Thought For Today - March 1
Gratitude! 
By: Robert A. Searles

Gratitude! Are we truly grateful for all that the Lord has done for us? We ought to truly love him because he first loved us, and gave himself for us. Where would we be right now if the Lord Jesus Christ had not left heaven and come to this earth to lay down his life for us, and then to take it up again to be our intercessor before God the father? 

"And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept." 1Con 15: 17-20.

Stop and think for a moment. Without Christ, what would you have? What would you have to look forward to for the future? Is there a better hope for us anywhere in the universe than what God has to offer us? He offers us forgiveness and freedom from guilt, love, joy, peace, clean living; well kept bodies; sound minds; as well as a supernatural knowledge that God give us of spiritual things once we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. He gives the power to live victoriously, and overcome all adverse circumstances. He supplies the love we have and share with one another, because the Holy Spirit draws us and attracts us to one another. Can you find some better hope to offer than that which we have in Christ? 

Without Christ we would be nothing more than glorified animals, biting and devouring one another, and all that we would have to look forward to would be death. This is the condition of all the unsaved, and it was our condition before we were saved.

As the apostle Paul said - " if Christ be not risen from the dead then we are of all men most miserable," because there is simply no other plan of salvation in the universe. But because Christ is risen, and because we have been forgiven and born again and redeemed, and because we do have abundant and everlasting life right here and now, and because we do have the only plan of salvation available to mankind, we ought to have such love and gratitude for our risen Savior that we would want to give him nothing but the very best. We love him because he first loved us and gave himself for us.

 Read Luke 7: 37-50. "And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, and stood at his feet behind him, weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."

This woman was so grateful for what Jesus had done for her that she brought to him the very best she could find to offer him. Not only did she give him the very best she had, but she stood at his feet behind him weeping. How long has it been since you talked with the Lord ? How long has it been since you have felt such a deep gratitude in your heart for what Christ has done for you that it brought tears to your eyes, and gave you the desire in you heart to fall down at the feet of Jesus and worship him as this woman did? Washing his feet with tears, and drying them with her hair is symbolic of true worship. 

Are we so grateful for our salvation that we worship him in this manner? Are we willing to give to the one who gave his all to us ,the very best of everything that we have?
What is the very best we can offer him? He wants our total life and commitment. When he has our total life and commitment, he has our life, our love, our time, our talents, and all our ambitions.
If we are truly grateful and show gratitude, we will open our mouths and speak for him, and about him, and our lives will be consistent with what we say. 


Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry 


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Oil in Our Lamp

Thought For Today - January 29
Oil in our lamp! 
By: Robert A Searles

When oil is mentioned in the bible it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The foolish virgins were not ready to go with the bridegroom when he came because there was no oil in their lamps, and their lamps were not burning when the time came for them to receive the blessing. They were not waiting and watching,and they got left out.

So it is with some of us, we have no oil,or very little oil in our lamp, and our lamps are not burning for the Lord as they ought to be. So many times we miss the blessing and rewards that the Lord would have for us.

Oil is symbolic of spirit. There is no room in us for the Holy Spirit if we are filled with ourselves, with sins not acknowledged and confessed, and the cares and entanglements of this life. If our wicks are dirty and untrimmed, our lamps cannot burn for the Lord. Then we stumble in the dark, and the door is shut, and we miss the blessing. If we are abiding in him, and he in us, then we constantly keep our vessel clean through confession to God of our needs and sins, and ask for the cleansing of his blood. We keep our wicks trimmed and we are vessels fit for the masters use.

God calls us to serve him with the talents and abilities which he has given us. He has made each of us different, with different personalities and abilities. If we have never been successful in life, perhaps it is because we are not doing the thing that God has called us to do. We may be in the wrong place. We may be working at the wrong job. We may not be listening to the call of God. God has made every person and every thing for a specific purpose. When we have found the purpose for which God has made us, then we shall have good success. We cannot know the will of God unless we are in constant fellowship with God, and our vessels clean and filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.

If we abide in him and the Holy Spirit abides in us, then we have the witness within ourselves, and we can supernaturally know and sense when we are walking in God's will and when we are not.

Happy is the person who is in the place where God wants him to be, doing the thing that God wants him to do. There is one place that we are sure that God wants us to be, and there is one thing that we are sure that God wants us to do, and if we are in this place doing this thing, then we can be sure that all else will follow according to the will of God. The one place that we are sure that God wants us to be is where Mary was sitting, at his feet in his fellowship. And the thing that we know that he wants us to be doing is absorbing his word into our hearts and minds. Then through his fellowship, and by his word, will he reveal to us the right job, the right place, the right people that we are to associate with etc. Then we shall be successful in all that we do.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8. - -

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

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Fixed On God

Thought For Today - February 27 - -
Fixed on God! 
By: Robert A. Searles

"My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise." Psalm 57: 7.

To have our hearts fixed on God is to be anchored to him and his word. To have our hearts fixed on God, is to be preoccupied with the Lord Jesus Christ, and the things of God, so that the evil things of this world can not influence us. To have our minds stayed upon him, and to be continually contemplating his righteousness and glory is the acceptable sacrifice to God.

When we have our minds fixed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and are absorbing his glory, it will cause us to be energized with his omnipotent power, and we will be the reflectors of his glory, and we will be compelled by the bursting forth within us of the streams of living water, to sing and give praise.

A person cannot walk upon hot coals without his feet being burned, neither can he get very close to an open fire without his clothes being scorched: likewise, no one can stand in the presence of a Holy and just God, and contemplate his magnificence without absorbing and reflecting the Glory of God, after having been purged and cleansed of that part of his nature which cannot stand in the presence of a righteous God.

When we are purged of the dross of sin by the blood of Christ and the consuming fire of God's glory, then we come forth a vessel, reflecting the glory of God. Our countenance will glow, our hearts will be purified, and we will be instruments of God's praise and glory. God will be exalted in us and through us.

Lets choose to fix our hearts on God continually. - -

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry 


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Walking With God

Thought For Today - October 27
Walking with God! 
By: Robert A. Searles

Fellow Christians, let us examine ourselves, are we walking each day with God? Is he our constant companion wherever we go, and whatever we do? Do we go anywhere, or do anything that we could not go or do in the companionship of God? Are we really walking with God, or is he just tagging along behind because we have put ourselves, and other things ahead of him?

 He has promised never to leave us, nor forsake us; but we are guilty of ignoring his presence with us, because sometimes we want to indulge ourselves - we want to go places, and do things, and be involved in things that we know God will not be a part of because he is Holy and righteous.

"Enoch walked with God for three hundred years and begat sons and daughters, and all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty five years; and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him." According to Genesis 5: 22,23,24.

Three hundred years is a long time to walk with God, but God and Enoch must have had a glorious time together, because their relationship was so intimate that Enoch was the first person to be raptured. One day God and Enoch were so involved in each other's company, that suddenly Enoch was not, for God took him.

God gives special favors and privileges and honors to those who will choose to walk with him, to deny self, and to forsake places, and things, and companions that are not pleasing to God.

"Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a just man and perfect in all his generations, and Noah walked with God." Gen 6: 8, 9. Noah was given the honor of preserving life on planet earth during the flood.

To walk with God, we must agree with God in all points. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" He that would walk with God must believe and agree that he is, and that he rewards all those who diligently seek him. Without faith it is impossible to please God. 

To walk with God, we must agree with God when he says: "there is none righteous, no, not one." Rom 3: 10. And,” All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom 3: 23. And,” The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6: 23.

 To walk with God we must agree with God that these words apply to us, and declare with Paul, that we are chief among sinners, but the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. "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.

To walk with God, we must agree with God that our standing with him does not come as a result of our good works, or our own righteousness, but: "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, not of works lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2: 8,9.

God made people in his own image to walk with him. This is our calling as the ultimate creation of God. "Whosoever will may come." Jesus said. "All who come to me I will in no wise cast out. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Micah 6:8.

 "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through out the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." 2 Chron 16: 9. "He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing." Job 28:10. "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men." Psalm 11:4.

"Behold. the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine." Psalm 33: 18,19 . "The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." 1 Peter 3: 12.

Beware, we are under constant surveillance. We are constantly being watched. Shakespeare said: "All the world is a stage and men and women merely players." What he should have said is that men and women are like microbes under God's microscope, although God does not need a microscope to see all the hidden things of men's heart, his eyes are sufficient. 

We are being watched by the Lord ,,and all the host of heaven, to see what our choices will be in any given situation. the Lord's eyes are searching for the person who will choose to walk humbly with him and honor him. God does not overlook anything that he finds to be precious in his sight. God is ready and pleased to reward righteousness and faithfulness when he finds it.

My fellow Christian, if you have been saved by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, won't you come out of hiding, as it were, and make yourself known to the world as a Christian, hating sin as God hates sin, but loving the sinner as God loves sinners. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, and glorify God. Fellow Christian, God gives you a free will to choose good or evil, life or death. This old world in which we live is on its' last legs. Sin and corruption and wickedness prevail everywhere, and even our own beloved country is ripe for the judgment of God. We, who are called the children of God, must choose to walk with God moment by moment, and day by day, and put on the uniform of the redeemed child of God. As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, we must not become so entangled with the things of this life that we would be handicapped in the army of the Lord. If you have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and merciful, and that he has raised you up out of the miry pit, how can you not with gratitude, present yourselves a living sacrifice to God which is your reasonable service, that you might walk with him, and that he might cleanse you and fill you with his spirit, and completely take over your entire being, so that you might be an instrument in his hand ;so that he might work a good work in you and through you as he did with Enoch and Noah, and all the other saints down through the ages who chose to walk with God.
The bible teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, and when he comes, he will have with him crowns and rewards for those who were willing to choose to obey him, to hear his call, and go forth to battle for his glory. Fellow Christian, right now as you read this message, you are of necessity making a choice. What will it be? 


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Keeping Clean

Thought For Today - February 24
Keeping Clean! 
By: Robert A. Searles

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51: 1,2

. We would not want to eat from dirty dishes, would we? And we would not want to wear soiled clothing from day to day. Neither does God desire for us to do so, nor can he dwell in a habitation that is untidy ,and use vessels that are dirty and soiled. Therefore, as the habitation of God, we need to wash every new day in the word of God, so that we might be acceptable unto God for his habitation and use.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry


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Wait For God

Thought For Today - February 23 - -
Wait For God ! 
By: Robert A. Searles

We must learn to wait for God in all things. Our time schedule is not necessarily God's time schedule. In fact, God exists outside of time, because he created it, and time, as we know it, means nothing to God. Eternity past, present, and future, is all combined in the now with God.

Man exists in time and space. everything that man does or experiences is controlled by time and space. This is not so with God. God knows the beginning and the ending all at the same time. He sees our down sitting and our uprising all at the same time. He is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning and ending. Therefore, after all is said and done, no evil can befall a child of God, because all things work together for good to those who love God, according to Romans 8:28.

Jesus taught us that we are to be anxious for nothing. God's time is not our time, and God's ways are not our ways; his thoughts are not our thoughts. Jesus said that we are not to be anxious, but to trust God and wait for him.

 "And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then, be not able to do that which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?" Luke 12: 25,26.

 "But I would have you without carefulness ." 1 Cor 7:32.

 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Philippians 4:6.

 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

 "Therefore, take no thought, saying what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or where withal shall we be clothed? But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness ;and all these things shall be added unto you." Math 6: 31,33.

We must learn to always be seeking first the will of God; the glorification of God; and the kingdom of God; and to trust God and wait for God.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." Math 7: 24.

Wait for God. "My soul wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him." Psalm 62:5. 

"Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress: so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us." Psalm 123: 2. "Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee." Proverbs 20: 22.

Let us learn to wait for God.- -

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry 


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Prayer Without Ceasing

Thought For Today - January 27
Prayer Without Ceasing! 
By: Robert A. Searles

Before God can truly work in us and through us, we must confess and depart from every known sin. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, but before the blood can cleanse us from all sin, all our sins must be brought before him and laid at his feet.  We may have already put every sin under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we may think that we are justified, and sanctified in the sight of God, and fit for the master's use, and we may very well be except for one besetting sin which keeps us from having the power of God in our lives, and being effective for God. That is - the sin of neglecting to pray.

Jesus said, I will know if you love me if you keep my commandments. He gave the commandment that men ought always to pray without ceasing. Without ceasing means without ever stopping. Always means always. So, the command from Jesus is that if we love him we will never stop talking with him night or day. 

It is a very definite sin to cease praying or to let there ever be a moment in our lives when we are not in direct communication with God. Samuel considered it sinning against God when he ceased to pray. He said -  "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and right way....." 1 Samuel 12: 23.

If anything enters our mind that obstructs or hinders our communication with God, that thing has become an idol, and should not be there. When our minds are cluttered with things rather than thoughts of God, our mind is at work on these things, and we are really praying to a "god" that cannot save.

 "Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save." Isaiah 45: 20.

Jesus said: "watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation" Math 26:41

 Watching in prayer and constant communication with God keeps us from falling into temptation. In Luke chapter 11:1 the disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them HOW to pray: they asked him to teach them TO pray. Jesus said: "men ought always to pray." Luke 18:1

. "Pray without ceasing" 1 Thes 5:17. "I will that men pray everywhere." 1 Tim 2: 8.
 
Praying without ceasing is having God a part of everything we do. Always talking with God in our innermost being while carrying on whatever activity we have to do in our practical lives.

If you were talking with your friend on the telephone, it would not be too difficult to hold the receiver to your ear with one hand while stirring the soup, as it were, with the other. We must do the same with God if we want his power and blessing. Let us ask for cleansing from neglecting to pray. - -

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

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