If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. {Romans 8:11}
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Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as is the morning. He will come to us like the rain, like the rain that will fall and rain that has already fell. (Hosea 6:3)
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Let us lay down all weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who with joy set before Him, endured the Cross, despised the shame, and then sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
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I have this feeling that I am really sure about. I just KNOW that there will be people in Heaven, who I will meet, that will tell me that they came to have faith in Jesus Christ BECAUSE OF JUDAS ESCARIOT, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.
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So, what really happened to Judas? What choice did he make that brought him to his own eternal disaster?
According to Scripture, he was trusted with the money in Jesus Ministry, and I guess the power of the money trapped him. In John 12:4, we are told that he became very frustrated that Mary poured a years-wages-worth of fine perfume over Jesus' head. Later in the book of John we are told that Judas was a thief and often helped himself to their ministry money. In other words, Judas was trusted with Jesus' gifts ........... just like us. Right? I surely PRAY that you are aware of Jesus Gifts to you, AND EXACTLY HOW YOU'RE USING THEM.
What I want this post to be about, is the simple question, "Where is your extra money going to, serving your own buying power or serving Jesus Christ? Yes, where are your financial pursuits destined?
Judas made the choice. He chose making money over following Jesus full-time. Are you like him, in any way?
......... Really tough question, huh? But the choice is still ours, little by little, isn't it? Who do we keep our door open to, Jesus or satan?
I think to myself now: Wow, I wonder just what struggle Judas had at The Last Supper, just to keep a straight face in front of Jesus, knowing what he was about to do ! Let me ask you: Do YOU have a hard time keeping a straight face when you receive Holy Communion? Really. Think about it. Is your faith-practice all about serving the Lord or are you just covering your tracks, making sure you touch all the bases in some game called "Christianity", which you have found yourself playing. More tough questions, right?
I ask myself very often that last question: "Am I just covering my tracks, making sure I stay on the good side of God?"
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Yes, the point of this post is about "decisions", AND NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU PUT IN THE COLLECTION PLATE. ANY decision we make, ultimately, could or could not be giving satan opportunities to get footholds in our life. We need to remember to remember ALWAYS that our repentance should be a declaration of war against our sinful nature. Moral choices don't save us but they matter a great deal to Jesus AND to satan, OK?
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Dear Father, please continue showing me whenever I am claiming my faith but actually opening another door through which satan can enter. God, I want the door I open to be for Jesus. Lord, I don't want to squander my chances at eternal freedom and not even know that I am doing it! And, thank you, Father for all the conviction which You have already placed in me. I need you SO much, God.
.
Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as is the morning. He will come to us like the rain, like the rain that will fall and rain that has already fell. (Hosea 6:3)
.
Let us lay down all weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who with joy set before Him, endured the Cross, despised the shame, and then sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
.
I have this feeling that I am really sure about. I just KNOW that there will be people in Heaven, who I will meet, that will tell me that they came to have faith in Jesus Christ BECAUSE OF JUDAS ESCARIOT, the disciple who betrayed Jesus.
..........
So, what really happened to Judas? What choice did he make that brought him to his own eternal disaster?
According to Scripture, he was trusted with the money in Jesus Ministry, and I guess the power of the money trapped him. In John 12:4, we are told that he became very frustrated that Mary poured a years-wages-worth of fine perfume over Jesus' head. Later in the book of John we are told that Judas was a thief and often helped himself to their ministry money. In other words, Judas was trusted with Jesus' gifts ........... just like us. Right? I surely PRAY that you are aware of Jesus Gifts to you, AND EXACTLY HOW YOU'RE USING THEM.
What I want this post to be about, is the simple question, "Where is your extra money going to, serving your own buying power or serving Jesus Christ? Yes, where are your financial pursuits destined?
Judas made the choice. He chose making money over following Jesus full-time. Are you like him, in any way?
......... Really tough question, huh? But the choice is still ours, little by little, isn't it? Who do we keep our door open to, Jesus or satan?
I think to myself now: Wow, I wonder just what struggle Judas had at The Last Supper, just to keep a straight face in front of Jesus, knowing what he was about to do ! Let me ask you: Do YOU have a hard time keeping a straight face when you receive Holy Communion? Really. Think about it. Is your faith-practice all about serving the Lord or are you just covering your tracks, making sure you touch all the bases in some game called "Christianity", which you have found yourself playing. More tough questions, right?
I ask myself very often that last question: "Am I just covering my tracks, making sure I stay on the good side of God?"
..........
Yes, the point of this post is about "decisions", AND NOT ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY YOU PUT IN THE COLLECTION PLATE. ANY decision we make, ultimately, could or could not be giving satan opportunities to get footholds in our life. We need to remember to remember ALWAYS that our repentance should be a declaration of war against our sinful nature. Moral choices don't save us but they matter a great deal to Jesus AND to satan, OK?
..........
Dear Father, please continue showing me whenever I am claiming my faith but actually opening another door through which satan can enter. God, I want the door I open to be for Jesus. Lord, I don't want to squander my chances at eternal freedom and not even know that I am doing it! And, thank you, Father for all the conviction which You have already placed in me. I need you SO much, God.
