Have Mercy On Me!

Matthew 18:23-35

The body of Christ is, by default, subject to the authority of the almighty God. The God who created the heaven and the earth, is the supreme ruler, and all who are under His supremacy, have been tasked with maintaining certain duties and standards that befit His expectations. For instance, the Bible teaches that God is love, so those who claim to be His children should find it comely to walk according to the standard of God’s love also. The God of all creation is also patient, kind, and full of mercy, and these same character traits should be consistently seen amongst those who serve under Him.

It’s interesting to note, God not only expects His people to align themselves with His Word, but He continually monitors how each and every believer conducts themselves, in every situation and circumstance they face. It’s amazing how we soon forget the mercy that was shown unto us, when we are met with the challenge to be merciful to someone else. Our text displays this instance vividly in the parable Jesus presented to those following after Him. Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a king, who takes account of how his servants handle the talents he bestows to them. Apparently, those who served the king were expected to use what they were given, and multiply it, to prove their loyalty and dedication to his cause. One servant obviously mishandled what he was given, and owed a great debt to the king. Thankfully, the king had mercy on the servant, and removed his judgment to have him and all his family sold, and he was not expected to pay the debt. Wow! If you owed someone a whole lot of money, and faced years in prison, how would you conduct yourself, after finding out all charges were dropped, and you didn’t have to pay back anything?

You’d think anyone granted a blessing of that magnitude would forever be grateful, and use caution when dealing with others, but some people never learn. Moments after being relieved of his great debt, the servant ran into someone who owed him a few dollars. Now, from what was mentioned previously, it would seem obvious how this situation should turn out, but I’ve learned that the obvious isn’t always obvious lol. Rather than extend mercy toward the one who owed only a few dollars, the delusional servant ironically took the man by the throat, and demanded payment immediately! Be careful how you treat others, because in those moments you don’t think anyone’s watching you… there’s someone watching you lol. Someone close to the two servants saw the uncomfortable scene take place, then reported the story to the king. The servant who was granted mercy beyond measure, failed to render that same mercy to someone else who desired it. Thus, judgment was returned to him, but worse than before.

Be careful how you treat those who seek mercy from you, because if you think back long and hard enough, you’ll remember those moments when you needed mercy too.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

Ell

When Bad Does Good

Joshua 2:1-7

According to biblical references, harlots in Scripture were considered women who were known to commit fornication and adultry, to be unfaithful, and some were even forced into the life of prostitution against their own will. While it’s known, many women willingly sell their bodies for filthy gain, some have defiled themselves because of the pressure from others.

Our text mentions Rahab, also recorded as Rachab (of the genealogy of Christ). This woman was known in her community as a harlot. Although very little details are mentioned concerning her family and lifestyle, it is noted that she owned a house. Most prostitutes seen today hang out on street corners, and some have literally no place to live. It’s unfortunate how many potentially great women have resulted to such a degrading profession, but as long as they have breath in their bodies, they can still change their way of living, and do good for God. Rather than judge those whom you have little to no knowledge concerning their situation, pray for them, and hope that God will give them a mind to change their ways, and start living for Him.

Rahab may not have been the town nun, but what she did in our text, was noted in the Bible as a great faith act. While hiding the spies sent by Joshua, and seemingly lying about it may seem minuscule at first glance, her protecting of God’s men was essential in saving her own life, and the lives of her household. Just because you’ve done bad things in your life, doesn’t exclude you from doing great works for the Lord. Although Rahab was a harlot, her act of faith, and good works literally gave her, and her family, another chance to be redeemed.

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold… don’t become one of them.

Ell

Hard Proof

Genesis 22:9-19

In the life of every child of God, there will come a season when the faith they claim to have in Him, will be tested. Throughout the Bible, you can read about the lives of men and women from the Old, and New Testaments, who proved their allegiance to the Father, through their lifestyles. Abraham proved that he feared God, by not withholding his only son from Him. When commanded by God to offer up Isaac as a sacrifice, the “father of faith” did not hesitate to do as the Lord had spoken. King David made a few MAJOR mistakes during his reign as ruler of Israel, but he never allowed his errors, nor his fame and fortune to cause him to turn away from the God who supplied all his needs. Of all those in Scripture, who were selfless, and willingly sacrificed all, so that the will of God could be accomplished, none can compare to Jesus, who gave His very life, so mankind could be redeemed.

Abraham, king David, and Jesus Christ, all knew that their lives only had purpose, when lived fulfilling the will of God. Even when faced with opportunities to turn away from God’s seemingly hard instructions, in favor of taking a more uncomplicated route, these great men allowed God’s will and purpose to supercede all else that would have eventually caused major issues in their personal lives, and in God’s divine order of things. But, God knows who He can trust, and has confidence in them to not rob Him of His glory.

Can God trust you with hard instructions? Are there things in your life so valuable, that you wouldn’t give them up, so that God’s will could be accomplished through your life? Would you be willing to sacrifice time, money, or even disassociate yourself from those you love, in order to fulfill God’s will? These may be hard questions to answer, but in this life, the only things that matter, are what God says matters. If you place anything in this earth before God, then I hate to tell you but, your love for God is superficial. While your profession of love to God may appear true, after further examination, that love will never be revealed.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

The Mirror

James 1:19-27

“Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” The purpose of the mirror is to reflect our natural selves, so that we can either appreciate who God created us to be, or take time altering and changing those things we aren’t too pleased to share with others. We use mirrors to help us catch blemishes in our makeup, or faults in our clothing, so that we can tidy up, before stepping out of the house. Mirrors reveal all, and leave nothing hidden to the natural eye.

The same way we spend hours fixing our natural selves in front of the mirror, we should devote way more time looking at ourselves from the perspective of God’s Word. The Bible reveals to us, that we aren’t anything to brag about, and should be forever grateful that Jesus sacrificed His life, so that our sin blemishes could forever be wiped away. The more time we spend in God’s Word, the better we’ll understand the importance of doing what the Word says. It’s strange for a person to stand in front of a mirror for hours, then forget the image they saw once they turn away. The Bible equates this to men who hear the Word of God, but fail to do what it says.

While the mirror is one of man’s greatest inventions, it can only reveal to men their flaws. They must willingly make the necessary changes to rectify their appearance. The Word of God reveals to men the things that can easily beset them, but it’s their responsibility to take action in obeying God’s simple instructions for overcoming all evil. The next time you stand in front of the mirror, consider whether getting your hair, suit, or makeup just right, more important than ensuring that your heart, mind, and soul are right with God.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Handle With Care

James 2:1-7

When handling something precious and valuable, it’s often advised to treat it with care, and avoid mishandling it, as to respect what it is truly worth. This holds true not only in material things, but also in the realm of the spirit. True value in the life of the believer is made manifest through Christ, and the faith that we have in Him, should be shown to all men equally, and without partiality. For God so loved the “WORLD”, that He gave…, and those who follow after Him, should be willing to treat all men the same, despite their differences.

While it’s obvious the world won’t see things the way the church does, we must still treat them the way we desire to be treated. As for members of the body interacting with each other, the love of Christ should abound in every point of contact. Whether someone was blessed with much, or very little, dissention should never rear its ugly head amongst those who are in the faith. The church should always remain in perfect unity and harmony, so that the Gospel that was preached thousands of years ago, can still be seen, heard, and believed today. Men and women literally died, so that the Word of God could be passed down to our generation, so take pride in knowing that someone who never knew you, cared enough to save you.

Let these words keep you humble, as you show real love to those striving daily, just like you.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Avoid The Shame

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

After creating His most wonderful masterpiece, in His own image and likeness, God knew that soon after man was tainted by sin, he would begin to harbor thoughts more higher of himself than he ought to. God created mankind, not to elevate themselves more than that which pleases the Father, but to walk in humility, so that each member of the family of God, could hear and obey clear instructions on how they are expected to live.

From the time of Adam and his family to now, mankind has become more corrupt, and the mere thought of humility is barely even seen amongst those who claim to be Christians. Fortunately, these times are not surprising to God, nor were they in times past, as He knew they would manifest, so in order to naturally keep men under the subjection of His way of thinking, He allows for foolish things to confound those who are full of earthly wisdom, and has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty in the eyes of men. To confound someone could also be translated as to dishonor, disgrace, or put them to shame.

God loves the world so much, that not only did He give His only Son to save it, but He will continually prove His love by trying to get stubborn men’s attention, even if it embarrasses them. Believe it, or not, there are men walking the earth who think they are the BOMB, when in all actuality, they are no more potent than those little white firecrackers you throw on the ground, that make a little “pop” sound. High-minded, and haughty individuals are in no way capable of carrying the message of the Gospel, nor are they worthy to receive God’s promises, because these persons operate in pride, and 100 percent of men who live with pride in their hearts, always meet an unfortunate, and unfavorable end. If you don’t believe me, look back through history, and you’ll discover that men in biblical times, and most recent, who put themselves before God, never fulfilled what God had predestined for their lives.

Mankind was made to live holy, acceptable, and pleasing lives to God, and while this truth may seem boring or uneventful to some, when a man truly tastes and discovers how amazing God is, they’ll never want to delve into their wicked, and unprofitable past behaviors again. A real God-experience causes the heart of a man to change. If you were once haughty, God can change you to be humble. In those times you may have puffed yourself up to gain the praise of men, but when God touched you, you decided to turn the spotlight away from yourself, and directly toward God.

Walk daily in humility, to avoid being shamed by God, and to always be in the right posture and position, to receive all of His good benefits.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Salvation That Excites!

1 Peter 3:13-19

Aren’t you glad that the Lord saved you from a miserable life of sin? Do you get joy when you consider, Christ suffered and was put to death, so that you could be made the righteousness of God? When you look at the state of this present world, do you rest assured, knowing there’s a better place reserved for you in the next life? Many today are losing faith in God, not because they deny the truth of the Gospel, but because they’ve allowed their suffering to consume them to the point they’ve lost sight of its purpose. Being constantly criticized, falsely accused, or even put to shame can cause anyone to faint or lose heart, but when we sanctify the Lord in our hearts, His Spirit will equip us with what we need to withstand all that comes against us.

Doing good doesn’t omit the church from suffering. In fact, it attracts more attention from the enemies of God. But, we don’t have to faint or become weary while doing the works of the Lord, because in time, we’ll reap a great harvest from our good works.

The church should get more excited concerning their salvation, because it’s the only free gift, by which we were redeemed back to God, and through it, are able to exhibit consistent good behavior amongst a world of evil men. If it had not been for Jesus, where would you be today?

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

ATTEN-TION!

Luke 6:20-26

Fret not, because of those who appear to be living life a little (or a lot) better than you. Worry not, about men who seemingly have the upper hand concerning matters of finances and other resources. Mind not those things which the world considers as “fancy”, or “flashy”. Don’t lose heart, when your life is full of sadness and pain, while those around you are filled with laughter. Stand strong, even when men hate you, and literally defame your good name. Walk with your head held high, in the midst of snakes, fakes, and ravenous wolves. Be strong, and very courageous, while facing trials and temptations. Get excited, in those moments when you get rejected from the crowd, and appear to be left all alone. While the world makes attempts to keep you in the fog negativity, God will give you strength to endure all of their ploys and distractions. Not only will God keep you in perfect peace during hard times, but He will reward you greatly in Heaven.

Those who seem to be living the “good life” here on the earth, and willfully reject God, will only enjoy good until their death. After this life, comes the judgment, and every man and woman who rejected God, will mourn and weep throughout all eternity, as they spend their next life in that horrible, bottomless pit.

Saints, be encouraged, and continue fighting the good fight. The battle belongs to God, and He’s already won the victory! Soon, and very soon, all our troubles, worries, and struggles will be over, but until then… fight well!

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Worthy Of The Kingdom

2 Thessalonians 1:3-5, 11-12

What is the proper way to conduct oneself while facing persecution? Well, there are two answers to that question. One response is fairly simple and straightforward, while the other can oftentimes be rather vague. For the child of God, enduring inevitable persecution requires patience and faith. For those who live beyond the realm of God’s readily available safety, persecution tends to consume them without a sense of reason, or purposeful end. When worldly men suffer, they typically expect others to pity them, and make sacrifices on behalf of their tragedies. On the contrary, when a believer suffers, they endure to prove that in their suffering, they can still perform works that are pleasing to God.

The church doesn’t suffer, so that they can get contaminated government assistance, but it suffers because the world hates the truth, and will go to great measures to silence those who go against worldly beliefs. In our text, the apostle Paul, and those who sojourned with him, were pleased to see that those in the Thessalonian church were continuing to grow in faith exceedingly, and spread love amongst each other, despite enduring persecutions and tribulations. The apostle Paul did not commend the Thessalonian church for building a great edifice, or rendering awesome praise and worship, but he counted them worthy of the kingdom of God, because of their suffering.

When hard times come in our lives, God allows them to test our level of faith in His Word, and to prove to our adversary, he has no claim, nor influence in the lives of God’s people. Take pride in being a child of royalty, and see your suffering as a way to show God that if those who died before us endured until the end, then you can too! “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:3-4).

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Don’t Hate, Love

Leviticus 19:13-18

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man… (Matthew 7:21-24a). These were words spoken by Jesus, to teach His followers the importance bringing forth good fruit, for the purpose of edifying God’s kingdom. While some willingly humble themselves, to allow all glory to go to God, others seek vain glory for themselves, and do works to promote their own agendas.

God is all about teamwork, and shuns selfishness and pride. He desires that those who claim His name, not only focus on trying to accomplish major feats in the earth, but place more emphasis on fine tuning the small things. Some of which include loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, being fair in judgment, and paying those you owe on time, and not withholding what’s owed to those who have completed work for you. A few more of those small things God pays close attention to are respecting all men the same, whether they be deaf or blind, poor or rich, keeping the business of others out of your mouth (gossiping), and choosing to love your fellow brethren, rather than hate them, no matter the circumstances.

The church today, should look completely different from the world. Where there’s bickering and arguing amongst the world, love and peace should be found in the church. When the world slander, gossip, and tear down each other’s names, the body of believers should only be heard building, edifying, and lifting each other up.

We are to be the light, salt, and difference in the earth, so that those who are seeking a better way, can be positively influenced from our example. Prove your love to God by being a better you, every day, and let your love for others mirror the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell