Tag: obedience

Cast Off Your Hand

On By ForChristsSakeFellowshipIn Sermons

“And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” – Matthew 5:30

Temptations abound in this world. You can’t turn on the tv or even drive down the road without being bombarded by beckoning sin. Even the smart phones we hold in our hands create an open doorway for all kinds of evils. What is a good person to do?

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said that if your eye or your hand causes you to stumble, it would be better for you to pluck the eye out or cut off your hand and cast them away rather than to have your souls to end up in Hell.

What Jesus is saying there is not about hurting yourself, it’s about being willing to do whatever it takes to keep your eyes and your mind on Heaven. Aim for your righteousness and it will help yourself and others.

I do say “yourself and others” because you have more power and affect on other people than you realize. There is truly no such thing as a personal sin. Sin hurts and people who think much of you will follow your lead. You will take many souls with you wherever you go, either to eternal peace in Heaven or to eternal death.

Jesus mentioned the right hand for a reason. It is an example of your strong side. For most people, you get the greatest benefit from using your strong hand. That being said, even if something is benefitting you, it may also be what is doing the most damage to you in the long run.

There are many things in this world that are OK to do, but are they leading you somewhere good? Has the Holy Spirit been knocking on your door recently about something? Do you pray? Do you spend time in the scriptures? Do you use your tone wisely to help others?

I like to fish and I enjoy watching TV now and then. A few little relaxing pursuits are OK, but not when they consume my time. Even OK things, lawful things that benefit us, can get in the way of our eternal salvation. Moderation is key in many cases, but some things, even small seemingly insignificant things can take you away from the life God has called you too.

Jesus Christ suffered and died so that you can be free from sin. All of those bad things you’ve done are gone when you accept His payment on the cross. He died and rose again to give you an abundant life not only in Heaven for eternity, but here on Earth as well.

Use your abundance, whether it is food or money or strength or whatever, to help other people. Don’t use your time and earthly pursuits to chase sin. And make no mistake about it, if you are not actively chasing Heaven, you are slipping back down farther towards hell.

Jesus said there are only two roads. There is a wide one with a large gate that’s pointed in the wrong direction. Many people are on that road, heading for destruction. However, there is another road, a straight and narrow path that leads to an eternity of love and peace. Few find that road.

Which one are you on right now?

Once again, I’m not telling you to ACTUALLY cut off your hand. Please don’t! But I am telling you that we must be ready and willing to cut things out of our lives to gain God’s kingdom and blessings. Even if those things in our lives are OK and lawful, maybe they even benefit us sometimes, but if they harm us and cause others to stumble, then those things must be done away with in our lives.

If you do this, God has promised blessings and peace for now and forever. So stay on that straight and narrow path. It’s worth it.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8-9

God’s blessings to you.

DH

Daniel and the Lyin’s Den

On By ForChristsSakeFellowshipIn Sermons

“Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.” – Daniel 2:48

Many people have heard about Daniel in the lions’ den and how God sent His angels to shut the mouths of the lions to protect Daniel. God did this because Daniel was a good and faithful servant.  Even when the unbelieving king Darius signed the order for everyone to only bow and pray to his statue, Daniel immediately went home, opened the windows so everyone could see, and knelt down to pray to the one true God.  Thus, Daniel was thrown into the den of the lions as punishment.

One of the main takeaways from this particular story is not only does Daniel obey God, but he does it in the midst of a pagan, unbelieving ruler. How many of us can say that we work for a person or persons that is sometimes less than ethical?  How often do we see people and even some so-called friends do things that isn’t right according to God’s standards?  If we are honest with ourselves, we live in a society that rewards unethical behavior and people who “do whatever it takes.”  But that’s not how God wants this world to act.

I like the old saying about, “Integrity is what you do when nobody’s watching.” In truth, there is always somebody watching, and that person is Jesus Christ.  No matter what this world says, if you can’t do something with integrity, then it shouldn’t be done.  The rat race of corporate America tells you that it’s OK to break a few rules now and then to get more money.  People who are after a few more bucks write up contracts that aren’t worth the paper they are written on, and for what?  A few more steaks in the freezer?  Even Jesus Himself said, “What does it profit a man that he should gain the world and loose his own soul?”  Money, sex, prestige, whatever the reason is, we aren’t even gaining the whole world.  We are only selling out for a small part of this world, and it’s a world that will pass away.

What will be left is your eternal soul. In the end, forever, you and I will be in Heaven or hell, period.  If you are a born-again Christian, you know where you will end up and that’s with our Father in Heaven.  But there is a job to do before then.  As a child of the Most High God, it is our job to follow Christ in word and in deed.  When you turn your life over to Christ, you are not immediately taken up to Heaven.  You are left in this world to show others what’s right and to turn them from their sinful ways.  Just like Daniel, in whatever job you do and wherever pays your salary, you are to show integrity and honesty is everything you do.  You may be the only experience that someone will have with a Christian, so be a good experience.  You represent the holy name of God, so show people what that means.

A company or any place will be blessed because you are there. You are a light for the world to guide by, and that light better shine towards Jesus.  Daniel showed his earthly king what his Heavenly King was all about, and it prospered Daniel and those around him.

Daniel is a great example of how a Christian should act, even when working for an unbelieving boss. Eventually, those around Daniel, including the king, would come to see what a wonderful and powerful God that Daniel served.  Let those you meet and also work with see what a wonderful and powerful God you serve, today and every day.

God’s blessings to you.

DH