Well it's the first day of January 2018 and I woke up thinking about Luke 13:1-9. The first five verses were what was on my mind it's a new year with lots of possibilities ahead for us. However, recently I have had lots of individuals tell me that they are right were they want to be with God and that's scary to me. Most of them have the same attitude as the individuals in the passages from Luke.
1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:1-5 ESV
We see bad things happening to others and sometimes say things like, "I wonder what sin they are hiding, or if you prayed more, or if you stopped skipping church, just to point out a few of the reasons we give when bad things happen in life. The reality is that God does not keep score of your good and bad deeds. He only records one choice that we make and that is to repent from our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our savior that's the one that matters. Everything else at it's simplest point can often be attributed to our poor choices in a world lost in sin. Marriage on the rocks are you unequally yoked do you both have the same values and goals. In most cases you have sickness do you take time to eat right and exercise. Money problems do you have a budget that ensures you spend less than you make. These are all issues that are caused by our desire to live the life we want not the one God wants for us. God promises to meet our needs not our wants and if we are not able to handle what he has given us why would he ever give us more. That's were the second part of the scriptures come in to my thoughts. If you started today new with a desire to live the life God truly has planned for you what would it take. A. W. Tozer once said, "God's grace is extended to the sinner in hopes that one day they may come to know Him." If that's the case there will come a time when those doors will close. Jesus shared this parable to make that point.
6And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 ESV
There is a time in which we shall all die and then we will stand in judgement of our creator. Let's spend 2018 fertilizing our faith and relationship with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. So that we can bare fruit and live the full and joyful life that we were made for.
Be Blessed
1There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Luke 13:1-5 ESV
We see bad things happening to others and sometimes say things like, "I wonder what sin they are hiding, or if you prayed more, or if you stopped skipping church, just to point out a few of the reasons we give when bad things happen in life. The reality is that God does not keep score of your good and bad deeds. He only records one choice that we make and that is to repent from our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our savior that's the one that matters. Everything else at it's simplest point can often be attributed to our poor choices in a world lost in sin. Marriage on the rocks are you unequally yoked do you both have the same values and goals. In most cases you have sickness do you take time to eat right and exercise. Money problems do you have a budget that ensures you spend less than you make. These are all issues that are caused by our desire to live the life we want not the one God wants for us. God promises to meet our needs not our wants and if we are not able to handle what he has given us why would he ever give us more. That's were the second part of the scriptures come in to my thoughts. If you started today new with a desire to live the life God truly has planned for you what would it take. A. W. Tozer once said, "God's grace is extended to the sinner in hopes that one day they may come to know Him." If that's the case there will come a time when those doors will close. Jesus shared this parable to make that point.
6And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 ESV
There is a time in which we shall all die and then we will stand in judgement of our creator. Let's spend 2018 fertilizing our faith and relationship with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. So that we can bare fruit and live the full and joyful life that we were made for.
Be Blessed
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You may not agree with me that is alright Jesus still loves you!