Thought for the day
Tag: Death
What did Jesus mean by this Statement? (See notes below on the blog)
7:13, 14 Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance to God’s kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith, only through Christ, constricted and precise. It represents true salvation in God’s way that leads to life eternal. The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness, with no single way (cf. Ac 4:12), but it leads to hell, not heaven. † 7:14 way is narrow. Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following Him (10:38; 16:24, 25; Jn 15:18, 19; 16:1–3; cf. Ac 14:22). Salvation is by grace alone, but is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance, submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey His will and Word. See notes on 19:16–28. † 7:15 false prophets. These deceive not by disguising themselves as sheep, but by impersonating true shepherds. They promote the wide gate and the wide way. sheep’s clothing. This may refer to the woolen attire that was the characteristic garb of a shepherd. † 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. See note on 3:8. False doctrine cannot restrain the flesh, so false prophets manifest wickedness. Cf. 2Pe 2:12–22. † 7:21 Not everyone who says … but he who does. The barrenness of this sort of faith demonstrates its real character (cf. v. 20)—the faith that says but does not do is really unbelief. Jesus was not suggesting that works are meritorious for salvation, but that true faith will not fail to produce the fruit of good works. This is precisely the point of Jas 1:22–25; 2:26.
Help us in our unbelief, Lord. Strengthen us, in our time of trouble. May we run into your arms, for protection and comfort. If anyone, is doubting who you are, may they reach out in faith to you, through Jesus, your son, who paves the way to you, and see the wonder of your great love for us.
Listen to the link below and it will change your heart!
He gives us our daily bread, but seek him first, for you will find hope, and joy, in the one who provides.
Discipleship is great, but Paul encourages the Philippians to take ownership of their own walk with Jesus, even when Paul is not there. When we take ownership, we are walking with Jesus and his Spirit and then, we are to do the same as Paul, by walking with others, and pointing them to Jesus, that they would do the same. That way, we are participating in building Gods kingdom, here on earth. Is that not a beautiful way to see what gods will is in our life?
It’s not about US, it’s All about HIM!
The Battle belongs to the Lord
Lord, I can’t hear you, cause I don’t want to. I see things that are messed up, yet I forget to see myself, that I am messed up. Forgive me for not seeing your own providence in my life. Help me to see people as messed up, like me, but in need of a savior, like me! Lord, I need you, every minute of every day! 🙏
2:14without grumbling or disputing. The Gr. word for “grumbling” is a term that actually sounds like what it means. Its pronunciation is much like muttering or grumbling in a low tone of voice. It is an emotional rejection of God’s providence, will, and circumstances for one’s life. The word for “disputing” is more intellectual and here means “questionings,” or “criticisms” directed negatively toward God.
What does God require of Man? (See notes below Image)
3–5 This was the Lord’s appeal. With tenderness and emotion, the divine Plaintiff recalled His many gracious acts toward them, almost to the point of assuming the tone of a defendant. Noting their trek from bondage in Egypt to their own homeland, God had provided leadership (v. 4), reversed the attempts of Balaam to curse the people (v. 5a; cf. Nu 22–24), and miraculously parted the Jordan River (v. 5b) so they could cross over from Shittim, located E of the Jordan, to Gilgal on the W side near Jericho. God had faithfully kept all His promises to them. † 6:6, 7 Micah, as though speaking on behalf of the people, asked rhetorically how, in light of God’s faithfulness toward them, they could continue their hypocrisy by being outwardly religious but inwardly sinful. † 6:8 Micah’s terse response ( v. 8) indicated they should have known the answer to the rhetorical question. Spiritual blindness had led them to offer everything except the one thing He wanted—a spiritual commitment of the heart from which right behavior would ensue (cf. Dt 10:12–19; Mt 22:37–39). This theme is often represented in the OT (cf. 1Sa 15:22; Is 1:11–20; Jer 7:21–23; Hos 6:6; Am 5:15).
Living Waters 