Accept Jesus as Lord

 by David Long

I hear denominational people say, "Just accept Jesus as your Lord." What does that mean? Is it Biblical? Is it something one just does mentally with no actions? Is it just faith only? Jesus said, "Why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say" (Lk. 6:46). If we think we can accept Jesus as Lord and not obey Him then we are seriously mistaken (Matt. 28:18-20; Heb. 5:8-9). If we think we can accept Jesus as Lord and belong to a church that isn't the church of Christ then we are in error (Matt. 16:18). If we think we can accept Jesus as Lord and reject baptism as necessary for salvation then we have missed the ball. We accept Jesus as Lord when we submit to Him (Lk. 6:47-49).  

The rainbow

 by David Long

"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth" (Gen. 6:12-17).

The rainbow is a token of God's covenant that "the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." It's s beautiful reminder that God is true to His word! I believe God, do you? 

Choose the church of your choice

 by David Long

"Choose the church of your choice" says the local newspaper where it lists all the churches in the area. It should read, "Choose the church of God's choice" because there is only one true church. Jesus built His church (Matt. 16:18) and that's the one I choose (Rom. 16:16). All others are counterfeits.  

What do you expect from the world?

 by David Long

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:7-9).

The world doesn't get God's ways because God's thoughts are foreign to them. Why are God's thoughts foreign to the wicked? Because they have rejected God's word (Rom. 1:28; Eph. 4:17-18). But what do you expect from the world? The masses never have stayed with God for very long.   

Violence

 by David Long

Are you a violent person? Do you encourage violence? There's a lot of violence in our society right now and there are people encouraging violence. Read these two verses carefully.

"A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good" (Prov. 16:29).

"The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth" (Psa. 11:5).

Don't be involved in violence and don't encourage it. 

Someone who understands

 by David Long

"Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as (we are, yet) without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help (us) in time of need" (Heb. 4:14-16).

Having someone who understands your situation is not always easy but Jesus does. That's one of the great things about being a Christian, Jesus understands. He can be touched with the feeling of my infirmities. If you are not a Christian you are missing out on one of the great blessings in Christ, someone who understands. 

Are you content?

 by David Long

Content means "to be satisfied, to be enough, to suffice." Most people aren't content. They are never satisfied and never have enough. 

"Be Ye free from the love of money; content with such things as Ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5).

"But godliness with contentment is great gain: for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out; but having food and covering we shall be therewith content" (1 Tim. 6:6-8).

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.  I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want" (Phil. 4:11-12).

What's really important?

 by David Long

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1 Tim. 6:6-8). Notice the text says, "it is certain we can carry nothing out." How certain is it? You ever see a U-Haul behind a hearse? If you put money in a dead person's coffin, will they spend it? No! So, if it is true that when we die we carry nothing out then what is really important? 

RIP

 by David Long

Did the rich man rest in peace (Lk. 16:22-24)? No he didn't and still isn't. If you don't die a faithful member of the church of Christ, you won't rest in peace either. The lost who are dealing with some horrible disease dies wishes they were back dealing with the horrible disease. Die faithful in Christ and you will rest in peace. 

You have a choice

by David Long

God has always given man a choice (Gen. 3; Dt. 30:19; Joshua 24:15). We have a choice today (Matt. 7:13-14). Where we spend eternity depends on the choices we make in this life. If we want to go to heaven then we must choose to obey Jesus (Heb. 5:8-9). Choose to do nothing and we go to hell! Which do you choose: heaven or hell? 

Where do you go when you die?

 by David Long

Read Luke 16:19-31. The faithful go to a place called "Abraham's bosom." It's a place of comfort. It's also called "Paradise" (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4). The wicked go to hades a place of torment. These are both places of waiting till the Judgment Day. Where you go when you die depends how you lived here. 

Are you all in?

 by David Long

Read Luke 14:25-35. Are you all in for the Lord? How much of your life does God want? All of it! Read Matt. 6:24. You can't serve two masters. You can't hold hands with Jesus and the devil at the same time. You are all in for one or the other. Which one are you all in for? 

Every seed after its kind

 by David Long

Every plant and animal produces after its kind. Every seed brings forth after its kind (Gen. 1). The seed of the kingdom is the word of God (Lk. 8:11). When a person obeys the word they become what the seed produces, a Christian, a member of the body of Christ (Acts 26:28). The word only produces Christians only and the only Christians. The word of God will not produce hyphenated Christians (Baptist Christians, Catholic Christians, Lutheran Christians and etc.). Once a person becomes a Christian they are to take the seed, the word of God and produce another Christian (Matt. 28:19-20). 

Conintue in the word

 by David Long

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" (John 8:31). A true disciple of Jesus will keep obeying His word. Most people are just lip service disciples. They call Jesus Lord, Lord but do not keep His commandments (Lk. 6:46). If you are not a continual doer of the word then you are not a disciple of Jesus (James 1:22-27).

Love the sinner but hate the sin

 by David Long

God loves sinners. He loves sinner so much that He sent Jesus to die for them (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-8). But at the same time God hates sin (Prov. 6:16-18). There is a goodness and severity with God (Rom. 11:22). 

Eternal life is in Jesus

 by David Long

"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life and this life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11). Where is eternal life? It is is in Jesus. If you want eternal life you must be in Jesus. Only those who are in Jesus will receive eternal life. How does one get in Jesus? "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27).  

Do you have the Son?

 by David Long

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12). Only those who have the Son have life and since having the Son is conditional on faithfulness and devotion to Him, it follows that the life here contemplated is conditional. A person may have money, fame, intelligence, education, talent, influence, reputation and honor but if he doesn't have the Son, he doesn't have life.