I am thankful for the lovely sunny ending to this day, after an enjoyable time worshipping God, and interacting with grandchildren this afternoon. It is now time, to once again to contemplate on themes from Gods Holy Word, to give praise and words to the prayers forming in my mind.
In Matthew 6 and 7, I read many wise statements about life and living, which Jesus said to His listeners. Matthew 7: 24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fail, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.”
It is so easy to think we are prepared, when we in fact have not fully gone into something, or consulted the instructions or map properly, and as a result unexpectedly go off course, or miss our connection etc. When living on earth, Jesus often warned the people, about being obedient to the instructions of God, and making the effort to be prepared for His second coming. Matthew 7: 21 – 23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 and then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” How sad to be rejected by Jesus, after thinking we were following the Him. Apparently this happens, when we had not actually given Him service with an obedient, humble heart; but instead had been building up ourselves, with a heart that was not absolutely true to God. I am thankful to Jesus for all His instructions, and warnings, so that today, we can ask the Holy Spirit to search our heart and motives, and have all deficiencies be made right through Jesus.
Because we do not truly understand how sinful we are, it is so easy not to appreciate the great lack in our spiritual expression, when compared to what we read in scripture, God would like for each of us. Paul the mighty worker for God, in the early church has advice upon this fact and the remedy. Romans 8: 8-10 “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
Father God, I am thankful again today, for all Your gifts and natural creative works all around me. I appreciate Your merciful dealings with me, and that you would like all of us to be saved eternally. I know that without the Holy Spirit prompting me, I could not draw really close to You, and would forever remain wrapped up in my sinful self and surrounding issues. I am made happy, by the mind expanding expectation, of the second coming of Jesus and life in the heavenly realms. Let us praise the Lord again today for His all-encompassing provision of and for life and universe.