Witness

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Matthew 10:22 Stand Firm

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 10:22

Very few people like to be hated, most people like to be liked. They want people to like them and will do just about anything to gain their favor and liking.

Watching posts on social media platforms, people get excited when the number of likes climbs higher and higher. It gives the impression that people really do like them. Yet, not everyone will like everyone. Some will hate others, regardless of what they do or don’t do.

As Jesus is sending the disciples out to be His witness, He tells them that they will be hated. Even though they are hated, they must stand firm in what they believe and are doing.

Even though nearly two thousand years have passed, people still hate true active believers. They hate because the message being proclaimed is offensive to the world. It tells the world there is a high standard to live by, that there is only one way to eternal life, that there is only one God, and that living in sin brings about death. People do not like to hear this.

Sadly, over the years, many believers and churches have changed the message to try and get people to like them. Often it is no longer about repentance, but feeling and looking good. This is not standing firm in what one believes and has been taught in God’s word.

Every believer needs to preach or speak the message Jesus taught. That message is that people need to repent of sins, change, and believe in and follow Jesus. When this is done, people will hate them, but it is what God desires. This is God’s will for every believer.

As a believer in and a follower of Jesus, you have the responsibility to share His message with this fallen world. Some will believe and follow Jesus, while many will hate you for it. Do not be surprised or hurt when they hate you, because they did the same to Jesus.

Do not give in to this world, but keep giving the message. Stand firm on the truth in God’s world and continue to live for God in His ways. As you stand firm, you will be saved in the end. With God you will win the battle.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will be God’s true witness; that you will not fear the hatred of this world; that you will know God’s love for you; and that you will remain firm in God’s truth.

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Matthew 5:14 Light Of The World

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Light is something that shines in the darkness. The purpose for having light is to show or reveal things or a path. It helps to prevent stumbling that can occur in the dark. It can also make something stand out as important or of value.

While most places like to be well lit, there are many places that remain poorly lit on purpose. In these places the world wants it kept secret what is going on or they want to ignore what is happening.

Jesus told the people that they are the light of the world, like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.

There are many believers who believe that their belief is a private personal thing. They keep it to themselves. A wall is created between their life with God and their life in this world. The knowledge of who Jesus is kept to themselves, keeping the world in the dark.

Living like this is not what Jesus wanted or expected. He wants believers to be the light of the world. Every believer is to be a shining, bright beacon of light in this dark world, revealing Jesus and God’s word.

The world may not like the light because it reveals sin and the dark heart, but it is what can also reveal God’s great love and mercy. Light brings life to this world and each believer has the light of eternal life, not just temporary pleasures.

Believers should be living their life in such a way that no one cannot not know that they are a believer, because of the great light that they are shining. This light is shining bright to show the path to God and true life for eternity.

You have an opportunity every day to reveal who God is in your life. Do not allow yourself to keep Jesus hidden in secret behind closed doors of your heart and mind. Let Jesus shine in everything that you say and do. Do not let there be any doubt in anyone’s mind that you are a follower of Jesus.

As you shine Jesus, many will come to know Jesus. Darkness and sin will have to flee, both in your life and in the lives of others. God’s kingdom will be built up as you are a light in this world.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will shine Jesus in this world; that you will allow God’s light and life to shine brightly through you; and that you will be a witness of Jesus to others.

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Malachi 3:1 Messengers Sent

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 3:1

It is common for royalty or some famous person to send a messenger ahead of them to prepare the way. Security, location, set up, advertisement, food, sound, and more things must be made ready for their arrival.

The more important or famous the person, the more work in preparation is required. Each one requires different things to be set up for their arrival. The preparation ensures that the presentation will be successful.

God tells Malachi that He will send a messenger ahead of Him to prepare the way. After the messenger prepares the way, God will come, the desired Savior will come.

In this passage, God is talking about John the Baptist preparing the way for the arrival of Jesus. All of this occurred when Jesus had arrived upon the earth nearly two thousand years ago. Several years later, Jesus left the earth, but it planning to return someday.

God still sends messengers ahead of Him. There will come a day when Jesus will return again to take all who believe in Him to be with Him and the Father for eternity in heaven. The messengers for today must also prepare for His return.

This time the preparation is to be a witness of Jesus and to draw as many as possible into believing in and following Jesus. God wants everyone to be saved and none to perish. When Jesus returns this time, it will be for the last time and for the final judgement on every person as to whether they serve Him or not.

As a believer, you are the new messenger preparing the way for the return of Jesus. You should have the same heart as that of God, that no one should perish. Do not keep the message to yourself, but be willing to share it. Prepare the way for His return in your own life and in the lives of others.

The real preparation is now making disciples of all men. Learn to live for and obey God, and teach others the same as you wait for His return. Do not ignore your job to be His messenger today, but be the greatest messenger you can be.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will prepare your life for His return; that you will be God’s messenger; and that you will make disciples of Jesus.

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Zechariah 6:15 How To Make It Happen

Workers on scaffolding

Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord Your God. Zechariah 6:15 

Building something large, like a house or an office building, requires many different people to make it happen. There is a need for the carpenter, the cement layer, the roofer, the A/C person, the painter, the plumber, the electrician, and more to make it happen. One cannot completely build a building on his own.

Normally to get all the help needed, all one has to do is have the money to pay for the help.

Zechariah tells Joshua, the priest, that he needs to rebuild the temple. He is also told that many will come to help him build it, but in order for that to happen, he must diligently obey God.

Many believers try to do great ministries on their own. They hear God’s call to build a ministry and so try to do it, without help.

This can work, but only to a point, or certain level, then it peaks out. Help is needed to grow it more. God has more than enough helpers to build ever ministry He starts. However, it must be done in His way and in His timing.

In other words, the believer must diligently obey God. That is to very carefully and with a full heart, work at doing what God commands or guides him to do. It is God’s ministry, not the believer’s.

God may not have every one build a ‘titled’ ministry, but every believer is to be a witness and make disciples, which are ministries in themselves. These are best done under God’s direction and leading. In time God will bring the needed support to keep moving forward.

God has a plan for your life. You may already know what that plan is. The question is are you listening to God’s directions on how to make it happen.

As you are willing to listen to and obey God in every area of your life, God will give you the needed strength, help and favor to accomplish His goals for your life. Only God knows how large a ministry He has for you, but you cannot know that unless you diligently obey Him and do what He guides you to do.

I pray today that you will hear God’s voice guiding you; that you will obey God’s every command; that you will know God’s favor; and that you will build God’s kingdom in His way. 

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Joel 2:1 Sound The Alarm

Warning alarms

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand–Joel 2:1 

Alarms are something that can be found nearly every place that a person goes. Cars have alarms to warn of someone attempting to get in without the proper key. Stores have alarms to tell that someone is shoplifting some item. Radios play warning messages of extremely dangerous weather that is coming up.

All these alarms are to bring to awareness that there is some type of problem occurring or about to occur. It gives people a chance to fix the problem or prepare for a problem that is arising.

Joel tells the people to blow trumpets as an alarm, to warn the people that God is about to bring on judgement upon the land.

Throughout history God has never wanted to just judge and destroy or punish people. His desire is that people would change, turn from their sins and follow Him. God is loving and merciful, but He is also a just God whose time of mercy will come to an end. A day will come in which He will judge and destroy those who choose to not follow Him.

There will be a final judgement when Jesus will judge and destroy all who refuse to obey Him. This will occur when He returns. However, there will be days of punishment while on this earth. Both will incur some or all of God’s wrath against people.

Every believer must be willing to sound the alarm that something is wrong, that people who are living in sin and refusing to obey God will be getting an eternal day of punishment. The world will continue to live in sin if no one will warn them of the coming judgement.

As a believer, at some point in your life, you had been given the warning signal that living in sin was wrong. You had chosen to begin to obey and follow Jesus. Continue to flee sin and obey God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.

Now it is time to sound the alarm and warn others of God’s coming judgement. Let everyone you know that God loves them, but cannot accept sin in their lives. Let them know what Jesus did for them. Be His witness and build His kingdom.

It is time to sound the alarm to all you meet.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will know God’s plans; that you will sound the warning of God’s coming judgement; and that you will be a witness of God’s love and mercy.