by David Brenneman
"The plans of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the Lord weighs the motives. Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil. When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Better is a little with righteousness Than great income with injustice. The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:1-9.
"Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Because of the greatness of Your power Your enemies will give feigned obedience to You. All the earth will worship You, And will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” Selah. Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of men." Psalms 66:1-5.
"Bless our God, O peoples, And sound His praise abroad, Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip. For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined." Psalms 66:8-10.
"If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear; But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me." Psalms 66:18-20.
Oh what we may wake up to one day! The promise was given, and the Promiser is True!
This morning I woke up to a chorus of people, likely a small group of 3 or 4, singing "Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming again" over and over in my mind.
Then to read the Lord's instruction in Psalms and Proverbs this morning about life and how we're to live it in the Lord. Because yes, Jesus is coming soon.
With all the other promises He's made and kept in our lives this one might be the coup de grĂ¢ce. The one that all Believers for over 2,000 years have awaited.
We have a life in Christ to be living for Christ. It's this life in Christ that's supposed to be bringing Him much honor and much glory.
Yet so many people are trying to tweak this life, hack this life to use the modern parlance, to get what they want out of life along with a supposed level of obedience to satisfy God in Christ Jesus.
Yes you read that last statement. It does sound incredulous.
But it's actually a canker sore rather than a right way to live lives in Christ. It's actually painful and exhausting even though people come back with "I'm ok!" when those who are more in tune with Jesus are seeing otherwise.
Jesus is coming soon and as He said will He find the faith when He comes back?
Will Jesus find YOU living your life to His purpose for you? Will He find YOU seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness? Will He find YOU engaged in the righteousness life that God desired for you? Will YOU be found by Him in a real right relationship with Him?
My Dear Reader we must live lives that daily are ready for us to step into eternity with Jesus. Lives that aren't our attempts at anything but a life that shows the light of Jesus Christ to the world.
There's no end of professing Believers who go on rants and rage against others for absolutely no good Biblical reason. There is no excuse for such things. You are giving Jesus a bad name when what comes out of your heart through your mouth isn't what honors your personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said that's where such things come from.
When we lift up anything or anyone we are potentially in danger of idolizing them. Jesus said that we should be careful of loving anyone or anything more than we do Him.
We do ourselves much harm in our walk with Jesus when we deny the reality of what we 'love' and it's impact on our testimony before the world.
Truthfully why would an unbelieving person want what Believer has in Christ when they hear some of the things that can come out of their mouths!
Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming again.
Does the fact, the truth, that He's coming again soon not get you to be more aware of your life and to get your things in order? Jesus said that if the strong man knew when his house was going to be broken into he would have been more prepared. Jesus warned us all to beware we do not know when He will be returning. So that we would not be taken by surprise.
Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming again.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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