Welcome?

It's a simple gesture. Either we're welcome in the lives of others or not. The question is, how welcoming are we to others in our lives?

Jesus said, "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you." Luke 10:5-6, NIV

Are we a man of peace or do others leave because peace doesn't rest on us? May we allow others in our lives, and may we invite others in too. We make the choice. What are we choosing?

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Can You See?

What is the purpose of light? A simple question we all know the answer. When we're in a dark place, it enables us to see.

Jesus said, "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light." Luke 8:16, NIV. Of course, we're going to place a light in a spot that allows others to see. It only makes sense.

Do we do the same thing with our relationship with Jesus? Are we placing it in a way for others to see Him in us? Jesus lives in us as His children, so let's be sure others can see Him!

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Where are the Harvesters?

How is it possible to reach so many with so few to help? How do we get the job done? It's a common issue in many congregations. "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." Luke 10:2, NIV

So, we need to ask? Are we using the gifts and talents the Lord has equipped us with to harvest the fields? How sad when we think we need to retire from serving our Savior and those needing us. May we faithfully serve until the day we meet our Savior with those abilities He has given to us to use for Him.

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Who We Listening To?

What did he say? Am I suppose to do that? So often, we can hear a message and wonder, do we do this? How do we do this?

Luke 10:16 says, "He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me." NIV

When we hear a message, we need to look at it in comparison to the Scriptures. If the Lord is calling us to do what we aren't comfortable doing, He'll empower us to do what He's calling us to do. We're to pray for our enemies, to be kind toward one another, and to love one another.

Let's remember that if we listen to those teaching the truth of God's Word, we're directly listening to the Lord. If we reject instructions from His Word, we're rejecting Him and the One who sent Him. What are we choosing to do today?

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Know Who You Are!

It's been forty days since Jesus last ate.  He had been in the desert, and He was hungry.  Who wouldn't be?  It's at our weakest that Satan will make his appearance, and there was no exception with Jesus.  

Satan tells Jesus to prove He is God's Son by turning the rocks into bread.  Jesus refuses, and so Satan takes Him to a high place and offers Him the authority of the kingdoms seen from there.

Jesus says, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." Luke 4:8, KJV  

Jesus knew Who He was and He knew the Word.  He knew how to defeat the temptations the enemy threw at Him.  Do we?  How well do we know the Word?  How well do we understand our own weaknesses to defeat the enemy when he strikes us when we're down?

May we stay in the Word of God daily and pray for understanding against the enemy who wishes to steal, kill, and ultimately destroy us. (John 10:10)

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He Will Do It!

Jesus spoke to the men sitting in their boat.  Their nets were down, and they were busy at work. "Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed Him. NIV

They must've heard about this man.  When He said come, they came.  They didn't say, "Let me finish what I'm doing first."  They didn't even put their nets away.  They believed in the mission of the man in front of them.  They accepted their calling.

Do we understand that today, Jesus is asking the same thing of us?  He wants us to reach out to those around us.  If we have placed our faith in Him, there are those around us who haven't.  The most important thing we can do in this life is to bring others to faith in Jesus.  

Do we hear Him calling us away from our nets today to follow Him?

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Identification and Instructions

Just before ascending into heaven to rejoin His Father, Jesus said to those gathered with Him, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20, NIV

These verses give us information about Jesus and His last instructions for us.  We're first told that He has ALL authority.  It's not only in heaven but on earth as well.   We're told that this authority was given to Him.  Since He is trustworthy, it's good to know Who is in charge of all things. He leaves us then with the promise of His constant presence with us until the very end of the age.  No matter what comes our way, He's there whether we recognize or acknowledge it.

So what should be our response to His authority?  We should do what He says, and here we're told to make disciples of all nations.  After showing them their need for a Savior and that Jesus is that Savior, we're to encourage them to follow in baptism as well as reminding them that the Holy Spirit now dwells within them.  Our final instruction is to teach others the things we all are to know about obeying His commands.  

Let's remember who Jesus is and what we're to do!

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