Eternal.

by

Galatians 4:18 Be Zealous For The Right Purpose

It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. Galatians 4:18

Being zealous is one showing great enthusiasm or excitement for something. Nearly every person has something that they are zealous about. Some are zealous about sports, or movies, or music, or clothing. Others get zealous about politics or religion, or philosophy.

Whatever a person is zealous about, they seek and push with all of their focus and abilities. It is what gives them energy and excitement. Some will use their zealous drives for good, while others use it for the negative.

As Paul talks about those following the law, he brings up about people being very zealous. He says it is good to be zealous, as long as the purpose is good and to be so continually.

It is very easy for a believer to be zealous about following God when he is around other believers. Yet, when alone or with non-believers, many drop their zealous push for following God. They allow themselves to fall into sinful practices and turn their hearts away from God. Often they become zealous about the things of this world, rather than the things of God.

As Jesus walked on the earth, He was zealous to do the mission God had sent Him to do. He pushed hard to spread the message from God for salvation of the people. He was so focused and zealous that He did not allow anything to detract Him from His mission, including death upon the cross.

Every believer needs to the zealous feelings that Jesus had. They need to strive with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength to do the work God has called them to do. Their zealous purpose must be the eternal, God-focused purpose, not the temporary, worldly purpose of this world.

At the very moment you chose to believe in Jesus, you were given a purpose by God to be on this earth. It is to be His witness and to worship God.

Instead of being zealous about the temporary things of this world, focus on the eternal things of God.

What can you do to build God’s kingdom? How can you worship God more? How can you encourage others to build God’s kingdom more and worship God more?

Be zealous for the right purpose in this life–God’s eternal purpose.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s purpose for your life; that you will be zealous to do God’s work; that you will be zealous to worship God more; and that you will be zealous for God at all times, everywhere you go.

by

Jude 1:20-21 Built Up In Faith And Prayer

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

When someone talks about being built up, he is often talking about physically, emotionally or in a position socially. On a regular basis people go to a gym to build up the physical bodies. Many will seek to be built up in positions at work or in their community. Still others work at being built up in their emotions.

All of these things are for temporary build ups.

Jude tells the people to build themselves up in their faith and by praying in the Holy Spirit. The purpose is to keep themselves in God’s love while waiting for the return of Jesus.

While the world is seeking to build themselves up in temporary things of this world, the believer is also to build himself up in something different. The entire focus of a believer is not the temporary, but the eternal.

Everything that a believer does is with a focus that some day Jesus will return to take him home with Him for all eternity. This is a hope that cannot be seen with the physical eyes, it is faith that what God’s word says is true.

At the point a person becomes a believer he has some faith in God. This should not stay at that point, but continue to grow more and more. Over time a person’s faith in God should grow stronger as he sees God’s faithfulness.

In order for this faith to grow, one must also be praying in the Holy Spirit. This is allowing the Holy Spirit to guide his prayers.

Building one’s faith and prayers will keep one in the center of God’s love.

Regardless of how much you work on building yourself up in the temporary things of this world, work more at building up your faith in God and your times of prayer.

Work to trust God more and more each day. Take more and more time to spend time communicating with God in prayer. Allow His Holy Spirit to guide your prayers, so that they will be effectual and fervent prayers that accomplish great things.

Keep growing as you wait for the return of Jesus to take you to heaven for eternity.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that your faith in God will grow daily; that you will pray more each day; that your life will be focused upon God’s eternal promises; and that you will stay in God’s love till Jesus returns.

by

John 6:27 What Are You Working For?

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father as placed his seal of approval. John 6:27

Every day millions of people go to work around the world. Their goal in working is to provide the need or desired money. This money is desired to have in order to get the food they eat, clothes they wear and toys they want.

Some have very simple tastes in what they want, so don’t work that much. Others are willing to put in extreme hours to get high-dollar items.

Shortly after feeding about 5,000 people, the people found Jesus again. He tells them not to work for food that spoils, but for food that will last for eternity.

While every person needs food, clothing and shelter, these things are not the most important things in life. All of these things are very temporary. Shortly after eating food, a person needs more. Clothes wear out after a short time. Housing will eventually fall apart. None of them last for eternity.

The only thing that lasts for eternity is the souls of men. Although Jesus fed and healed thousands of people, when He walked on the earth, that was not His primary focus. His focus of work was to do God’s will to save the souls of people.

Over the centuries God has not changed that focus of work. Every believer has a commission to preach the gospel message and make disciples. They are to be working for God at reaching the lost, focusing on what is eternal.

God gave His seal of approval upon Jesus because He was doing His will. God will also put His seal of approval on every believer who is doing His will.

As you go through your days, ask yourself what is your focus or goal. It is easy to get caught up in the day-to-day living for temporary things.

Ask God what work you can do that will have an eternal impact. Then be willing to do what God places before you. Don’t allow yourself to be focused on the temporal dead things of this earth.

Aim for the things that will last for eternity–the souls of men and women. Put all your efforts in being His witness and making disciples as you work for the needed food, clothing and shelter.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know the work God has for you to do; that you will be His witness; that you will make disciples for Jesus; and that your work will see eternal results for God.

by

Luke 24:5 Looking For Life

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Luke 24:5

One thing that people are searching for all over the world is life. They want to have a life that is fulfilled and successful. Most want to be happy and be able to really enjoy life.

In the process of looking for this type of life, people will search any thing and every where. There are few things that people will not try in order to get the life that they are seeking.

After Jesus had died, some women went to His tomb, only to find He was not there. Two angels appeared to them and asked them why they searched for the living among the dead. Jesus was not there, because He had risen from the dead.

Searching for meaning, purpose and life in this world, is searching among the dead. Everything that the world claims to bring purpose and life is dead. Those things are focused on the here and now, the temporary, which is dead and will pass away.

The only thing that gives true purpose and life is seeking God through Jesus Christ. Instead of searching on the level in this fallen, dead world, one must look up to God.

Some in the church let themselves fall into the ways of the world, seeking temporal life, rather than leaning on God for all life. Instead of looking among the dead, believers must get among other believers, the living, and with God to find real life.

Jesus brings a life that is real and eternal. It will meet the desires of the heart more than any thing in this world could ever offer.

As you are going through life, you must decide what you are really seeking to find. If you are desiring real life, then you must turn away from the dead things of this world, that have absolutely nothing of value to offer you.

Turn your search to knowing God more and more each day. It is only Jesus who can offer true life. He rose from the dead and is alive to this day and will remain alive for eternity.

Jesus offers this same life to you today. All you have to do is seek Him, repent of your sins and accept the life He has for you. Don’t seek life among the dead.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know the life God has for you; that you will seek purpose and fulfillment in God alone; and that you will live to serve God.