God's Promise of Forgiveness

  Thought for Today  - May 31, 2022
God's Promise Of Forgiveness
By: Robert A. Searles

     The question is asked - “Who shall ascend unto the hill of the Lord?, Or who shall stand in his Holy place?” Psalm 24: 3 (KJV).

  Since the fall of mankind in Eden, no one has been found to be qualified to stand in his own righteousness, before God, because the answer to this question, and requirement is - “He  that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity; nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” Psalm 24: 4, 5.

     Only one person has ever qualified to enter the gate of God's holiness, and he alone is righteous among men.  He alone has clean hands and a pure heart, and has not lifted up his  soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.  His name is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah who came down from God.  He alone may enter, in his own righteousness, into the presence of God the Father.

     For God has declared that  there is none righteous.  “For as it  is written, there is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10 (KJV)  “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of  God.” Romans 3: 23 (KJV)

The good news is, that there is no sin that God cannot or will not forgive if we will humble ourselves and by faith ask for his forgiveness.  Jesus, while feasting in the house of a Pharisee, forgave a sinful woman, who showed her faith and acceptance of him by washing his feet with her hair, and anointed them with precious ointment. See Luke 7: 36-50 (KJV).

  If we expect to be the recipient of God's mercy and forgiveness, we must not hold resentments and grudges against those who have trespassed against us, but we must be willing to forgive as God has forgiven us

    All of mankind carries a heavy burden on his shoulders, and that burden weighs him down,  and causes  him shame, and degradation, and if not removed, will send him to hell.  That burden on the shoulder of all mankind is sin.  Those who continue to carry that heavy burden of sin in their heart, can have no fellowship  with God. And since God created man to enjoy his fellowship,  and when a man's fellowship with his creator is not a fact of his life, then man is like the beast of the earth that perish. God is not willing that any should perish. He has provided a way by which all men and women, boys and girls, can  have the burden of sin removed from them, and their fellowship with him restored.

     Without God's fellowship, men and women, boys and  girls, perish;  families fall apart; nations and empires crumble.  It is almost impossible today to turn on the television or log on to the internet without seeing someone with a gun or weapon in his hand ready to kill, or to witness someone in bed with another person's wife or husband, committing adultery, or hearing filthy blasphemous words being broadcast for all to hear.  How could a Holy God have fellowship with that kind of trash?

     I fear for our nation that,  if it's people do not turn from their wicked ways and get back to the business of fellowship with God. who has made provision for,  all who will, to  accept his offer of salvation, that fearful judgements will fall upon us.  God is more willing to forgive than we are to be forgiven.  God has promised us forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with him if we will only accept his  terms.

     What are God's terms?  They are – to humble ourselves; pray; turn from our wicked ways; seek God; Then God is faithful to keep his covenant with men.  God hears; forgives sin; heals; the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger; plenteous in mercy; he remembers sin no more; the lost are found and restored to fellowship with him.  God has provided forgiveness to all who will call upon him.and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

     A well known promise from the word of God which has been  repeated and quoted and preached many times, but is truly valid  for the salvation of our nation - “If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.” 2Chronicles 7: 14 (KJV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9 (KJV)

     “The  Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide; neither will he keep his anger forever.  He hath not  dealt with us according to our iniquity.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far  hath he removed our transgressions from us.”. Psalm 103: 8 -12 (KJV)

     “And they shalt teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, sayeth the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity; and I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31: 34

     How wonderful for us to have God remember our sins no  more!  God has provided  a way that  his promise of forgiveness may be fulfilled through his only begotten son, the Lord  Jesus Christ.  Christ died for our sins according to the   scriptures, he was buried and rose  again the third day, according to the scriptures, he ascended into heaven-and is now our high priest interceding for us.  He will come again  at God's appointed time to restore all kingdoms and nations to himself.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
Psalm 26:7



 

Our Riches At Christ's Expense

Thought for Today - December 21, 2022
Our Riches At Christ's Expense
By: Robert A. Searles

     “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  2 Corinthians 8: 9

     I wonder if we who call ourselves Christians have ever really contemplated the abundance of the love and grace of our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was infinitely rich and abounding in  all that he had created; he who had an inexhaustible supply of grace; and inexhaustible supply of love; and inexhaustible fellowship with God the Father, should put it all aside for awhile, and become the poorest of the poor for our sake, so that he would not  enjoy all the beauty and splendor and wonders of heaven without us.  He had no place on earth to lay his head so that we might have mansions in our father's house forevermore.  He became sin for us so that our sins could be forgiven.  He was separated from God the Father for a season so that we could be reconciled to God our father.forever.  He allowed himself to feel pain, suffer hunger, and experience death, so that we might experience the joy and the goodness of our Father's house. Oh! Let us consider the abundant riches of his grace in that he hath done all this for us, and let us be eternally grateful.

As we celebrate Christmas, and think and sing of the cute little babe in the manger, my we think on these things and be extremely grateful.  

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
                                            Psalm 26:7

Pray For One Another

Thought for Today - December 15, 2022
Pray For One Another
By: Robert A. Searles

        “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son – grace, mercy, and peace , from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.  I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience  that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day.” 2Timothy 1: 2,3


    How should we pray for one another?  We ought to pray for each other as Paul prayed for Timothy – th..........................................................................................................................................................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

at God would give to our beloved wife, or husband, or children, or parents, or friends, grace, mercy and peace.

 Grace – the unearned gifts from God, God's unmerited favor, undeserved forgiveness and pardon, unearned, and undeserved eternal  life, and undeserved provision for their moment by moment needs.

Mercy -  God's infinite compassion for us, that is - God not pouring out his wrath and judgments on us when he would be justified and righteous in so  doing, also, God's willingness to come more than half way to meet and greet the runaway prodigal and rebellious child, and welcome him back into the family.

Peace – that peace that only God can give to comfort our  hearts when we are in the center of his will, a sense of  well being, and knowing that everything is all right in our father's house, and so it is well with us who are his children.

     May we learn to pray for one another that God would grant his grace, mercy, and peace, even as Paul prayed for Timothy.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry
                                            

                                           Psalm 26: 7

Blessed are the Poor In Spirit

Thought for Today - October 21, 2023
Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit! 
By: Robert A. Searles

     “Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.  Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.  Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.” Psalm 86: 1-3 (KJV).

     God loves us and wants to provide for all our needs.  We have the privilege of calling on him and laying our burdens on him; but we must surrender all to him, and trust him completely, and truly desire his will for our lives.  God will not help the person who is self sufficient, or thinks he is, one who has no need for anything, or anybody.   We must recognize our depravity and sin, and receive Christ as our sin sacrifice and Savior before we can receive God's help and blessing.

Praise!

 Thought For Today - November 9
 Praise! 
 By: Robert A. Searles 

 God is well pleased with his children when they open their mouths in praise to him. What could be more fitting for the children of the heavenly Father than to salute and greet one another with praises to God, along with a pleasant good morning? Of course, in order for the praise to be pleasing to God, it must truly come from our hearts, and not just from our lips. God is worthy of our praise. 

 “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.” Deuteronomy 10: 20, 21 (KJV).

 God has done some great and wonderful things for us. He gave his son, he shed divine blood to pay our sin debt. He forgave our sins and reconciled us to himself when we were lost and without hope. He hears our prayers, he gives us our daily bread, and supplies all our needs according to his riches in heaven. When we praise him with our lips, originating in our heart from a true sense of gratitude, we are declaring to the listening ear, the greatness and glory and worthiness of God.

 “Who is like unto thee, O Lord among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15: 11 (KJV)


 We ought always be praising the Lord with our lips as well as with our lifestyle. What good is secret praise? Secret praise or unspoken words of gratitude are never heard, and how can they be enlightening or edifying to anyone else, that they might know how great we know our God to be? 


"Hear, O ye kings, give ear, O ye princes, I, even I will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel.” Judges 5:3 (KJV)

. “I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.?” Psalm 7: 17 (KJV)

. '”My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.” Psalm 22: 25 (KJV)

. My praise in the great congregation means that we praise him publicly, among all people, let them know that we are praising God. When we greet someone with praises to the Lord, we are saying to that person that we acknowledge God to be our source of all our benefits. This is pleasing to the Lord. 

 “Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; for praise is comely for the upright. O praise the Lord with harp; sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song, play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are done in truth.” Psalm 33: 1-4 (KJV). 

 God has said that whoso offereth praise glorifieth me When we glorify God we receive strength and power for our own lives. Praising God is being obedient to God. Obedience brings God's good favor and blessing


“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.” Psalm 50: 23 (KJV). 

 Shall we covenant or agree with God that - : “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34: 1-3 (KJV). 

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Acceptable Sacrifice

Thought for Today - December 23, 2022 Acceptable Sacrifice

 By: Robert A. Searles

 “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” Psalm 107: 21, 22 

. “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.” Psalm 69: 30, 31 

 An ox or a bullock offered upon an altar as a sacrifice to God is something that can be seen and touched, and something that seems to be real in the earthly sphere of things, and it is probably quite costly to the owner or the person offering it; however, God has said that he values more highly than the ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs, the praise and gratitude from the heart of his people.

 God said that love is the more perfect way.; Good works, good deeds, good morals, sacrifice, all these things that man can offer up to God are abominations, and a stench in God's nostrils unless they are genuinely motivated by love and praise and thanksgiving.

 Just to be talking about God, and to be doing things that pertain to God, and to be all wrapped up in some service for him in the name of God, is not enough by itself.

 Martha was busy about many things, she was so wrapped up in doing things, that she had little time for the Lord himself. Jesus did not say that Martha was completely wrong in doing, but he did say that Mary had chosen the better part. What was the better part? The better part was to sit at his feet and worship him, and listen to his teaching, and love him and show her gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving, by washing his feet with her hair. 

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Our Kinsman Redeemer

November 1, 2016 Our Kinsman Redeemer By: Robert A. Searles Ruth, returning with her mother in law Naomi from the land of Moab after Naomi's husband and sons had died, one of them having been the husband of Ruth, found themselves in need of help and assistance to survive. Where could they go? What could they do? “And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. And Ruth, the Moabitess, said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace, and she said unto her go my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.” Ruth 2: 1-3 (KJV). In times of our spiritual want and famine, when we see ourselves impoverished, and not knowing where to turn for help, where shall we find grace (that free gift), and be allowed to glean in his field? Where else, excerpt in Christ our kiinsman , our Father's son, our savior, and our brother? He it is that we must seek after. “Then said Boaz unto Ruth, hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens; let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them; have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? And when thou art atrhirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.” Ruth2: 8,9 (KJV) Once we have found him, Christ our kinsman redeemer, or better still, when he has found and rescued us, we need not, and we must not go to glean in any other field. “Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I an a stranger?” Ruth 2: 10 (KJV) Why have we, unworthy sinners, found grace in the eyes of the Lord that he should take knowledge of us to shed his blood for us and save us, seeing that we are sinners and strangers to him. We should be so grateful for what Christ has done for us! Why should we have found grace in his eyes? Only because he has loved us from the very foundations of the earth. “And Boaz answered and said unto her, it hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband, and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come o trust.” Ruth 2: 11-12 (KJV). God will surely reward all those who flee to him for salvation, and lean upon him for wisdom, and trust in his providence When Ruth returned home that day from the field of Boaz, her mother in law asked her, “where hast thou gleaned today? And where wroughtest thou? Blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee, and she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, the man's name with whom I wrought today is Boaz.” Ruth 2: 19 (KJV). Matthew Henry once said: “It is a good question to ask ourselves every night, where have I gleaned today? What improvements have I made in knowledge and grace? What have I done that will turn in a good account?” Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry www.telehelppublications.blogspot.com www.telehelp-publications-bookshelf.myshopify.com