Jesus Had Compassion For People - We Should Too!

"Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38 NKJV)

    There are hundreds of people all around each one of us who need direction in their life, who need to know God and learn of His way, who need the Good Shepherd to lead them in what is good and right. We need to care for these lost and wandering souls enough that we pray for those who are labouring for the Lord in our areas and pray also that God will send more labourers to our area to work!

    We can and should be praying for those who are labouring for the Lord. We can and should be praying for more men to rise up and work for the Lord. We can and should be encouraging young men to work toward being preachers and bible class teachers. 

    How wonderful would it be, especially here in Canada, to have more congregations of God's people! To have faithful men step up and take on the noble task of preaching God's holy Word!! To have more people reached, to have more souls saved, more people living as Christ lived in humble obedience to God, looking around them with compassionate hearts and praying that the Lord of the harvest would send even more labourers into His harvest!!

     Let's follow Jesus' command and example (read John 17:1-26) and pray for men, young and old, to rise up and choose to preach and teach the Good News of Christ!! 

    You can do it! So can I!!

 

Jesus Talked To People About His Father - We Can Too!

     Jesus sat down with people and told them of his Father (consider Matthew 5-7) and we can do the same!

    We can read and study to know God's Word and we can sit down with people (friends, family, neighbours, coworkers) and tell them of our heavenly Father (Ephesians 5:15-17, Mark 5:19, Psalm 66:16)! And don't disregard your own children and/or husband either. Talking regularly to them about God and His Word will not only make you more comfortable with the subject but will be a real boost and encouragement to them as well (Deuteronomy 6:8-9; 11:18-22)!

    Let's try to bring God into the conversation as often as possible this week. Introduce a Bible verse you've read/studied or a sermon you have recently heard. Make mention of a blessing you have received or you see in someone's life (to help them see it). Suggest that God is bigger that any trouble we can face and well able to help if we turn to Him.

"My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness 

and Your salvation all the day, 

for I do not know their limits.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;

I will make mention of Your righteousness,

of Yours only." (Psalm 71:15-16 NKJV)

     Let's be more like the Son in 2021 by using the opportunities we are given to simply talk to people about our Father! 

    You can do it! So can I!!

Jesus Didn't Seek Status, He Sought Souls - We Should Too!

    Jesus was often criticized for being "a friend to tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 11:19) because the world often looks for greatness in status, rank, and popularity, but Jesus did not come to seek prestige - He sought prisoners, He did not seek rank - He sought rejects, He did not seek popularity, He sought plain men and women like you and I.

    Jesus went to the sick, so they could know the Great Physician (Matthew 9:10-12). He spoke to sinners, so they could hear of redemption (Matthew 9:13, Titus 2:14). He taught the lost so they could find the way home (Luke 19:10, Romans 6)!

     To be like Jesus we do not need to have a big house, we do not need to attain high levels of education, we do not need to have high-paying/high-status jobs or mingle with the rich and famous - we can do as He did wherever we are! We can tell our neighbours of God's greatness! We can educate ourselves in God's holy word simply by reading, obeying, and praying for understanding and wisdom! We can share the rich blessings we have received from God when we mingle with our friends, family, and co-workers!

    We need to be careful how much focus and attention we give to earthly pursuits! We need to look around us right now and see the souls that surround us. We can help those around us and those who come into our lives through our every day activities! 

    As a Mom I have a household of souls that I need to be looking to and teaching (and reinforcing my husband's spiritual instruction). My children's friends, their parents, their teachers are all naturally in my realm, as well as near neighbours, my own friends, the grocery cashier, the pharmacy clerk  - all souls in need of a Saviour!     

    Who is in your realm? How can you encourage them today? How can you turn their attention to God and His way? By being more like the Son in 2021!! By simply talking to them, telling them of God's love and care for them!!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Jesus Knew The Scriptures - And We Should Too (Part 2)

     Jesus used His scripture knowledge to disarm the devil and nullify the temptations set before Him (Matthew 4:1-11). He truly exemplified Romans 12:21 in this encounter! In so doing He also teaches us how we too can avoid temptation: by putting our focus on God and keeping in mind our spiritual growth (Psalm 119:59-60, Colossians 3), by trusting God’s love and patience rather than testing them (Romans 6:14, 2 Peter 3:9), and dedicating ourselves wholly to Him, giving Him due honour and respect through proper worship (John 4:24).

    We need to be prepared to do what Jesus did – use Scriptures to counteract the devil’s lures – but also hear what these Scriptures teach – prioritize God and humbly honour and obey Him - so we are wise to temptations! Consider:

• Man should live by every word that proceeds from God's mouth. Prioritize the spiritual over the physical (Matthew 5:6, John 4:31-34; 51, 57) 
• You should not tempt/test God. Use your time in proving God's wisdom through humble obedience, don't waste your time trying to disprove or question God (His existence, nor His commands) through man-made doubts and theories (Deuteronomy 6:16, Exodus 17:2, 7)
• Worship God and serve only God.  Give your time and devotion to your holy Creator not anything created by men (consider Matthew 6:19-21; 24, 33, 1 Timothy 6:3-10; 17-19)

    Those who work in identifying counterfeit currency do not study every aspect of the counterfeits, they study the authentic! They know the genuine article so well that they can spot deceptions and discrepancies quickly.

    The devil is a master counterfeiter. He tries to pass off his lies as truth so we need to know the genuine article – we need to know the Truth (John 8:31-32), not a man-made version of it (Matthew 15:8-9), not a hearsay version of it (Matthew 7:21-23) – we need to read God’s Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:160, John 17:17); we need to know it so we can understand it, and use the knowledge we have gained from it to be wise to the devil’s lies and resist him (James 4:7, Hebrews 5:14)  

    Jesus knew the authentic – Jesus was the authentic! – but we can be like Him by diligently studying God’s word, to understand Him better, so we can worship and serve Him more accurately and mindfully! So that we can know the Truth and not be lured away by the lie!

    To Be More Like the Son in 2021 let’s do all we can to increase our Bible knowledge!

    From wherever you are right now - BEGIN! 

Helpful Links

Bible Reading Plans:

• Classic Read-through-the-Bible (365 days, find it here)
• Read through the New Testament (90 days, find it here)
• Read Old and New Testament (365 days, find it here)
• Stay on Track Plan (364 day, weekday only, weekends can be used to catch up, find it here)
• The Busy Life – 2 year Read-through-the-Bible Plan (find it here)
  

Note: Six years ago, I followed the classic plan (at top of list), the next year I followed a chronological reading plan (find it here). I felt well-established in my new daily habit by that time so for the past four years I have made up my own daily reading plan  (one chapter from Old Testament and one chapter from New Testament) that allows me to read through sections of the Old Testament and the complete New Testament 3-4 times in a year.

Find one that works for you so you can get into God’s word every day! Do your best to create new reading habits - it is well worth your time and effort!! You can do it! So can I!!