YOU’RE REPUTATION PRECEDES YOU
If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself. -Moody
Philippians 1:27, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
What type of reputation do you have? What are you known for? What do people say about you when you are not around? I often wish I could be a bug on a wall just to hear what people say about me. But you know what? If we take care of our character, no matter what someone else may say, it will be okay between us and our Saviour. He knows our motives. He knows our character. He knows why we do what we do because our reputation precedes us. And that ought to be enough!
YOU’RE JUST NOT THAT GOOD
Corruption is natural in government because it is natural in man. --Will Durant
Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
There are some that are striving to get to Heaven. As the world looks upon them, they are good people. They go to work, pay their taxes, give to the poor, and they might even give some to the work of the church. They don’t steal, commit murder, or commit adultery. But will that get them to Heaven?
Well, look at scripture for the answer; Ephesians 2:8-9, 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. According to the Word of God, you’re just not that good!
What will get you to Heaven—Jesus! Jesus is the only way you or I will get to Heaven:
John 3:17, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Acts 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
CLEAR VISION
Give us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for, because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything. --Peter Marshall
Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Foggy mornings always remind me of a conversation I had with my son several years ago. We were riding to school one morning and out of the blue he said, “Dad, that fog is like sin, it clouds our way.” I was like, who are you and what did you do with my four-year old son.
But the more I grow in the Lord and think back on that conversation, He is right on target! Sin will cloud our thought life in such a way that we will not even comprehend what we are doing. We will make wrong turns. We will go deeper and deeper into darkness. We will get caught up in the sins of this world and get lost in the midst of it all.
Christian friend, get as close to the Light as you can and stay right there! When you do, you will have clear vision for every chapter of your life!
BE AN OPEN BIBLE
Our example is the only bible which millions of people read today. -James E. Murray
1 Corinthians 3:6, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
What kind of seed are we planting? How are we tending to the seeds in the ground? What example will we set at work today? Students, how about the example at school? Parents, how about the example before our kids? Let me remind you of a simple but true statement, “We are the only Bible some people read.” What are they reading about the Saviour of the World?
Father, help us today to be what and who we are in You to everyone we come in contact with. Lord helps us to be just as real as Christ; to care for the lost, hurting, and dying soul. To care for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Father, help us invest our lives in someone today!
GET UP AND GO TELL
To be glad instruments of God's love in this imperfect world is the service to which man is called. -Schweitzer
Mark 5:18-19, And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
As we walk in this world of sin, God has commanded us to be salt and light in an untasteful dark world! Jesus had healed the maniac of Gadara. The sane man, now dress and in his right mind, wants to go with Jesus. Jesus tells Him, go home, tell your friends of the great things the Lord has done for him and of His great compassion. Why; because Jesus knew they needed to hear as well!
Church, yes, we need to GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning, but we also need to get the Message of Jesus outside of the Church House! We cannot only come to church never getting out and sharing the Hope of the Good News. We must be that salt and light Jesus desires us to be by sharing the great things He has done for us and His great compassion He has had on us! GET UP AND GO TELL!
GET OUT AND TOUCH A LIFE
The people with whom we travel are much more important than the place to which we travel. -Wright
Proverbs 13:20, He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
When we fellowship with other believers it is like working out in the gym; we get wisdom in our walk, we get help for the day before us, and we get strength for the journey. It is great to have friends we can serve and grow together in this journey! Not only do we get help from other believers but we get to help someone else along their way as well!
Are you touching lives with God’s grace or are you taking it all in hoarding it up for yourself? Let me remind you what Jesus said, “It’s more blessed to give than receive.” So touch a life for the glory and honor of God!
LET ME SIT RIGHT HERE FOR A WHILE
Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner. – Rutherford
2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
In times of death, where do you turn? In times of despair, where do you go? When it seems as if no one is listening, where do you go so that someone does? When life is crumbling in pieces around you, do you ever wonder who will put the pieces back together? I often wonder where the unsaved person goes in their times of need. You see, for the Christian, we can go to the Lord wherever we are at, whenever we want, and as often as we need. So, with that kind of access, I, myself, can rejoice in my tribulations! I can sit down and let my Heavenly Father deal with what is going on in my life! Can you?
PAYING ATTENTION SO YOU WON’T HAVE TO PAY THE CONSEQUENCES
Walk with your eyes open or you’ll trip over everything in the way—Jay O’Dell
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. Proverbs 5:1-2
Under the inspiration of God, the Lord through King Solomon tells us to attend to His wisdom. He didn’t say our own wisdom. He didn’t say the world’s wisdom. He said, “attend unto my wisdom.” His wisdom is found in His Word!
Wake up friend! Pay attention! Walk in the Lord’s Word! Follow His Precepts! So, you will understand what to do and when to do it. So, you will know what to say and when to say it. So you won’t have to pay the consequences.
I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM THE LORD
The sermon will be better if you listen as a Christian rather than as a critic. -Construction Digest
1 Corinthians 1:18, For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
I pray more people would understand the importance of being in church. Going to church has a two-fold purpose; one is to evangelize the lost and the other is to edify the believer. Both are accomplished through the preaching of God’s Word.
You might not understand why the Lord places the importance on preaching. You might not appreciate the time spent on the message. You may not even want to be there. But let me tell you this, nothing takes the place of a good ‘ole Heaven sent message form the Lord! Have you ever heard one? You’ll know if you have because it will drive you to your knees in humble thankfulness of the One Who sent it!
GOD’S HEARTBEAT
…. is Missions.
Mark 16:15, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
From the founding of the Church, the mission of the Church has been Missions. You may say, “What are you talking about?” As born-again believers we ought to be sharing the Good News of the Gospel with our neighbors, our co-workers, the fella at the shop, the cashier, and anyone that we meet. We can simply tell others about what Jesus has done for us and what He can do for them.
When is the last time you have shared your faith with someone else? When is the last time you shared God’s heartbeat?