4/20/18

Think and do by Gary Rose

So much about life is about our thinking (or lack of it) and the choices we make about our thoughts (what we do about it)! 

The apostle Paul wrote...

Philippians, Chapter 4 (World English Bible)
 4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
  5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
  6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
  7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 

  8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report: if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think about these things.
  9
 The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (emphasis added vs.8f.)

Notice that the apostle emphasizes thinking AND his example of living (what he does). This is so important because what you think and do will determine what your life (aka, your garden) will be like!!

Jesus said...

Luke, Chapter 8 (WEB)
4 When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.
  5  “The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 
  6  Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 
  7  Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. 
  8  Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 

  9 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 

  10 He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ 
  11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
(emphasis added) 
  12  Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. 
  13  Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation. 
  14  That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 
  15  Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.
(emphasis added) 


The choices you make in life will affect your heart and therefore your ability to receive the WORD OF GOD (which is of course, the seed in Jesus' parable). Some people will heart and not believe, others will hear and not hold fast, still others are worldly minded and are obsessed with all the good things life has to offer. But, there are those out there who have a mind to listen and to recognize truth and hold fast to it for their lifetime. Be those described in vs.15 above!!!

Why? Again, listen to Jesus..

 Matthew, Chapter 13 (WEB)
 24 He set another parable before them, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, 
  25  but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. 
  26  But when the blade sprang up and produced fruit, then the darnel weeds appeared also. 
  27  The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’ 

  28  “He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ 

“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’ 

  29  “But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 
  30  Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, “First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”...

 36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field.” 
  37 He answered them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 
  38 
 the field is the world, the good seed are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 
  39  The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 
  40 
 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age.  (emphasis added vs. 37-39)
  41  The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 
  42  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 
  43  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 


The answer to the "WHY"? is that at the end of time, God will judge everyone. Be one of the children of the kingdom and live.  Otherwise.... destruction!!!

Think about all this and do something about it. Again, Why? Your life depends on it, that's why!!!!