CONSEQUENCES!

 

Saturday, June 21, 2025

 

CONSEQUENCES!

 

Gal 6:7-9

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

          A consequence is the cost we pay or the reward we receive from a decision we have made. We are free moral agents and not puppets of a God who pulls all the strings. While we are free to make choices those choices have accompanying consequences.

 

          Our text uses an agricultural analogy. If you plant corn, you can’t expect watermelon as a crop. By the same analogy, we can determine your choices by observing your fruit. This is exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 7:20. “By their fruits ye shall know them.”

 

          This truth should cause us to be cautious regarding which life force we obey. The flesh is always demanding attention and pampering. We may give ourselves completely to the demands of the flesh but there are consequences. The Spirit – God’s Holy Spirit – is always cooing and wooing us to do right and to do well. If we listen and obey there are consequences.

 

          Verse 9 seems to indicate that “well doing” requires much more forethought and energy than wrongdoing. We are advised not to grow weary of the effort because there are consequences and rewards.

 

Heb 11:24-26

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

 

Dear Lord, help me to keep my wits about me when I make choices. AMEN

 

ENCOURAGING TRUTHS FOR THE DOWNHEARTED!

 

Friday, June 20, 2025

 

ENCOURAGING TRUTHS FOR THE DOWNHEARTED!

 

2 Cor 7:5-6

5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

 

We all get down from time to time. Even the Apostle Paul, though a spiritual giant, admitted to being “troubled on every side.” Externally there were fightings and internally there were fears. He was cast down and then comforted.

 

What can we do when we are cast down? Let me suggest that we check the balance in our spiritual account. We need a reality check to see just who we are in Christ. Consider the following truths.

 

1. GOD HAS ALWAYS LOVED YOU!

 

Jer 31:3

3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

 

Ps 103:17

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

 

2 Thess 2:13

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 

2. GOD LOVED YOU ENOUGH TO ALLOW JESUS TO DIE!

 

1 Peter 1:18-19

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

Heb 9:12-14

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

3. GOD HAS INVITED YOU TO BE PART OF HIS FAMILY!

 

Rom 8:16-17

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

Gal 4:7

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

4. HE IS COMING FOR YOU SOON!

 

Luke 21:27-28

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

 

Ps 126:2-3

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

 

Dear Lord, whenever my heart is downcast help me to count the many blessings of my salvation. AMEN

 

THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD!

 

Thursday, June 19, 2025

 

THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD!

 

Lev 17:11

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

 

          No matter your race or color, your blood is red. (Acts 17:26) Racism recedes when we trace our heritage back to Adam and Eve. The first hateful sin was the murder of a brother. You can maintain bigotry if you want to, but it doesn’t coexist with reason and that is true regardless of your color. It is when our color or condition is thought to have purchased for us some unearned entitlement that we have trouble and cause trouble.

 

          The death of Jesus was no mere martyrdom. Jesus was, as John correctly stated, “the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.” His blood has made atonement for our souls. That atonement is freely offered as a gift, but it is conditional upon our receiving it.

 

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth [keeps on washing] us from all sin.

 

Dear Lord, my sin was horrible, therefore my redemption required blood. Thank you for your sacrifice that provided my atonement. AMEN