Thought For Today - October 9 - Are We Ready?

Thought For Today - October 9

Are We Ready?

     “Then shall the  kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their  lamps, and went forth  to meet the bridegroom, and five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and  took no oil in their vessels with their lamps.  While the bridegroom tarried,  they all slumbered and slept.   And at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom  cometh; go ye out to meet him.Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your  oil, for our lamps are gone out.  But the wise answered saying, not so, lest there be not enough for us and you.  But go ye rather to them that sell , and buy for yourselves.  And when they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the  marriage and the door was shut.  Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.  But he answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not.  Watch therefore, for ye  know neither the day nor the hour wherein  the son of man cometh.” Matthew 25: 1-13.
     Fellow Christians, if Jesus should return suddenly, or we should be called home without warning, would we find no oil in our lamps?  Has the fire of enthusiasm for the Lord gone out?  Are we so wrapped up in the things of the world that we fail to  keep our lamps trimmed and the spiritial fire burning and a light shinning in the window for the Lord?
     The time will come when any further service for the Lord and preparation for his coming will be too late.  The door will be shut, and those who beg to come in will be told, “I know you not” Therefore, we must not let a day go by  that we do not spend quality time in fellowship with  the Lord by reading and studying his word and praying, etc. Let us keep our lamp trimmed and oil in our lamps lest he come at an hour when we think not, and we be found not  to be ready and the door closed upon us.

Posed by Telehelp Publications
www.mybiblesbooksandgifts.com
www.telehelppublications.com

Thought For Today - October 8 - What Is Our Besetting Sin?

Thought For Today - October 8
What Is Our Besetting Sin?

     A child of God ought not to be a fornicator, nor a whoremonger, nor have a mind filled  with garbage and unclean thoughts and attitudes.  But neither should he be covetous, nor an idolater.  All these sins are grouped together and seem to carry the same weight of importance with God.  One may frown on a person who has pre-marital or extra marital sex relations, but may himself  be given to covetousness and idol worship,  and an idol is any thing that occupies the place in the heart and mind that God ought to occupy.
     “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” Ephesians 5: 3-4.
    We who do not have a mind filled with filthy thoughts, and do not gossip, and do not tell dirtry jokes, and look with contempt on those who do - What is our  besetting sin?  what does occupy the place in our mind that these forbidden things occupy in the mind of others?  Is it covetousness? Is it a longing and desire for things that God has not seen fit to grant us?  do we spend all our time and energy thinking of the things that we don’t have, but would give anything to possess?  Or is our mind occupied with thoughts of God and  his righteousness and his coming kingdom? And are we busy giving thanks for all the blessings that God has already bestowed upon us?
     “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater hath any inheritance in  the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5: 5.
     Let us beware dear Christian brother or sister, and I speak to myself as well as to you, covetousness and idolatry will bar us from the kingdom of God just as much as fornication and adultery and all the other besetting sins.  Let us judge ourselves to see if we are guilty of any besetting sins, and if we are let us turn to Christ who is able and willing to forgive us of all our sins and confess and claim his righteousness.

Posted by Telehelp Publications

Thought For Today - October 7 - Walk Not As Others!

Thought For Today - October 7
Walk Not As Others!

     We Christians who have been saved and enlightened by the Holy Spirit ought not to walk as  others in the world who have not known God. Our lifestyle ought to be  different  according  to the knowledge of God that  has been given to us by the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit.  Our conversation, or lifestyle ought to become more Christ like every day and less carnal.  There ought to be a different attitude in  our heart, a different cadence to our walk, and a different destiny and purpose for our  lives.
     “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having  the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the  ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their  heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But ye have not so learned Christ: if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind: and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor.  For we are members one of another.  Be ye angry, and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath; neither give place to the devil.  Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working witrh his hands the thing  which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers;  And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice.  And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4: 17-32.

Posted by Telehelp Publications from the book - "Morning Thoughts and Meditations"
Available online from Amazon.com - Barnes & Noble and other major booksellers and from
www.mybiblesbooksandgifts.com and www.telehelppublications.com

Thoughgt For Today - October 5 - All Of Grace!

Thought For Today - October 5
All Of Grace!

     “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained  that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2: 8, 9, 10.
     God saved us because he wanted to, not because he had to.  He saved us because he loves us, because he created us for himself unto good works.  He saved us because he is not willing that any should perish.  Our salvation is by grace, through faith alone.  He imparted unto us the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          faith to believe the gospel and to call upon Christ to save us.
     At one time we were in the world without God, having no hope;but while we were yet sinners,Christ came to save us, as many as will believe and receive him as Lord and savior shall be saved.
     “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances: for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.  For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father.  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God and are built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the spirit.” Ephesians 2:13-22.
     Both Jew and gentile are invited by God the Father to partake of his grace, and receive Christ as Savior, and become part of the one body, the church, and enjoy his benevolence forever.

Posted by Telehelp Publications from the book - "Morning Thoughts And Meditations"
Available online from Amazon.com - Barnes & Noble and other booksellers and from
www.telehelppublications.com  and - www.mybiblesbooksandgifts.com

The Lord Hath Need Of You!

Thought For Today - October 4

The Lord Hath Need Of You!
By; Robert A. Searles

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shinneth in the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not” John 1: 1-5.

Jesus and his disciples drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and when they had come as far as Bethpage, and the mount of olives, Jesus had need of an ass and its’ colt, that he might humbly ride into Jerusalem as prophesied by Zechariah - “Rejoice greatly,O daughter of Zion; shout O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation,; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9:9.

Because of his divine power and knowledge, Jesus knew where to send his disciples to find the ass, and the colt. He knew where they were, because in his plan and purpose, he had made them, as he had made all things, and he had placed them at this particular time and place to be used for this special purpose. No one disputed his right to use them for his divine purpose because they were his from the beginning.

Likewise: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2: 10.

 Therefore, he has made each of us and has placed us in our particular places and calling and has a right to use us as he has need of us to fulfill his purpose and to bring glory to himself.

We ought to be willing to be used by our Lord for anything that he has need of that will bring glory and honor to him, and ultimate joy and happiness to ourselves.

“And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethpage, unto the mount of olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, saying unto them, go into the village near against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, tell ye the daughter of Sion, behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. and the disciples went and did s Jesus commanded them” Matthew 21:1-6. 

https://telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Thought For today - October 2 - What Good Thing Shall We Do?

Thought For Today - October 2
What Good Thing Shall We Do?
By: Robert A. Searles

     What good thing shall we do, that we may have eternal life? If we would enter into life we must keep and obey all the commandments of God.  There has never been any person on earth who has been able to keep and obey the commandments of God without fail except the Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, if when God looks upon us, he must declare that - “There is none righteous, no, not one.  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way.  They are together become unprofitable: there is  none that  doeth good, no, not one.” Romans 3: 10-12.

  All have failed to keep and obey the commandments of God in one point or  another, if not in deed then in the thoughts and  intents of the heart.  Therefore, if left to himself,  mankind cannot inherit eternal life because.  “the wages of sin is death, but the  gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6: 23.


     Our only hope for salvation is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, who kept the laws and commandments of God perfectly and obeyed the Father in every point of the law.  The Lord Jesus, the perfectly obedient son of God  offered himself for us as a sin sacrifice so that we, by receiving him as our savior and sin sacrifice could enjoy everlasting life. 

 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corintthians 5: 21.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16.

     The only way that we can have eternal life is through our  Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  No other way can we measure up with God.

     “And behold, one came and  said unto him, good master,what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?  And he said unto  him, why callest thou me good?  There is none good but one, that is God, but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.  He saith unto him, which?  Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother, and thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.  The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?  Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me,  but when  the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”  Matthew 19: 16-22.

https://telehelppublications.blogspot.com

Thought for Today - October 1 - To Know Christ!

Thought For Today - October 1
To Know Christ!
By: Robert A. Searles

     To know Christ, whom to know aright is life eternal, and to know the power of his resurrection; to have an intimate relationship with him should be the desire of every child of God.  Our prayer ought to be- that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

     We are the brothers and sisters of Christ, he being our elder brother.  Jesus said: “I ascend unto my Father and your Father, to my God, and your God.”  Having a common faith with our Lord makes us brothers and  sisters with him.

     Oh! if only the eyes of our understanding might  be opened so that we could see the fabulous riches of Christ and his glory, and to realize that as brothers and sisters of his, we are joint heirs with him and all that is his is ours. 

 Pray that: “The eyes of your understanding will be enlightened-that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and  what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints and what  is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come  and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” Ephesians 1:18-23.  

https://telehelppublications.blogspot.com