator steps in an attempt to bring the two sides together.

Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 9:15 says, “That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all wo are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.” Our sins have separated us from holy God. Jesus Christ stands before our holy Heavenly Father as mediator and affirms our justification based upon His own sacrifice and blood. Therefore, the judgment is rendered that we are forgiven and receive the inheritance of eternal life.