- Matthew 18:7
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”
I was in my last year of high school when one of the “respected” men from our church asked to talk to me. He brought me into a side room because he told me what he needed to talk to me about was private. His conversation was a mere attack against my dad who was the pastor of the church. He told me that my dad needed to be removed as pastor, and he was asking me to vote against my own family. This man’s efforts eventually came to naught, but not without damaging younger Christians.
Revelation 21:2
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
One of the greatest differences that I have observed between those who tend to accomplish more and those who tend to struggle is preparation. I knew an individual who everyone around him knew that a project wouldn’t be given attention until it was a crisis. I have also known several individuals who were well-planned with everything they did, and I believe that God has blessed their ministry in part due to their preparation.
Revelation 7:15
“Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.”
People often wonder why a person would still serve the LORD if once they get saved they are always saved. Let me first address that the eternal security of the believer has nothing to do with how good or bad a person may live. If that were the case, salvation would be acquired through works instead of grace. Second, God chose to save us because He loved us. God didn’t love us when we were good, but He loved us when we were bad. That is why Jesus had to die to pay for our sins because we could do nothing to save ourselves. Salvation is a gift from God that once you receive it you can never lose it. With this established, what would cause a Christian to still serve the LORD after salvation?
- 2 Timothy 2:1
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
One of the commands given to Timothy by Paul was to be “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Paul understood that God’s grace was going to be Timothy’s comfort and anchor throughout his ministry. The same is true for every Christian. If you are going to make it to the end of life serving the LORD, you are going to have to be strong in grace. What does it mean or how do you become strong in grace?
Joel 2:12
“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:”
One of the greatest attributes of God is that He always gives hope no matter what you may be facing. It doesn’t matter if what you are facing is a result of your own actions, or if what you are facing is a result of life in general; God always wants to give hope. He knows that as long as there is hope, there is a chance for the fallen to return and the righteous to continue no matter what they face.