Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:22-26 NIV
If only we would actually reflect on the counsel in the Word of God as delivered above in all truth and sincerity, we stand to learn and thus gain much. We worry too much and it does us no good but harm all the time and yet we do not stop worrying; even though the Word of God says that we should not worry! Please God, Help us to learn of Your Holy Ways and not worry so we can benefit from the Blessings in the Word of God!!!
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17,18 KJV
It is very easy to envy sinners when we see them prospering in the lands. It is very easy to wish we were like them and in their shoes because our focus is like that of the world; to succeed! Our focus is clearly stated in the Word of Godl; fear God and obey His Commandments. Then, our expectations and hope shall not be cut off! O Lord, please Help us to keep our focus aright upon the fear of God and obedience to His Commandments; that it may go well with us all the days of our lives in Jesus' Name. Amen!!!
Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
James 4:4-5 NASB
God jealously desires the Spirit He put into us! We must keep our focus all the time on pleasing Him and doing His bidding. We can only do this by living in the fear of Him; there is no other way. When our focus is shifted off God, we dwell on the world and the apparent successes of the worldly/sinners; hence, we get enticed. When enticed, we do our best to befriend the world (even as believers) so as to be accepted by and acceptable to them. Thus, we become enemies of God wittingly or unwittingly. Beware! God is not mocked; we shall reap whatever we sow!!!
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.' Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.' 'We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered.
Matthew 14:15-17 (NIVUK)
Jesus ministered to the crowds of people and was very sensitive to their needs because He Knew that a lot of them came from far and wide and would be hungry after a while. He we are about to "experience" the generosity of spirit exuded by Jesus Christ always in His Ministry. He was Powerful yet very Compassionate! The disciples were also sensitive to the needs of the crowds and wanted Jesus Christ to send them away to go and feed themselves. Jesus had something else in mind; He wanted to Provide for their needs! O what a God we have! He steered the disciples in precisely that direction in telling them to give the people something to eat!!!
(30) take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, "How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise." (31) You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Deuteronomy 12:30-31
The Lord Knew that the worshiping of idols is very attractive to the ordinary mind of mankind. Hence, He warned and counseled against the children of God getting enticed and ensnared by idol worshiping! God also Knew that idol worship is abominable and He wanted to Protect the children of God from abomination that would work against their best interests with God. However, the attraction is always way too strong. Please God, Help us to stay on Your side and not follow after the ways of idolatry in Jesus' Name. Amen!!!
(9) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9
Let us follow after the ways of God even in worshiping Him if we want to please Him; because God is not impressed nor pleased with the things that impress and please mankind! We love to please and commend each other! Alas! We do this at the expense of pleasing God! Help us o Lord; that our hearts be flooded with Your Presence and Your Holy Spirit that we desire only to do Your Will in Jesus' Name. Amen!!!
Tune in to Windows Of Heaven Radio www.windowsofheaven.caster.fm; vote for it, like it, rate it & be Blessed by it & spread it all around! It's a life-changing experience!
If only we would actually reflect on the counsel in the Word of God as delivered above in all truth and sincerity, we stand to learn and thus gain much. We worry too much and it does us no good but harm all the time and yet we do not stop worrying; even though the Word of God says that we should not worry! Please God, Help us to learn of Your Holy Ways and not worry so we can benefit from the Blessings in the Word of God!!!
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17,18 KJV
It is very easy to envy sinners when we see them prospering in the lands. It is very easy to wish we were like them and in their shoes because our focus is like that of the world; to succeed! Our focus is clearly stated in the Word of Godl; fear God and obey His Commandments. Then, our expectations and hope shall not be cut off! O Lord, please Help us to keep our focus aright upon the fear of God and obedience to His Commandments; that it may go well with us all the days of our lives in Jesus' Name. Amen!!!
Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?
James 4:4-5 NASB
God jealously desires the Spirit He put into us! We must keep our focus all the time on pleasing Him and doing His bidding. We can only do this by living in the fear of Him; there is no other way. When our focus is shifted off God, we dwell on the world and the apparent successes of the worldly/sinners; hence, we get enticed. When enticed, we do our best to befriend the world (even as believers) so as to be accepted by and acceptable to them. Thus, we become enemies of God wittingly or unwittingly. Beware! God is not mocked; we shall reap whatever we sow!!!
As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, 'This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.' Jesus replied, 'They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.' 'We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered.
Matthew 14:15-17 (NIVUK)
Jesus ministered to the crowds of people and was very sensitive to their needs because He Knew that a lot of them came from far and wide and would be hungry after a while. He we are about to "experience" the generosity of spirit exuded by Jesus Christ always in His Ministry. He was Powerful yet very Compassionate! The disciples were also sensitive to the needs of the crowds and wanted Jesus Christ to send them away to go and feed themselves. Jesus had something else in mind; He wanted to Provide for their needs! O what a God we have! He steered the disciples in precisely that direction in telling them to give the people something to eat!!!
(30) take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, "How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise." (31) You shall not worship the LORD your God in that way; for every abomination to the LORD which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods. Deuteronomy 12:30-31
The Lord Knew that the worshiping of idols is very attractive to the ordinary mind of mankind. Hence, He warned and counseled against the children of God getting enticed and ensnared by idol worshiping! God also Knew that idol worship is abominable and He wanted to Protect the children of God from abomination that would work against their best interests with God. However, the attraction is always way too strong. Please God, Help us to stay on Your side and not follow after the ways of idolatry in Jesus' Name. Amen!!!
(9) And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:9
Let us follow after the ways of God even in worshiping Him if we want to please Him; because God is not impressed nor pleased with the things that impress and please mankind! We love to please and commend each other! Alas! We do this at the expense of pleasing God! Help us o Lord; that our hearts be flooded with Your Presence and Your Holy Spirit that we desire only to do Your Will in Jesus' Name. Amen!!!
Tune in to Windows Of Heaven Radio www.windowsofheaven.caster.fm; vote for it, like it, rate it & be Blessed by it & spread it all around! It's a life-changing experience!
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