Is the abundance of your heart dark and crooked?

 

Is the abundance of your heart dark and crooked?

Many people believe their thoughts do not matter.  As long as they say and do all the right things, then they can be as rotten as they want to be in their own private thoughts.  As we are judged by our works, please make no mistake that our thoughts are very much considered as part of our works.

(1 Peter 1:16-17) It is written, "Be holy, And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.

(Ezekiel 11:5) And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, "Speak; 'Thus saith the Lord... for I know the things that come into your mind, EVERY ONE of them.'" 

In the eyes of God, fantasizing about a sinful act such as sex to one to whom you are not married, pedophilia, rape, stealing, murder, etc., is just as sinful as the act itself.  True, no one else gets hurt if you refuse to act on your harmful fantasies, but your soul is still in danger.  Don't agree? Then please read on to see what the Bible says on this matter.

One of the seven abominations of God listed in Proverbs 6 states that God hates in(Proverbs 6:18, "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations."  Notice that one does not even have to carry out wicked plans but just dreaming them up is an abomination to God.  The Lord knows all your thoughts and if you are considering harming someone or breaking the law, you will be held accountable for your thoughts.  Proverbs 23:7 says, "as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Pause and think about that for a moment.  Are you a sexual predator, adulterer, racist, murderer, and/or basically an imitation-Christian, not truly following the laws of Jesus Christ?

 

Matthew 5:28 says we commit adultery just by thinking about having sex with someone not our spouse.  It reminds us how important our thoughts are: "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  In other words, you do not have to participate in a physical affair to be considered an unfaithful spouse.  In the Lord’s eyes, lusting after someone else (this goes beyond simple attraction, but evolves into impure thoughts), is a sin.  

 

As I thought of writing this blog, I have to admit I was convicted as I contemplated Matthew 12:34 (see below).  What is the abundance of my heart?  How often would I be dealing with a customer at work and be super polite and kind, but in my thoughts, I would be calling the person annoying or even stupid.  Yes, it is always important to treat others with respect, but if our thoughts are cruel, God knows.  And trust me, one can wear a mask for only so long before the real truth of their poor attitude seeps through.  It’s why Jesus so often preached to the Pharisees about their hypocritical lives.  If the abundance of your heart is dark and crooked, your speech is sure to be as well.  No one is capable of being phony 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Chances are, someone in your life knows the real you.  And if you really are that good of an actor that you fool everyone all the time, you can never fool God who knows you more intimately than even you know yourself. 

 

(Matthew 12:25,33-37) But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  

 

When I pray, one thing I ask is that my cup be clean on the inside as well as the outside.  I do not want to be an outside-only Christian.  I want my private thoughts toward others to match my outward smile.  When people say I am being gracious, I want it to be the truth.  I want to do more than appear polite when inwardly I am biting my tongue because I want to lash out in anger toward someone or spout off with an acerbic reply.  Instead, I want my heart to bear as much fruit as my actions.  When angry or annoyed, I want to stop and see the offender through the eyes of Christ and abandon my ego in the dump with the garbage. 

 

(Luke 11:38-42) When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner. Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.   

The Lord sees and knows all our hearts.  The entire chapter of Mark 7 is excellent (as are all the words of Jesus Christ), but I want to remind us of just a few verses:

(Mark 7:6-7) He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me.  

 

It does not matter how many scriptures you memorize, how much you give to charity, if you call yourself a witness for Christ, or how loudly you sing in front of others, if you are actively living in rebellion of all Jesus asks of you, your "heart is far from" God and He is fully aware of this.  If you are not living the Bible you proclaim, you are just as the hypocrites mentioned in Luke 11 above as well as Luke 12 below. 

 

(Luke 12:1-3) In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” 

2 Corinthians 10:5 sums this topic up beautifully, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 

Remember that song, "Be careful little mind what you think? For the Father up above is looking down in love."  Well, sing that to yourself every time you are devising wicked thoughts. Repent, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you learn to take captive your thoughts and change your thought patterns so that you are pleasing God, not man or yourself!  When you feel tempted to think of something sexually harmful, or violent (etc.) immediately replace those thoughts with Bible verses or a praise song.  You do not have to have anything memorized, just in general or simply pray to God and tell Him you love Him and praise Him for His mercy to forgive you every single time you repent.

Bottom line, Jesus knows our every thought, even when we put on a false front to others.  Even if one spends his whole life successfully fooling others into thinking He is serving the Lord while addicted to pornography (which yes, as mentioned above, is the same as adultery and when viewing those under 18, pedophilia), stealing from others, backbiting, gossiping, etc., when he stands before the Lord on judgment day, all will be revealed.

 

(Matthew 16:24-27) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.  

 

(2 Corinthians 11:13-15) For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.  

 

(Revelation 20:11-15) Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. 

The Truth About Affairs

 

The Truth About Affairs

Of all the blogs I have written over the past 12 years or so, this is my most viewed post.  

Originally written in 2013 (with a few new edits). 

I ran into an old friend last week.  We had always suspected a certain man and woman were having an affair but weren't positive.  She told me she had recently caught the two of them together in a near-kiss.  She said things between them were so out of hand that even clients were making comments.  I asked her if he was still married, and she said he was.  This affair has been going for a minimum of 2 years (probably closer to 3). I have felt disturbed in my soul ever since.  It was pretty obvious several years ago that these two people were getting close to an affair.  They flirted constantly and were less and less subtle about sharing sexual innuendos back and forth.  

Exodus 20:14 states, “You shall not commit adultery."  Could it be any clearer?   

My post is not about anyone specific, but to show how flirting is rarely harmless and often leads to much more dangerous territory.  So please be aware of how you act around the opposite sex.  Are you simply friendly or are you outright flirting?  Ask others if you are unsure.  The dictionary definition of flirting is: "to act amorously; play at love; to trifle or toy, as with an idea."  Something to consider.  Says right there that it's toying with an idea, such as toying with the idea of an affair.

You may say you are just having fun and not plotting an affair, but why are you even flirting if you are married?  Just for the attention?  Isn't that vanity?

Affairs aren't always planned; they happen over time as affections grow and are not quashed.  It is when one refuses to repent to God for their thoughts and ask the Holy Spirit to help them be loyal to only their spouse. 

In the seven things listed that God hates, one of them is: "An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations" (Proverbs 6:18) Notice that one does not even have to carry out wicked plans but just dreaming them up is an abomination to God.  The Lord knows all your thoughts and if you are considering cheating, you will be held accountable for your thoughts.  Yes, fantasizing is cheating.   Matthew 5:28 says we commit adultery just by thinking about having sex with someone not our spouse.  Proverbs 23:7 says that we are what we think.  The Bible also says that whatever we sow in our hearts we will reap in our actions.  Remember that song, "Be careful little mind what you think? For the Father up above is looking down in love."  Well, sing that to yourself every time you are devising wicked thoughts. Repent, and change your thought process!

(For more on the seven abominations you can read my post here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/07/proverbs-616-19-seven-abominations.html 

There are a lot of verses in the book of Proverbs warning against affairs, here is just one passage (this can be applied to both men and women):

(Proverbs 6:24-29 & 32-33) To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.

Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

In spite of what Hollywood and ungodly novels teach society, affairs are NOT glamorous, sexy, exciting, fun, funny, or romantic.  They are raunchy, soul-destroying, family-ruining, nasty, evil things.

I have known too many people who have had affairs, and I have heard far too many excuses.  The most common are: mid-life crisis, I was hurt as a child, he/she cheated on me first, he/she is too controlling, I have a deeper desire for sex than he/she does, I no longer desire him/her, I want to teach him/her a lesson, men in the bible were allowed to have more than one wife, it makes me feel sexy, or just because I want to.  There is no such thing as a good excuse because there is never any good reason to have an affair.  All of these issues are fixable if you are willing to do the work.  There is no shame in seeking professional help.  And if you truly love your spouse, you'll risk the awkwardness of talking to your spouse, a spiritual mentor, and/or psychologist in order to save your marriage before an affair happens.  Afterwards it may be too late.

If you truly love your spouse as I so crazily love mine, you will never even dream of cheating.  The idea would make you want to vomit.  Which is why the conversation I had last week has been bothering me so much.  Affairs make me sick!  Bottom line to me is that if you are willing to cheat, you don't truly love your spouse.  In my opinion, those who cheat are clearly showing they are not in love with their mate.  But that is still no excuse to dishonor your wedding vows.  After all, you chose to get married.

Keep this in mid too: if you choose to be the one cheating with a married person, he does not love you.  Once a cheater, always a cheater.  Even if the person leaves their spouse for you, statistics say they will not be faithful to you either.  If he's willing to trade his wife in for a younger model, he'll most likely trade you in as well.

As stated above, affairs are not only physical, but they can also be mental and emotional. They may not seem as dangerous but have great potential to lead down darker paths.  Chatting too much with someone other than your spouse online or through texts is still cheating.  I feel this needs repeating: affairs happen in the mind as well.  

(Matthew 5:28) [Jesus said), "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Affairs ruin more than marriages, they destroy families.  I've it seen over and over again: a once bright and sunny child becomes sullen and possibly even a troublemaker after such an event. It makes them see everyone around them as untrustworthy.  Children are affected no matter what age they are when they learn of a parent's infidelity.  I've known adults whose parents got divorced due to an affair (or two), and it deeply wounded them to their very souls.  

If you are in the middle of an affair, stop!  Seek help immediately.  You may or may not be able to save your marriage, but if you repent, you will save your soul.

Whether you are married or single, if you are ever tempted to have an affair, please remember this: what Corinthians 10:13 says, " No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."  

The Holy Spirit will always give you the strength to walk away if you obey His voice.  There is always a way out and the opportunity to say no and walk away.  There are no excuses.  Period.   

If you are seeking more martial advice, please check out my other blog, "The ABCs of a Joyful Marriage: https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/  

Here are some 3 writings from that blog site related to affairs:

Expectations & Eye Candy: https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/2025/03/week-10-expectations-eye-candy.html

 

Faithful & First: https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/2025/03/week-11-faithful-first.html

Love & Loyalty: https://abcsofajoyfulmarriage.blogspot.com/2025/06/week-24-love-loyalty.html

The Prayers of Jesus Christ, Part 5

The Prayers of Jesus Christ, Part 5

To be technical, one may not consider the last words of Jesus as a prayers.  However, He was addressing His father, so I would call them prayers:

(Luke 23:32-34) There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” 

All the words and teachings of Jesus Christ are powerful, but none give me chills as much as the words, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” He was tortured in a way none of us can fathom, humiliated, broken hearted, and yet, He could look down at the men that had committed such acts and ask His heavenly Father to forgive them?  It did not take Him months or years to work through His issues, no He was able to forgive his abusers and forsakers, which included friends and family, that same day! I know we have all heard many sermons preached on this subject, but can we ever hear it enough? 

Jesus knew his abusers and betrayers were filling prophecy as well as fulfilling His destiny.  They were acting according to the plan of God the Father. They may not have realized they were murdering the Son of God and did not understand how their acts had to happen, but they must have known that causing another human being so much pain was wrong!  Jesus knew their hearts and I am sure He saw the blackness there, and yet, He still asked God to forgive them! Let me emphasize it again: He did not have to go through years of counseling to get over a rejection complex, He did not have to wait years for His memories to soften the hurt.  No, Jesus was able to forgive them while the splinters of the cross dug into his deep wounds in his back they had caused with their cruel whips. Even while in agonizing pain from the huge nails driven into his hands and feet and the thick thorns sticking into his skull, He could see His torturers in danger of Hellfire and feel compassion for them.

And yet, when someone hurts our feelings, we brood over it for weeks, maybe even months or years? Can we really be so weak and shallow?  We need to start praying that the Holy Spirit will enable us to see our fellow men through the eyes of Jesus Christ.  I have been praying, "God, please increase my compassion and decrease my criticism."  The more we can see people as souls in danger of Hell, and people hurting and in need of a Savior, the less we will hold onto our pride and hurt feelings.

Remember in my previous blog I said that Jesus' last words to His disciples were to remind them to love one another. We need to etch Jesus' words and teachings into our hearts.  The next time we want to curse a bad driver, get angry when we don't get the attention er want on social media, someone doesn't say the exact words you expected them to, or some other trivial issue, picture Jesus humbly praying for His tormenters' souls, and maybe we can finally start learning to be less petty! We need to forgive all blunders committed against us and move on, even forgiving the more serious offenses. We need to follow the example of the One who forgave the unforgiveable.

(Mark 11:26) But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” 

(John 19:28-30) After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

 
When Jesus said, "It is Finished," He was referring to His time on earth as a man. He had fulfilled what He had come to fulfill. His final act as a man was finished.  He was born to die for our sins, and now that He had shed His blood, we could now be allowed claim His free gift of salvation and ultimately spend eternity with the blessed Trinity. 

Instead of using the words of Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb as an excuse to sin (Romans 6:1-2) we should be praising Him for such an amazing love. We can never truly fathom how much He loves His children! We should be on our faces in awe of such a love, not trying to wiggle our ways out of ignoring the commandments (Matthew 19:16-21) and the sins of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17)!

What also is interesting is in the book of Revelation, it mentions that all will be finished after the seventh angel sounds his final trumpet.  The world we know it will be over, and a new one will be created.  This earthly age will be finished, and our hope will be complete as our eternity begins!

(Revelation 10:7) But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished.

(Revelation 21:1-3) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Praise God He gave His Son to endure such a brutal death so we can choose to live righteously and have eternal life with Him! Praise Jesus for such a heart full of compassion that He still asks for forgiveness for those that had abuse Him - you and me! Praise the blessed Trinity that Jesus' acts on earth are finished and yet have scarcely begun! Someday we will be able to thank Him in person for such an awesome sacrifice and blessed future to come!

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 4

 

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 4

Right before Jesus was about to be cruelly executed, He wanted to spend one last night alone with His beloved disciples. During their last meal together, Jesus again reemphasized His message to them on how it is more important to be a servant TO all than to be served BY all (Luke 22:24-27). He takes it a step farther to prove His point by washing their feet (John 13:4-17). What a beautiful last message He gave to them! I have always loved how Jesus' last moments with them as a man (before He appears to them in the resurrected form of God's Heavenly Son), is to remind them to love one another.

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Loving one another and treating each other with the love of Christ is so vitally important to our testimony that it was one of the last things Jesus spoke about before being crucified. He did not tell them to become famous and seek wealth. No, He told them to be humble servants and treat each other with love. To help out one another and be kind so that people will be drawn to them by the spiritual fruit they bore. Their love and humble attitudes were to shine the light on Jesus Christ and His love for us. When others see a heavenly light in you, it can lead them to asking you why you shine and you can lead them to Christ!

 
After the last supper with his disciples, Jesus takes them to the Garden of Gethsemane. In part because He wanted some time alone with them away from other people, but also because He knew this was where His destiny needed to be fulfilled; where He was about to be betrayed by Judas. He had one last message for them:

(Luke 22:40) Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

 
Remember in The Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6:5-13 (posted in part 1 of this series https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-prayers-of-jesus-christ-part-1.html), when Jesus tells them to pray "And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one." Again, Jesus is reminding them to steer clear of temptation. May we also follow Jesus' advice and do our very best to avoid temptation of sin. May we strive to truly be born again and daily seek to walk down paths of righteousness. (Luke 9:23- And he said to them all, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.")

Although we can try to imagine what Jesus was feeling a few hours before He was about to be tortured to death, we cannot fully grasp His emotions. The best I can equate it to was the few moments before I was about to be rolled into surgery. I was willingly allowing myself to be cut open and have pain inflicted upon me. I was allowing this more so for my precious husband's sake than for my own because the tumor was cancerous, and I had to have it out (I actually had 2 cancer surgeries in 2023). I needed to live for Mel.

 
But I was fighting to live, not to die. I was unselfish for one person who loved me, not for billions that denied my name and betrayed me. It was one area of my body that would suffer pain, not head to toe. And though I felt a lot of pain afterwards, I had pain medication, and I was unconscious while the pain was being inflicted. See, my circumstance is not even a teeny tiny fraction of what Jesus willingly allowed Himself to go through. Why? Because He loves us and does not want even one soul in Hell (2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord... is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.)

(Luke 22:41-42) And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Can we be so brave and humble to pray those same words? How often do we demand our own way? How often do we scold God for not doing things our way? How dare the Creator of the Universe and all things living past, present, and future, not listen to our plans? How dare the King of Kings try to help us by choosing a different path we want to go down?

 
When I am on my knees, I try to make it a habit of saying, "Jesus, I surrender my whole life into Your hands. Do with me as You will." While there will be times in my life I will want to take those words back, I usually mean them with all my heart and soul. And will trust Him no matter what He chooses for me.

(Luke 22:43-44) Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

 
Some people may try to tell you that fear is a sin. While I do believe that fear is the opposite of faith, it is not a sin. Jesus was sinless, and yet the above verse shows He was afraid. Of course, He was, He was willingly allowing Himself to be led like a sheep to the slaughter.

It is a scientific fact that sweating blood only happens in extreme cases of fear. You can read about it here: https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t018.html Yet, Jesus still prayed that God's will would be done and He followed through on God's will not for His life, but ours! I repeat, not for His life, but ours!

 
(John 15:12-14) This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

 
And yet, He did not ask the angel to stay and fight for Him or to take Him away. He stood His ground and let His mission to beaten, bruised, and murdered be fulfilled.

(Luke 22:45-46) When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.”

 
Again, Jesus mentions falling into temptation. It is so very important that we not fall asleep in our spiritual walk with the Lord. We must pray every day that we do not fall into temptation to backslide. Jesus knew His disciples were about to be tested as they never imagined and that they would be tempted to fall way from their faith.

 
In order to stay grounded in Christ, we must not fall into the temptations of television or movies, not just because it takes us away from pursuing the things of Christ, but also because it is detrimental to the condition of our souls (please listen to this entire David Wilkerson sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Fn0yMSwQc). We should not play computer games or read or spend hours on any other activity that take us away from reading the Bible and praying. There is nothing wrong, of course, with wholesome entertainment as Life is meant to be enjoyed, but let's not put anything before the Lord and neglect spending time with Him first.  He gave His sinless life for us and deserves our attention above all else. (Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.)

(1 John 4:7-11, 14-16, & 19) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

We love him, because he first loved us.

What does the Bible say about taking care of the poor?

What does the Bible say about taking care of the poor?

Anyone who withholds food or the funds to purchase food from those in need is not of God and is not a true follower of Jesus Christ.  This is not my theory, but straight from the Word of God! 

(Matthew 19:21) Jesus said unto him, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Did Jesus say it is okay to refuse to help the poor due to politics?  Did He say it was ever okay to refuse to help others in need?  No!  He said our treasures in Heaven come when we help the destitute!

(Luke 4:18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.

How can one preach the gospel to the poor if they don't care if others go hungry?  They are making fun of people needing government assistance by refusing to see disabilities and other circumstances that make it difficult to work.  Calling people in need lazy, drug addicts, and every other insulting name in the book is just plain cruel.  We are commanded to look after those in need, not create false accusations and make them feel guilty for needing help!    

(Luke 6:20-21) And [Jesus] lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, "Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled."

Jesus did not say the poor and hungry should be cursed and insulted for their circumstances. No!  He blessed them!

(Romans 15:26) For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

It pleased them to help, not harm the poor.

(2 Corinthians 8:9) For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus was poor! Had he been alive today, he would have been mocked for His financial state!  He did not choose to be a king or a rich man; He chose to be a humble poor servant!

(2 Corinthians 9:9) As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth forever.

It is righteousness to give, not take from, the poor!

(Galatians 2:10) Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Remember the poor, not oppress them.

(James 2:1-9) My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the [expensive] clothing, and say unto him, "Sit thou here in a good place"; and say to the poor, "Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool," Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself", ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Read that again and again! Let it sink in deep to your soul.  

Do not let anyone dictate to you what to believe when it comes to those less fortunate, instead follow the ways of Jesus and His followers. 

(1 Timothy 6:17-18) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute.

When you have an abundance, you are expected to be ready to give to others in need.  Praise God for His blessings by helping others.

(James 2:13-18 & 24-26) For He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, "Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled"; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works:" shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Read that again and again! Let it sink in deep to your soul.  

Yes, indeed, your soul be dead if you refuse to help the poor and needy of this world!

And I will end with these words from Jesus:

(Matthew 25:34-46) Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not... Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 3

 

The Prayers of Jesus Christ: Part 3

In John 17, Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers. Today, I will explore the middle prayer for the disciples (verses 6-19). 

This is such a beautiful prayer, and there is nothing I can add to it.  How can anyone add to the words of Jesus?  Well, no one can, but this is merely my commentary.  

(John 17:6-8) "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me."

Notice first that Jesus acknowledges that the disciples were picked by His Father, God.  I take the phrase "out of the world" to be mean just as 2 Corinthians 6:17 states, “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”  His disciples were to be separate from the world; to live pure and clean lives as an example to those they taught. 

Next, it states that the disciples "kept Your word."  They received the words for Jesus as Truth from God, and they believed that Jesus and God (along with the Holy Spirit) are one with God (although they are a trinity and not one being).  Their beliefs remained steadfast and their conduct honorable; a goal I pray to emulate.  

(John 17:9-11) "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."

Here, Jesus acknowledges again that God chose the disciples for Jesus' mission and again reminds us that He and God are one.   

While Jesus is praying this heartfelt prayer, He knows He will soon be crucified.  In fact, right after this prayer, Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane.  Yet, in the midst of His fear, knowing what torture He was about to face, He takes the time to pray for His faithful followers.  He knows He is about to die when He says, "I am no longer in the world."

When Jesus asks God to "keep through Your name" the disciples, I believe He was asking God to bestow strength upon the mortal men to endure to the end.  Matthew 10:22 & 24:13, Mark 13:13 all state  that "he who endures to the end shall be saved."  In fact, when you finish reading this blog, look up the word "endure" on Bible Gateway or some other search engine and see how many scriptures remind us that we must endure, or  as Jesus also puts it, be kept in God so that we can become one with Jesus after we die.   

(John 17:12) "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."

This section here is, of course, about Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed Jesus.  Yes, Judas' betrayal was predicted by David in Psalm 41:9 "Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me."

(John 17:13-19) "And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

These last sentences of Jesus' prayer are so rich and beautiful!  Jesus (as well as other writers of the Bible) reminds us many times over that we will be hated when we choose to follow Him.  However, Jesus did not pray that the disciples be removed to a separatist  colony to live in safe little bubbles.  No, instead He prayed for protection more so spiritually than physically, which is why He asks His disciples be kept away from "the evil one" (Satan), so they would not fall away from their salvation.  Again, we are reminded that the disciples are to be an example of sanctification (or holy living) while they are a part of the world.  I am sure you have heard the saying, "be in the world but not a part of the world."  

Consider also this quote from the late Pastor Leonard Ravenhill, "The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.”  

The disciples were called to minister and set up churches after Jesus died and rose again.  They had missions that went on after Jesus ascended back into heaven.  One cannot be called to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15) if one stays hidden away from those in need of the gospel!

(Romans 12:1-2) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We should all try to imitate Jesus' disciples.  As a Christian, being a part of the world does not mean we act and dress like the world, it means we have the courage to be separate in our lifestyles and actions.  Then we can be like the disciples and, most importantly, like Jesus Christ, and "be sanctified by the Truth" and be a light unto those walking in the darkness. 

(Matthew 5:14-16) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.