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“Narrow Way” by David Hayward @nakedpastor |
Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded
with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced
in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.
The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention. Matthew
7:13-14
01/16/2019
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Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded
with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced
in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do.
The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention. Matthew
7:13-14
Whether it be a giant CROSS or any other symbol {SIGN} that appears in the sky signaling the coming of Jesus Christ, that will be a day of great joy for those who have chosen to follow Him giving their lives to Him through the SALVATION of the CROSS.
In this modern world we live in everybody wants everything to be quick and easy. No one wants to do the WORK yet they expect to get the reward {PAY}. This world has come up with so many surefire ways to get what they want without putting in work it takes to do things the BEST and RIGHT WAY.
The one thing this world will NEVER grasp is the SIMPLE GOSPEL of SALVATION. The Cross of Jesus Christ is foolishness to this world, but it is great joy to those who put their FAITH and TRUST in Christ Jesus.
Did Jesus promise you a life of luxury? NO, He said just the opposite. He actually said in John 15:18-27 that this world would hate you because it hated Him and it would NOT be easy to follow Him in this world. He did promise however in His Word that your FAITH will increase as you endure all the temptations this world has to offer {James 1:2-3}.
For it pleased
the Father for all the fullness [of deity—the sum total of His essence,
all His perfection, powers, and attributes] to dwell [permanently] in Him (the
Son), and through [the intervention of] the Son to
reconcile all things to Himself, making peace [with believers] through the
blood of His cross; through Him, [I say,] whether things on earth or things in
heaven. Colossians
1:19-20
The
STRAIGHTFORWARD MESSAGE of SALVATION has always seemed FOOLISH to UNBELIEVERS.
Once an UNBELIEVER experiences Christ Jesus, who is the power of God and the
wisdom of God, their thoughts of foolishness are replaced with thoughts
of joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Though you have
not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe
and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with
inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the
result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your
souls. 1
Peter 1:8-9
For the message of the cross is
foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and
spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by
God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God. For it is written and forever remains written,
“I
will destroy the wisdom of the wise [the philosophy of the philosophers], And the cleverness
of the clever [who do not know Me] I will nullify. Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe
(scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not
exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? For
since the world through all its [earthly] wisdom failed to recognize God, God
in His wisdom was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached
[regarding salvation] to save those who believe [in Christ and welcome Him as
Savior]. For Jews demand signs (attesting
miracles), and Greeks pursue [worldly] wisdom and philosophy,but
we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block
[that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter
nonsense],but to those who are the called, both Jews and
Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. [This is] because the foolishness of God [is not foolishness at
all and] is wiser than men [far beyond human comprehension], and the weakness
of God is stronger than men [far beyond the limits of human effort].Just
look at your own calling, believers; not many [of you were considered] wise
according to human standards, not many powerful or influential, not many
of high and noble birth.But God has selected [for His
purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their
ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world
to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. God has selected [for His purpose] the insignificant (base)
things of the world, and the things that are despised and treated with
contempt, [even] the things that are nothing, so that He might reduce to
nothing the things that are, so that no one may
[be able to] boast in the presence of God. But it
is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God
[revealing His plan of salvation], and righteousness [making us acceptable to
God], and sanctification [making us holy and setting us apart for God], and
redemption [providing our ransom from the penalty for sin],so
then, as it is written [in Scripture], “He who boasts and
glories,
let him boast and glory in the Lord.”1
Corinthians 1:18-31
This
precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the
Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve, “The [very] stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief Cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed. 1 Peter 2:7-8
Has become the chief Cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed. 1 Peter 2:7-8
This world HATED Jesus Christ because His
very name brought the sins of their hearts to mind at the very mention of His
name. Do you think as a Follower of Jesus Christ you will be loved by this
world? The answer my friend is a resounding NO. It is foolishness to think that
the servant {follower} would be greater than the master {Jesus Christ}. In this
world we must live our lives through the POWER of the Name of Jesus Christ
because of the SALVATION of the CROSS. Let us therefore come out from among
this world with all its sin and denial and proclaim the FREEDOM that comes through
the Cross Jesus Christ bore for each of us.
“So come out from among unbelievers and be separate,” says the Lord,
“And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will graciously receive you and welcome you [with favor],
And I will be a Father to you,
And you will be My sons and daughters,”
Says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
“If the world hates you [and it does], know that it has hated Me
before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the
world would love [you as] its own and would treat you with affection. But you are not of
the world
[you no longer belong to it], but I have chosen you out of the world. And because of this the world
hates you.Remember [and continue to remember] that I told you, ‘A servant is
not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute
you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.But they
will do all these [hurtful] things to you for My name’s sake [because you bear My name and are
identified with Me], for they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken
to them, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. The one
who hates Me also hates My Father. If I had not done among them
the works (attesting miracles) which no one else [ever] did, they would not have [the guilt of their] sin; but now [the fact is that] they have both seen [these works] and have hated Me [and continue to hate Me] and My Father as well. But [this is so] that the word which has been
written in their Law would be fulfilled, ‘They
hated Me without a cause.’ “But when the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor,
Strengthener, Standby) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that
is the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, He will testify and
bear witness about Me. But you will testify also and be My witnesses, because
you have been with Me from the beginning. John
15:18-27
Consider it nothing but joy,
my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience]
produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. James
1:2-3
It was through the sacrifice
Jesus Christ made for you and me on the cross that we can be cleansed from ALL
our unrighteousness and be called the sons and daughters of the Most High God.
Remember God loved you and I before we ever loved Him and He gave His Son Jesus
to be sacrificed so that we might live an abundant and joyful life through that
sacrifice on the cross.
This world will never
understand how easy it is to turn away from it and give yourself fully to the
One who gave His life for you even though you have never physically met Him. Oh
what joy it is to TRUST in Christ Jesus to give us strength from day to day
while living in this world that hates and despises us just for loving our
Creator and His Son Christ Jesus. But God has selected [for His
purpose] the foolish things of the world to shame the wise [revealing their
ignorance], and God has selected [for His purpose] the weak things of the world
to shame the things which are strong [revealing their frailty]. 1
Corinthians 1:27
May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that
by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow
with confidence in His promises. Romans
15:13
No matter how difficult it
may seem to Follow Jesus, let us remember that our joy and strength come from
fully trusting in HIM.
Heavenly Father, Let the Psalm
of David, Psalm 27 become a daily prayer of praise to You for the salvation
You gave us through the sacrifice of Your son Christ Jesus. Amen…
The Lord is my light and my
salvation—
Whom shall I fear?
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life—
Whom shall I dread?
When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
Though an army encamp against me,
My heart will not fear;
Though war arise against me,
Even in this I am confident.
One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life,
To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord
And to meditate in His temple.
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me.
When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].”
Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor leave me,
O God of my salvation!
Although my father and my mother have abandoned me,
Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child].
Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies [who lie in wait].
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
For false witnesses have come against me;
They breathe out violence.
I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord. Psalm 27
May we never lose sight of
the POWER of the CROSS that opened the way for us to get to our Heavenly Father
through Christ Jesus sacrifice…
Forever in the service of Christ Jesus,
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