6/26/23

One Beautiful Rose by Gary Rose

 

Recently, the world situation has become increasingly more dangerous. It seems like a large part of the world is gearing up towards thermonuclear war. In the U.S.A. the nation is becoming more radicalized towards the left, with sins that were considered abominable fifty years ago, now considered “normal”. Have things gone crazy? Yesterday, I saw this picture on the internet and frankly thought it was the most beautiful rose I have ever seen. I hope you do as well!


After looking at that rose for awhile, I thought of the Apostle Paul’s comments to the Christians at Philippi…


Philippians 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.


If all the world should in fact go crazy and if the entire planet is destroyed by their stupidity, we can rejoice in the fact that all who have CHRIST as their SAVIOR will live eternally! 

 

Today, think about the above passage and take solace in the fact that WE HAVE HOPE.

6/12/23

Am I resolved to... by Gary Rose

 


I saw this enclosed within a sign outside a church building. I could not adjust the rest of the picture to something that I could use, so I just deleted it and used this small portion and put in within a frame. Anyway, even though it is not the beginning of the year, we should do what it says; follow the Bible and yes, go to church. Straightforward, simple instructions, easy to understand, yet few will do these things.


Why? There are many possibilities, but I think most of the time it boils down that they simply do not want to obey Jesus. Consider the following passages…


1 Corinthians 15 ( World  English  Bible )

1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. 



 Romans 6 ( WEB )

1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
3 Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.

7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;
9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!
10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


One last passage from the Bible; Jesus said…


Matthew 28 ( WEB )

18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

19 Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.


Jesus is not just a king, HE is king of kings and Lord of Lords. 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14 and 19:16. His will for you is to do what he told you to do. Paul knew this, the other apostles knew it and anyone who comes to The Scriptures with an open mind can easily know what to do in order to be saved from the consequences of their sins. Start today, reality is that it does not have to be the beginning of the new year to resolve to obey the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Why not now?