Hope, In Sorrow

Matthew 24:4-14

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to an exciting episode of, “Hope, In Sorrow” starring, Jesus, and His disciples! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

(Jesus sits on the mount of Olives, followed by His disciples, after prophesying persecution and destruction to Jerusalem in the temple.)

Disciples: (Removed themselves from the crowd, to have a private audience with Jesus.) Master, we heard your words concerning Jerusalem, and the things to come, but can you elaborate more on their meaning? And, when will all these things take place? Also, what shall be the sign of your coming, and the end of the world?

Jesus: Remain focused at all times, and don’t allow anyone to deceive you, because many will approach you in my name, claiming they are Christ, and will actually deceive many.

(The disciples listened attentively to the words Jesus was speaking.)

Jesus: In time to come, you will hear of wars and rumors of them also, but don’t faint, nor lose heart, because all these things must come to pass.

Disciples: Alright Master, so is this the end?

Jesus: No, not yet. There’s more…

(The disciples wonder and contemplate the possible extent of Jesus’ prophecies amongst themselves.)

Jesus: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places.

Disciples: After hearing all those horrible things that will take place, this must indeed be the end, right Master?

Jesus: Not so. In fact, these are signs of the beginning of sorrows.

Disciples: How could things possibly get any worse than these perils?

Jesus: In that time, men will deliver you up to be afflicted, and even kill some of you. And, you’ll be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

Disciples: …

Jesus: Many false prophets shall rise, and deceive countless people. And, because iniquity shall run rampant in the land, many will develop hearts of stone.

Disciples: We are soon to face some extremely hard times.

Jesus: Don’t fret, because whoever endures until the end of the time of sorrow, shall be saved.

Disciples: Master, that is encouraging news! But, when will the end of the world be?

Jesus: When the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, then shall the end come.

*If the time of sorrow the disciples faced was only the beginning, I can only imagine how difficult the days will become for those who remain today. We can see the obvious signs of the end fast approaching, but if we endure, we will be delivered by the resurrected Jesus, who died for the sins of the world.

This concludes the exciting episode of, “Hope, In Sorrow”. Thanks for tuning in, and have a fantabulous journey!

Seeing Is Believing

Mark 4:35-41

What could possibly be better than hearing about miracles and other unbelievable moments that took place in the lives of others? Any story you could ever hear, or read about, pales in comparison to actually witnessing a miraculous event with your own eyes. A miracle can be defined as, a wonderous event, that cannot be explained by scientific or natural laws. For this reason, many conclude, miracles are the workings of divine agencies, or higher powers.

In our text, large crowds had begin to follow Jesus, because they had heard of the miracles brought forth by His hands, and were intrigued by His teachings, through the parables. Jesus was wise enough to understand those who gathered around Him, so much that He didn’t speak in ways to confuse them. Instead, His parables were a way to challenge His listeners to seek diligently, the meaning of His words. Not only were the words Jesus spoke undoubtedly profound, but the works He performed were undeniably miraculous.

As the sun began to set, and evening approached, Jesus desired to pass over on the other side of the water, from the ship He taught from. So, the men who were with Jesus, sent the multitudes away, and they set sail toward the other side. While on their way across the sea, the Bible mentions a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the ship, until it was full of water. Picture yourself on a ship, in the middle of a devastating storm, with some of your coworkers, friends, and family members. How would you react in this situation? Now, picture yourself in this same storm, but substitute your family, friends, and coworkers with Jesus, the Son of God. How would you react then? The men on the ship began to lose themselves for, fear that they would die. Fortunately, they were wise enough to acknowledge Jesus on the ship, but only to share their faithless cries. I’m certain these men were eyewitnesses of the miracles Jesus performed earlier in the Gospel of Mark, and had grown in wisdom and understanding from His teachings, so how could they allow fear to so easily beset them, knowing the man they saw perform miracles was on the same ship as they were? In any case, Jesus recognized their lack of faith, rebuked the wind, and spoke peace to the sea. Wow, what a guy!

As if they weren’t already fascinated by the works of Jesus before, this miraculous event caused exceeding fear to come over the men. They then begin to say to one another, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” I’ll answer that question for those faithless men. Jesus is a man, come to the earth from the third Heaven, sent by the Father, to save mankind from sin, and themselves.

God knew we would have storms in our lives, even to this day, and we can either cower in fear, as the men in our lesson did, or trust that Jesus cares for you, just as he did for the disciples on the ship, thousands of years ago. The men in our text spent countless moments with Jesus, yet they still underestimated Him. Don’t make the mistake of doubting what the power of God can do in your life. Instead, believe what you witnessed Him perform in your life, when He saved you from a miserable path of sin, cleaned you up, then set you on a path of righteousness, for His name’s sake.

“God still works miracles, but until He does again, keep the faith, and don’t fret when the storms of life beat upon your sailing ship.” – Ell

Weary Worry

Luke 12:22-34

Aside from death, taxes, and corrupt governments, there’s another thing men can’t seem to avoid in this life. If you were able to survey every sensible person on the planet, and ask if they harbor worry in their minds, I’m apt to believe, your results would be a resounding “yes” for most of them. When we worry, we actually give way to anxiety or unease, while allowing our minds to dwell on difficulty or troubles. On the surface, worrying seems inevitable, and unavoidable, because there are times when we experience moments of unease and stress. For example, parents often worry about the safety of their children while away from home, whether at school or participating in other activities. Men and women who are poor and destitute, worry and wonder, whether or not someone will take time to offer them food, clothes, or a monetary gift. The longer we live on this earth, the harder it seems to escape worry, but Jesus offered a solution, in our text, to help us worry less (especially concerning things we can’t control), and refocus our thoughts on matters that are relevant to kingdom business.

The longer we cloud our minds with thoughts of food, clothing, drama at work, keeping the children safe and healthy, keeping ourselves healthy, whether we are doing enough good deeds, or whatever the case is, Jesus commanded His disciples to think not on those things, but have faith in the God who knows what they have need of, and will supply all of them, as long as they remain in His will.

While it’s necessary to work and plan responsibly, dwelling on how your plans could go wrong, or not work out, is unwise. Besides, worrying is pointless, because it can do absolutely nothing except bring harm to your physical and mental states of being. God made all things, and He knows what we need, before we ask, so it’s foolish and unhealthy to allow worry to invade the beautiful mind God placed in you.

God isn’t oblivious to what we experience in this life, despite how bad things seem to be, and He promised to supply all our needs, not necessarily our wants. But, Psalm 37:4 reads, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When we think on those things that are relevant to God’s plan and purpose, He’ll take care of our earthly issues, while at the same time, prepare us to take care of His spiritual assignments during our journey.

If you struggle with worry, and are seeking the strength and wisdom to regain your faith and confidence in God, empty all thoughts that cause you to doubt. After you’ve cleared your mind of worry, practice thinking on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. God watches every moment of your life, and He’s rooting for you to endure.

“Place all your trust in God, and allow Him the chance to prove that His words are true, and you mean the world to Him.” – Ell

Uncertain Riches

1 Timothy 6:17-19

Despite how much wealth men strive to attain in the earth, there’s no amount that can purchase their salvation, nor eternal security in God’s kingdom. People allow themselves to get so caught up in earthly affairs, until they forget to hold fast to the basics of Scripture. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35). The only sure thing that will cross over from this life to the next is, the Word of God. In addition, the time that’s soon to come, requires for man to be redeemed of their sins, by the blood of Jesus, in order to pass from death to life, and reap the benefits of an everlasting habitation with the Father.

As hard as it may seem to believe, this world is not our home. In fact, we’re just passing through, to get to the place God has prepared for those who love Him, so we shouldn’t allow ourselves to invest too much time accumulating earthly treasures. While it’s man’s duty to work in order to earn a living, it’s unbiblical to make money the essential goal in life. Many get drawn away into frivolous living, and allow their love for money to plant seeds of evil along their path. Money isn’t inherently evil, but the love of it has caused many people to do things that were unacceptable to the moral standards of society, as well as God’s holy standard.

God isn’t against having wealth, instead, His focus is on the deeds we do. What we invest our time in, establishes certain foundations, by default. For example, if we focus most of our attention on making money, having nice cars, and being popular on social media, we’ll establish a weak foundation that will crumble when the time comes for God to judge our works. On the contrary, if we do consistent good works toward others, we’ll build a good foundation against the time to come. Even if we don’t have material wealth, we can still be a blessing to others in many ways.

“It matters not the amount of money in our bank account, but what we do with the time and resources God has given us, to make the lives of others better.” – Ell

To Be Loved

Ezekiel 34:11-16

Song by Jackie Wilson

Someone to care
Someone to share
Lonely hours
And moments of despair

To be loved to be loved
Oh what a feeling
To be loved

Someone to kiss
Someone to miss
When you’re away
To hear from each day

To be loved to be loved (to be loved)
Oh what a feeling
To be loved

Some wish to be a king or a queen
Some wish for fortune and fame
But to be truly truly truly loved
Is more than all of these things

Someone to kiss
Someone to miss
When you’re away
To hear from each day

To be loved (to be loved)
To be loved (to be loved)
Oh what a feeling
To be loved

Although this song by the late Jackie Wilson was purposed to touch the hearts of those longing for eros love, it’s words can also be compared to the unconditional, agape love God shows to those who are His own. If we really knew the full extent of God’s love for man, we would develop such a feeling in our souls, the likes of which cannot be compared to anything man has ever experienced.

As God’s chosen people, the children of Israel took for granted, God’s unmerited favor toward them. When God would bless them, they would rebel. When Israel fell into trouble (because of their disobedience), God would deliver them with a mighty hand. God provided for Israel everything they needed, and they lacked no good thing, so long as they remained faithful to the words of the Lord.

Israel is still going through the stages of Bible prophecy, and many seem to have fallen away, but according to Scripture, God will restore His people, and do great works through them in the earth.

God’s love never fails, nor does He give up on those who are His. Oh what a feeling, to be loved by the One who created everything! Oh to be loved by the One who gives the breath of life daily, keeps us in good health, sustains our well-being, and protects us from seen and unseen dangers. God loves you beyond what your little three pound brain can comprehend, and He isn’t fickle as men are, who waver in their love for others. To be loved by the God of all creation, is a wonderful thing! Never forget, you are special to God, and He will love you better than anyone can, until the end of time, and beyond!

The Whole Picture

1 Samuel 9:1-10

Do you ever wish sometimes, God could show you the purpose for your life plainly? I often wonder why things happen the way they do, but over time, the reasons are eventually revealed. While God could lay out a direct order for our lives, we must stay true to His Word, as His will for each individual is revealed daily. An example of this was evident in our text. God placed judges to rule and govern over His people, but they desired to be as other nations who were ruled by kings. While God’s way was indeed efficient, He would allow the ungrateful Israelites to receive a king. The man God set aside to be Israel’s first king, had no clue of what he would soon walk into, as he lived a normal life in obedience to his father, who was considered a mighty man of power. For some strange reason, Saul’s father’s asses had gone missing. This was odd, because livestock were usually kept under careful watch during these times. Saul’s father told him to take a servant, and search for the missing asses. While Saul was busy conducting his search, God had already told the prophet Samuel the day before, to be ready to meet, and anoint the young Saul as captain over the people of Israel. It’s amazing how God can see the end of a matter, before we even receive instruction on how to do our part. God knows all, and has prepared a way for every person to fulfill His purpose, but we must follow His instruction, so that we can always connect to those whom He placed on our path, to take us to the next level.

Love Your Enemies

Jonah

Has there ever been a time in your life, when you hoped (and even prayed) for God to allow someone to remain in wickedness, and never come to their rescue? It would have pleased you so much, to see the person you despised, die in the midst of their unhealthy lifestyle, and you wouldn’t have lost a second of sleep after. If God told you to go to that person, and tell them He would soon deliver them from their struggle, clean them up, and set them on a better path in life, would you hesitate to deliver His message? Despite the history you may have had with someone who probably rubbed you the wrong way, when God sends you, you must go, or negative and even life-threatening consequences could follow. This was the case with the prophet Jonah, in our text.

Jonah was receptive to God the Father, and could hear clearly when He brought words to him, but, when God gave a word to him that would help those he so dreadfully loathed, the once reliable prophet chose rather to hide himself from the presence of the Lord (as if he could), and set sail in the opposite direction. The story of Jonah is an interesting one, as it reveals how the heart of a man can change quickly, especially after a life and death encounter. The same heart that could change from stone to flesh, could also revert back to stone in a moment’s notice. Oh how fickle are the ways of man.

Jonah grew up hating the people of Ninevah, so much to the point he did not want God to show them mercy. While trying to run from God’s assignment, Jonah caused innocent men to lose their valuables, when throwing them overboard, as God allowed a great storm to disturb the sea, while he hid on a ship. Whether we notice it or not, when we resist God, we affect the lives of others, and cause harm to those who had nothing to do with our disobedience. Jonah revealed to the men, he was the cause of the storm, and knew that he must be thrown overboard, so the storm would cease.

Long story short, God prepared a great fish (whale) to swallow Jonah, and allow him a moment of reconsideration. Not only did Jonah change his thoughts while descending into the depths of the sea, some say he literally died, signifying the events of the coming Savior. In any case, Jonah was in no position to bargain with God, so he prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, God caused the whale to vomit him on dry land, then he turned a three day trip to Nineveh, into one day (not sure if he ran, or was on horseback).

So, Jonah finally fulfilled his mission, and did as God commanded him to. After bringing a life-saving word to the people of Ninevah, their reception of the message was taken very seriously. When the king of Ninevah heard the word, he proclaimed for all the people (and animals) to fast, and reverence the God of Heaven, seeking remission of their sins. Once again, when we refuse to obey the Lord, we could potentially cause whole cities to be destroyed. Knowing this, when God speaks to you (whether through the Holy Scriptures, or the spirit of your mind, by His Spirit) take heed, and don’t delay, because hesitation could be detrimental to yourself, and those you were sent to help.

Personal Responsibility

Ezekiel 18

1 The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3 As I live, saith the Lord God, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God.
10 If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
11 And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
12 Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
13 Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
14 Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
15 That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife,
16 Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
17 That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

“What a just, patient, and equitable God we serve!” – Ell

It Ain’t My Fault

Jeremiah 31:27-30

In our text, the people of God tried to blame His judgment on them, based on the sins of their fathers. Although one person’s sin does indeed affect the lives of others, according to Scripture, everyone is still held responsible for the sin in their own lives. Be mindful of those you keep company with, and monitor their actions, because their errors and mistakes could possibly affect your life, as well as their own. Also, be certain not to blame others for sin’s you committed, and simply own them. Confess your faults to the Lord, turn away from the mistakes of your past, and allow God to continue working through you progressively.

“Dwell not on the sins of yesterday, rather focus on present-day redemption.” – Ell

Careful Consideration 2

Deuteronomy 24:14-18

How do you treat people who are less fortunate than yourself? Do you take advantage of those who are unable to fend for themselves, or are you humble enough to seek ways to help the stranger, fatherless, and widow, who oftentimes find it difficult to maintain a steady income? Those who claim the name of Jesus as their Savior, have been commanded by the Father to be fair and impartial to all men, especially those who are at a disadvantage in life. How you treat those who are less fortunate, proves the character that resides inside you. It’s impossible to claim to be full of God’s Spirit, yet turn away from someone asking for help (especially when you have the means to assist). When God blesses you with increase, expect to be a blessing to whomever God allows to cross your path. Always remember, closed hands block blessings, but opened hands are always ready to receive.