Approved By God

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Chapters: Luke 14-15
Message: Approved By God

Hello My Friend,

Do you remember what happened on September 11, 2001? Two air planes crashed into the twin towers in New York City, thousands of people died, many were injured. During that time, for a short period, people were not looked at as Republicans or Democrats, they were people, united as one, willing to sacrifice their own lives to help someone they did not even know. A lot has changed over the past nineteen years, all you hear are cries of black lives, woman’s rights, racism, police brutality, climate change, free money, free health care, and the Coronavirus. These verses come to mind right now for the Christian, [II Timothy 2:14-16  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.]

[But shun profane and vain babblings:] If what we are witnessing right now is not profane and vain babbling, then I do not know what is. Do any of these people actually know what they are fighting for? Do they even care that they are destroying the very lives of the people they are pretending to care about? What about the freedom to choose? That seems to only apply as long as you agree with them. And what about our religious rights? In many states, churches and synagogues are being forced to remain closed while all these fools are free to destroy buildings, monuments, and peoples livelihoods. Of all the people who should have believed who Jesus is, it should have been the Pharisees, they were the religious people, the ones who claim to follow the Law, and yet they were appalled by everything He did. I realized something as I started reading the chapters for today, Jesus loved to irritate them, He already knew they despised Him, why not make them look like the fools they are. Luke also tells the story of the man that had dropsy, which is another word for gout.

[Luke 14:1-6  And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.  2  And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.  3  And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?  4  And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;  5  And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?  6  And they could not answer him again to these things.]

[Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit,] Do you know how many laws there are that protect animals? And yet, the life of a unborn child is only as protected as far as the woman who decides to keep it. When you stop to think about today verses what was going on when Jesus walked the earth in the flesh, it really is not that different. The only life the evil world cares about is its own, even then it is only to gratify its flesh, and if you disagree with them or stand up to them, well, now, you are the enemy. This is how they saw Jesus, He was a threat to them, and they would do anything to get rid of Him before the people had a chance to think for themselves. As He watches how people grouped themselves together from the wealthiest to the poorest, He speaks a parable.

[Luke 14:8-14  When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;  9  And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.  10  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.  11  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.  12  Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.  13  But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:  14  And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.]

[for they cannot recompense thee:] I despise those Facebook posts where people say if you past this up or if you have not done that, then you are not a Christian. There was one going around asking you if you ever bought a meal for someone you never knew, and bet you cannot repost this. True Christians do not go around boasting about all the things they do, they are not ashamed to proclaim Christ, but do not need to answer these idiot questions to prove who they are. True Christians in fact do buy meals for families they do not know nor will ever see again. True Christians pray for the people they will never get to know until they get to heaven. True Christians do not judge or belittle people who question their faith, but actually show them Christ by being kind to them. True Christians do not shine their own light upon people, they shine Christ’s light upon them, and do not worry about what they are going to get out of it because in the end, they will spend eternity with some of those souls, [Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.]

[lest any man should boast.] Those who are quick to boast about all the things they have done lack something very important that all Christians need if they want their works to be approved by God, humility. Of course, it is great to tell of the amazing things that Christ has done for us, but we must be careful not to lose sight of the fact that we are still sinners saved by grace, and the work that we accomplish is only possible through our faith in Him. We cannot also neglect the fact that there are many who are lost or have backslidden so far that they feel as though they are lost and need us to guide them back to the Light. While Jesus never condones sin, He never gives up on His people, and is always ready to save the lost who find Him. As the Pharisees complain about Jesus being around all the sinners, He points out to them that every soul counts.

[Luke 15:1-7  Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.  2  And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.  3  And he spake this parable unto them, saying,  4  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  5  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  6  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.  7  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.]

[more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.] This is the repentance that we must turn our thinking into believing that our own works can save us and admit that only Jesus can save us. And by the way, those who feel that they do need not repentance, even after they are saved are lying to themselves. No one is without sin, we all have our own crosses to bear, so stop fighting with each other, just love one another as Christ loves us. In fact, Jesus tells us that very thing with the parable of the prodigal son. We know the story, a man had two sons, one of them took his inheritance money and wasted it, he found himself poor and homeless. He humbled himself, went back home, and found out what grace really is.

[Luke 15:17-24  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,  19  And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.  20  And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  21  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  22  But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  23  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  24  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.]

[and am no more worthy to be called thy son.] We are all sinners, we mess up more times than we care to admit, yet Jesus still has compassion on us. We do not bring others to Christ by reminding them of their sin, we do that by having compassion on them. Jesus gives us one answer on how our works can be approved by God, [Mark 12:30-31  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You, once again for taking my place on the cross, You died to save me from the death I deserved for my sins. You keep it simple so that we can have fellowship with the Father and be approved by Him, that is to love Him and love each other as we love ourselves. Compassion is something that I have lacked over the years, and I am so glad that You have led me down a path the shows me just how important it is. Lord, Lead me and guide me, give me Your wisdom, discernment, compassion, mercy, grace, and protection. Help me to shun profane and vain babbling, and to only speak through the Holy Spirit, who will tell me exactly what to say. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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