Love For His People: #351

Showing posts with label #351. Show all posts

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Remember When? Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Remember When?

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:16-17, NASU)

If one is not watchful the day to day cares of this world in our times will take the love, joy and peace out of what is good and wholesome in our walk. A lot of grayness has eliminated the “white is white” and the “black is black” reality that Scripture clearly gives us to stand on. Indeed, if it were not for the Word of God giving us a clear, unwavering view of what life is to be, and how to live it, we would be flailing under the weight of the massive turbulence about us.

There is just too much craziness out there for anyone to know what is truth, unless they continually keep their eyes, mind and purpose focused on He Who is Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember what life was back when:

1. There was no need to be concerned if the boy was a boy and the girl a girl. You were one or the other, not something ridiculously conjured up by those denying the Creator of all.

2. Remember when a married couple (man and woman) was expecting a child, and all were grateful for new life coming? You believed the family life would surround the child with godliness, and the child’s growth would be surrounded by proper care and nurture.

3. Remember the times when you knew your neighbors, and the kids played without concern outside even when it got dark?

4. Recall those years when church life was an extension of family life – clear sermon messages, good potluck dinners and weekly times of being together truly built your spiritual life?

5. Wasn’t it great when celebrations of parades honored those who stood against evil, and didn’t permit those who flaunted it?

6. Weren’t there times in days gone by when we trusted what newsmen reported, when personal opinions and slanted persuasions didn’t exploit our information, but rather we had confidence in believing what was spoken and shown?

7. Didn’t we respect governmental leaders, educational teachers, and business owners to do the right thing, and lead the right way, for the benefit of those they had been given authority over and guidance for, and not for their own power and glory?

The list can go on and on, if we allow ourselves to relish those good memories shared by many.

Of course it too wasn’t a perfect world, but at least standards were rightly set and abiding in the ways of the Lord brought stability and certain hope for the future.

But as the Word says, we can have confidence and assurance of faith that He is in control, and fear need not over take us.

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:7-17, NASU)

The Lord will bring restoration of all things, even though at times His plans and purposes may seem hidden at times, as the darkness increases around us. Our trust in Him must not waver nor shall we grow weary in doing good. Standing strong on His Word will shine light in the midst of darkness.

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #351 - in the year of our Lord 09.06.18 – “Remember When?”, Thursday, 10:45 am

Monday, May 21, 2018

Grandeur - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

Grandeur

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

“Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'" And he said to me, "These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:9-10, NKJV)

Amazing isn’t it – a wedding that cost $45,000,000! And I thought $10,000 for such an event was extravagant (which it is, for many families.)

That, I repeat, was a mere $45 million as the estimated price paid for the marriage ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England, according to some reports (CBS). About $40 million went to cover security needs, with over 100,000 as the estimated spectator size lining the route after the wedding, and thousands more invited guests gathered in and around Windsor Castle. So overall about $5 million was spent just for the wedding itself. (Still unfathomable!)

The UK taxpayers cover those security costs, leaving the family to reportedly pay for the wedding themselves. (Doesn’t the father generally cover most of that, as here in the USA? I guess it is different among the royals.)

Meghan’s dress was reported to be around $340,000 alone. I am sure the military provided Harry with his uniform, so they saved there if that was a concern.

When I see such grandeur (meaning splendor and impressiveness, especially of appearance or style) I get somewhat cynical and judgmental at the very use of such funds. After all, could not that money have been spent on the needs of the poor, which I am sure also line the streets in the nation’s cities? (Didn’t England’s own Scrooge say that once in regards to the poor?)

And yet I recall a message once given by a Bible teacher, outlining the ways the Lord demonstrates some of His majesty through the specifics each nation represents of His glory, if only as just a glimmer. What England and other monarchs through the ages have shown is quite royal, and yet even that is nothing compared to the overwhelming glory of the King of the universe. By their earthly demonstration of a kingdom and its royalty, we are able to see, again as if only a glimmer, how much our Eternal King, His Only Son and Holy Spirit are preparing for those who believe and have accepted His salvation. That salvation, by the way, paid in full, bought solely by the precious Blood of Jesus, the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach.

When I take some time to ponder the majesty and glory of heaven, I simply cannot comprehend it all. And yet, the grandeur it represents will certainly cause this temporal world’s presentation to be far short of that which is to come.

“Who compares with you

among gods, O God?

Who compares with you in power,

in holy majesty,

In awesome praises,

wonder-working God?
(Exodus 15:11, THE MESSAGE)

What a hope we have, for those who are trusting in the saving grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, He Who came sinless, lived among us, was brutally crucified, dead and buried, and then Who magnificently rose on the third day, fulfilling all prophecies to that point concerning the Messiah. He Himself is soon to return on His mighty steed, taking up His throne in the city of the Great King, Jerusalem, Yerushalayim. What a day that will be!

Nothing compares to that which is to come, and yet He allows us to see some glimpse of it while we remain here on earth.

While I still have a bit trouble with such immense wealth some have here for a few decades of life, my Lord tells me that the mansion and eternal life laid up for myself and many others far exceed that which we know now.

So while it is good to celebrate marriages (between one man and one woman) as we await the mighty big one that is yet to come, between Jesus and His Bride, we say “Even so, Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Your marriage supper will have it all!”