Is Your Joy Full?

 

John 15:11(NKJV)

11“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 

This goes right along with some of the other things I have written about this week.  Things like let not your heart be troubled and living an abundant life.

Here Jesus tells us that He wants our joy to be full.  What does that mean exactly?  When you combine it with the others I think it gives us a picture of what God wants for our lives. 

He wants us to live joy filled and abundant lives.  Does that mean things go right for us 100% of the time?  Don't be silly.  Life isn't like that.  What I think God truly wants if for us to be joy filled no matter what our current circumstances.

He wants us to lead untroubled lives no matter our circumstances.  He wants us to face adversity with a smile on our face and joy in our hearts.  Why? 

Because it is a real life expression of our faith!

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled or Afraid, What's the Difference?

One of my favorite things that Jesus said.  "Let not your heart be troubled".  I just find that a very comforting phrase.  I'm sure you've seen this verse before as well.

John 14:27(NKJV)

27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

What is interesting is that I had never noticed the second part of that before.  "…, neither let it be afraid".  What is the difference?  Let's take a look.

trou·ble

1. to disturb the mental calm and contentment of; worry; distress; agitate.
2. to put to inconvenience, exertion, pains, or the like: May I trouble you to shut the door?
3. to cause bodily pain, discomfort, or disorder to; afflict: to be troubled by arthritis.

4. to annoy, vex, or bother: Don't trouble her with petty complaints now.

5. to disturb, agitate, or stir up so as to make turbid, as water or wine: A heavy gale troubled the ocean waters.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/troubled?s=t>

a·fraid

1. feeling fear; filled with apprehension: afraid to go.

2. feeling regret, unhappiness, or the like: I'm afraid we can't go on Monday.

3. feeling reluctance, unwillingness, distaste, or the like: He seemed afraid to show his own children a little kindness.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/afraid?s=t>

And because the definition for afraid refers to fear, hear is the definition of fear.

Fear

1. a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm. Antonyms: courage, security, calm, intrepidity.

2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights. Synonyms: phobia, aversion; bête noire, bogy, bogey, bugbear. Antonyms: liking, fondness, penchant, predilection.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
4. reverential awe, especially toward God: the fear of God. Synonyms: awe, respect, reverence, veneration.
5. something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of: Cancer is a common fear.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fear>

So here is my take on it.  To me there is a difference of intensity between fear and trouble.  If we were talking about a pain scale of 1-10 here I'd say trouble is about a 3 while pain is about a 7.  Does that make sense?

So we are all familiar with the verses throughout Scripture that tell us not to fear.  Here Jesus is telling us not only should we not fear, we shouldn't even be troubled.  We should enjoy nothing except the peace that surpasses all understanding.  That peace comes through our belief in Jesus. 

"Come on, that's unrealistic to not worry or be troubled!"

Is it?  Why not try it for yourself.  Just ask Jesus to come into your life to lead you.  Have a simple conversation with Jesus.   "Dear Jesus…"

Now the next time you feel troubled, use the power of Jesus to banish that feeling and replace it with His peace.  You'll be amazed!

God Had To Have Faith Too!

 

John 10:17-18(NKJV)

17“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 

18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

I think I've written about this before but it bears repeating. 

The basis of our salvation is faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith. 

Did you ever stop to think that God had to have faith as well?  Why?  Because he gave each and every one of us, including Jesus, free will.  As the Scripture above says, Jesus had the power to lay down His life, or not.

So not only is our salvation based in our faith in Jesus, but God's whole plan of salvation was based on faith in Jesus as well.  What did Good have faith in?  That Jesus would indeed lay down His life!  Aren't you glad He did?

Thank you Jesus!

More Abundant Life, Who Wouldn't Want That?

John 10:10(NKJV)

10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

a·bun·dant

1. present in great quantity; more than adequate; oversufficient: an abundant supply of water.

2. well supplied; abounding: a river abundant in salmon.

3. richly supplied: an abundant land.

Pasted from <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abundantly?s=t>

OK that sounds like a cool promise.  Abundant life.  What exactly does that mean?

It could mean many things.  Here is what it has meant in my life.  An immensely and over flowingly satisfying life.  There are a lot of things that go with abundance.  Some of them material, others not so much.  But for me it is that overwhelming feeling of gratitude I get everyday when I thank Jesus for the cool life He has given me. 

What does abundant life mean to you?  Make sure you thank Jesus for it! 

God and Arms

One of the things that I enjoy doing is trying to dispel what I think are some of the erroneous views of Jesus.  The one we will look at today is pacifist Jesus. 

One of the Scriptures most often cited is the turn the other cheek passage.  They claim that this passage shows clearly that Jesus was a pacifist and that we should never fight back.  They also like to suggest that it is somehow a lack of faith to be prepared to defend ourselves.  "If you really had faith then you'd let God take care of you".  To counter that I often quote Luke 22:35 and 36.

Luke 22:35-37(NKJV)

35And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.”

36Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 

37For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ £ For the things concerning Me have an end.”

You can see here that the first part of the passage is Jesus saying that the first time He sent the disciples out He told them to depend totally on God for everything. 

The second time He sent them out Jesus tells them that essentially they are going to have to take some responsibility for their provisions and safety.  Specifically Jesus tells them that if they don't have a sword they should sell their cloak and get one.

Now if Jesus is such a pacifist, why would He tell the disciples that they needed to arm themselves and be ready to defend themselves. 

Another tenants of our faith is that God and Jesus are one and are therefore always in agreement.  So if Jesus is a pacifist then God would have to be one as well.  That makes sense doesn't it? 

Well look what I ran across today.

Nehemiah 4:13-18(NKJV)

13Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 

14And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

15And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 

16So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 

17Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 

18Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built. And the one who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

If God is a pacifist why did He encourage His people to be armed and ready to fight?

As I've said many times, the Bible is a book of balance and I think you will see that demonstrated here. 

Just as in the New Testament where we having Jesus telling us that sometimes we need to depend on God and sometimes we need to be prepared to provide the manpower, we see a similar situation in the Old Testament.

There are many examples of battles in the OT where God essentially said "Step aside folks, I got this one".

But as the passage above shows, there are times where He put the weapons in the hands of the Jews and said "You need to do the work on this one.  I'll be there to help but you need to take the lead on this one". 

We see essentially the same message from both God and Jesus.  They are in agreement and no they aren't pacifists!

So how do you know when to depend on God and when you need to defend yourself?  I would suggest listening to the Holy Spirit and let Him guide you.

What's that?  How do you get the Holy Spirit?  That's easy.  Just accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Just ask Jesus to come into your life and take over, guide you.   Have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Do You Hear His Voice?

Do you hear His voice?  That's pretty simple question isn't it?  Do you hear His voice?  Who's voice?  Jesus!

John 10:4(NKJV)

4And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 

John 10:25-30(NKJV)

25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 

26But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, £as I said to you. 

27My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 

29My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 

30I and My Father are one.”

Do you hear His voice? 

Those of us who have already accepted Christ do.  He speaks to us through the Bible and through the Holy Spirit.

Do you hear His voice? 

What about those of you who haven't accepted Jesus? 

Do you hear His voice? 

When you are sitting in church and the Pastor invites those who would like to accept Jesus to raise their hands and you feel that tug deep inside.  Who do you think that is?

Do you hear His voice? 

Or when you read something like this and you can feel deep inside that the message is speaking to you, who do you think that is?

Do you hear His voice? 

If that is you why don't you listen to the voice?  You know it's real.  Deep down you recognize it.  Why not answer?  Simply invite Jesus to come into your life.  Let Him know what you need.  Let Him know that you don't get the whole thing yet but you are ready to step out in faith.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.

Do you hear His voice?

"Yes Jesus I do hear your voice.  Please come into my life and guide me……"

Shaken Together and Running Over

This is one of my favorite verses.

Luke 6:38(NKJV)

38Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Be generous, cheerfully generous.  The more you give the more you get.  It's as close to a perpetual motion machine as you will ever get. 

Does that mean if you give a dollar you are going to get back ten?  Maybe, maybe not.  What I'll guarantee you is that whatever you get back you will value and enjoy way more that what you gave up.

Give it a try, it's fun!

Take Heed How You Hear

 

Luke 8:18(NKJV)

18Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

How can this depend on what you hear?  Seems odd doesn't it?  Let me take a shot at explaining. 

As I financial professional I tend to work with successful people .  One of the things I have noticed about successful people is that they perceive the world around them differently than others.  Those that are successful tend to see opportunities where others never do.

I think this is what the Scripture is talking about.  Those that learn to recognize and grasp opportunity will continue to accumulate and have more.  Those that never learn to recognize opportunity and only look for safety in life will end up losing even the safety they thought they had.

Don't know if that makes sense to others but that is what it is saying to me.

Rivers Of Living Water

There are many places in Scripture where Jesus describes Himself as the living water or as giving living water.  John 4 is a good place to start.

John 4:10(NKJV)

10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:13-14(NKJV)

13Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 

14but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

No surprise there.  Most of us are familiar with those phrases.  But did you ever think of yourself as offering those same living waters?  Did you ever think that you had "rivers" of that very same living water just waiting to pour out of you?  Well that is what Scripture says you have.  Check it out.

John 7:37-38(NKJV)

37On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 

38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 

I had never noticed that before.  Puts witnessing in a different light doesn't it?  When you witness you are offering the very same living water that Jesus himself offered.

So the next time the opportunity presents itself, let the rivers of living water flow baby!

And They Walked With Him No More

Isn't that hard to believe? 

John 6:61-67(NKJV)

61When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 

62What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 

63It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 

64But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 

65And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 

67Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

Can you believe that?  There were people that walked with Jesus personally, witnessed some of His miracles personally; and yet chose to leave and not believe.  Wow!

What is it that keeps you walking with Jesus?  For me it is the personal experiences that I have had with Him.  There are things in the Bible that are weird enough that I can see how it can cause some to doubt.  I don't understand them all.  So why don't they cause me to doubt?  Because they pale in comparison to the real life things that I have personally experienced with Jesus. 

How about you?  Have you had a real life experience with Jesus yet?  It starts by simply asking Him to come into your life.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Is Competition Fair?

Love this passage.  Couple of things here.  First let's talk about competition.  Is competition fair?  Let's take a look.

The passage below tells of the Bethesda pool.  A pool of healing.  Does everyone get healed?  Take a look.

John 5:1-9(NKJV)

1After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 

2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, £Bethesda, having five porches. 

3In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, £waiting for the moving of the water. 

4For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 

5Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 

6When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

7The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

8Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 

9And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 

Nope.  Only the first one in.  Is that fair?  I don't know?  Let me ask you this.

Is God a fair and just God?  Are those a couple of God's characteristics?  I believe  the answer is yes. 

The Scripture says that an angel comes down and stirs up the water.  Comes down from where?  Sent by whom?  That's right.  Down from Heaven and sent by God.  So this is a system that God set up.  Would a fair and just God set up an unfair and unjust system for His believers?   That would be inconsistent with God's character would it not?  Therefore I believe that competition is fair.

Now to the second issue.  Notice how Jesus ministers to the sick man.  The sick man is full of self pity.  Oh whoa is me.  I can't get to the water first.  Nobody will help me.

You don't see Jesus going "oh you poor baby" do you?  You don't see Jesus saying "Don't worry, you have an unfair disability.  It isn't fair.  It's not your fault."  Nope.  Jesus says "Get your butt up and take care of business". 

But that's impossible many would say.  Is it?  I can show you story after story after story of people who have overcome odds that many would have said was impossible.  With Jesus nothing is impossible!

Would you like to experience the impossible in your life?  It's pretty easy.  All you have to do is ask Jesus to guide your life.  Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Just have a conversation with Him.  "Dear Jesus…." 

Will you get instant impossible?  Not usually.  But give it time.  Live the life that Jesus guides you to and you will soon experience the impossible over and over again.

Want to see what I am talking about?  How about this.  I want you to picture all of those sic, blind, lame, and paralyzed people sitting around the Bethesda pool.  First one in gets healed.  All the others get squat! 

We got Nick sitting over here and Nick ain't got no arms or legs.  How do you think he is going to do in this competition to be the first one in?  Man that ain't fair! 

Isn't it?

Wow, Even In Heaven!

 

John 4:34-38(NKJV)

34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 

35Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! 

36And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 

37For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 

38I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”

I have written in the past about the difference between salvation and our rewards in Heaven.  Our salvation is free.  There is nothing that we can do to earn it.  All it takes is believing that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for our sins and was raised from the dead.  Simply ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life and you get salvation.  Have you done that yet?  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  "Dear Jesus…."

Our rewards in Heaven on the other hand Scripture tells us will be different for all.  So what makes the difference in how we are rewarded in Heaven?  I believe the above Scripture gives us a clue.  It will at least partly be based on how much we participate in the harvest. 

Whether in the planting or the harvesting, the more directly active the better.  If we are simply bringing water to the workers, at least we are doing something.  That is better than nothing and earns some reward.  But do you think those that are actually out there sharing their testimony, in essence planting the seeds are going to be rewarded more than those that bring water?  Probably. 

That's it?  That's all there is too it?  Get more directly involved?  Not quite in my opinion.  There is one other issue that has to be mixed in here.  Motive.  Are you doing all the work for self aggrandizement and glory today or are you doing all of the work because you truly want to please God.  It makes a difference!

The Wrath Of God Abides On Him

John 3:36(NKJV)

36He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

That doesn't sound like any fun does it?  One of the definitions of abide is to dwell.  That means that God's anger isn't directed at "him" just for a moment or two.  It means that God's anger is continual, constant, and focused.

What could make God so mad that while He has the whole universe to run, He is so pissed off that He makes it a point to continually keep part of his attention and anger focused on them?  It's the fact that they have rejected Jesus. 

Now why doesn't God just take a live and let live attitude to those who reject Jesus?  After all He gave them free will.  I don't presume to speak for God but I think it should be easy to understand for any parent.

How would you feel if you had one of your kids die to save the whole human race from paying the price for their sins and some people rejected the sacrifice that your child made for them?  Wouldn't that tick you off a bit?

God has many characteristics and one of them is loyalty.  He is very loyal to those who are loyal to Him.  Jesus was extremely loyal to God, so loyal that He stepped up and took on the sins of the world because his Dad asked Him to.  Would you then expect God to turn His back on that loyalty?  I sure wouldn't.

What is the best way to avoid the wrath of God?  Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior.

Accepting Jesus will be one of the best things you will ever do in your life. If you accept Jesus you should do it because you think it will make a positive improvement in your life.  If you've never accepted Jesus, I can't think of a better time than now.  Just have a conversation with Jesus and ask Him to come into your life.  "Dear Jesus…."

Another Anniversary Is Upon Us

I would like to start today by thanking all of you who read the Common Christian blog as we celebrate the completion of our second year.  Hard to believe.  It has been an amazing journey so far! 

This blog has been read in 15 countries around the world.  I want to make perfectly clear that all of the credit and glory for that go to God.  I just happened to be available as His typist for these messages.

When God first prompted me to start this blog 2 years ago, let's just say I was less than excited about the idea.  One of my concerns was what the heck was I going to write about day after day.  That was the part I just had to trust God for.  Here is what Scripture told me.

Luke 12:11-12(NKJV)

11“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. 

12For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Great advice!  Takes a lot of faith but great advice.  If you are willing to be used by God, then God will give you the words to say.  This is true whether you are writing a blog, teaching a Sunday School class, giving a sermon, or witnessing to others.  Just trust God!

I've seen it work time after time in my life and it'll work for you as well! 

So again thank you for reading and I'm looking forward to what God has in store for the future.  As we kick off this next year, please feel free to share the Common Christian Blog with all who you think might be blessed by it.

Custom Messages From God

Do you ever get custom messages from God?  Would you know it if you did?

God has a lot of ways of getting his message across to us all.  Personally I prefer the 2 x 4 approach because it is generally pretty clear and there isn't a lot of room for misinterpretation.  The problem for me is that God is often much more subtle than that.  You have to learn to read between the lines. 

The Bible calls it discerning.  You have to learn to recognize the voice of God.  As you develop the relationship, just as in any other relationship, it gets easier and easier to recognize His voice.  I think it also gets easier and easier to understand the message, to know when you are getting it straight and when you need to read between the lines.

Now God has many ways to get His message to us.  The main way is through the Bible, God's Word.  God also gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us.  God can also use our everyday surroundings to reach us.  I got to experience that today.  I just love how God can weave different parts of our life together to give us a message.  Here is what I am talking about. 

Our church has a thing called Epic School of Ministry.  I have had somewhat of an interest in attending but there are two pre requisite classes.  101 Getting a Grip On the Basics and 201 Getting a Grip On Serving, or something close to that.  I've already taken 101 and quite frankly have no interest in taking 201 because I already serve a ton and believe I already have a grip on it.

Pastor Beth is recording some more ministry training videos and they needed a camera operator so I volunteered.  Imagine my surprise today when as I'm recording her teachings Pastor Beth starts talking about everyone needing to revisit the basics now and then.  She used the analogy with sports that we need to go back to the fundamentals.  Even those who already are proficient need to go back to the fundamentals occasionally. 

I've got to admit that it was a bit convicting because part of what was behind my reluctance to take 201 was the feeling that as a "mature Christian" it was beneath me. 

Isn't it amazing how we have a new 201 class starting in the near future?  Isn't it amazing that the regular camera person couldn't do the video today and they needed me to fill in?  Isn't it amazing that what I needed to hear just happened to be part of Pastor Beth's message?

Do you find it amazing that I am going to be starting the 201 class in the very near future?

Man God's got awfully good aim with that custom 2 X 4!

Yada, Yada, Yada

I don't know why but this struck me as funny.  Every now and then we hear sayings and phrases enter into popular speech.  Things like yada, yada, yada.  Well take a look at this pattern from Ezra.

Ezra 4:10(NKJV)

10and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnapper took captive and settled in the cities of Samaria and the remainder beyond the £River—and so forth. £

Ezra 4:17(NKJV)

17The king sent an answer:          To Rehum the commander, to Shimshai the scribe, to the rest of their companions who dwell in Samaria, and to the remainder beyond the River:         Peace, £and so forth.

And so forth.  That just seems like such a modern day phrase that it seemed out of place to me.  Made me chuckle.  Have a great day!

Come On, It Can't Really Be That Simple, Can It?

Luke 23:32-43(NKJV)
There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.
And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.”
The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine,
and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.”
And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 

Is it really that simple?  Is that all you have to do?  Just simply ask and receive?

Yep, it's that simple.  Are you ready?  Is it time to have your conversation with Jesus?  "Dear Jesus...."

"Satan Has Asked For You"

That's a sobering thought isn't it?  In this case Jesus tells us that Satan was specifically targeting Peter.  I have long believed that Satan likes to play Wack A Mole with Christians.  He will pretty much leave us alone as long as we aren't a threat to him.  It's when we stick our head up by sharing our faith openly, etc. that Satan targets us for a wack upside the head.



There is something else about this passage I had never noticed before and I think there is a very important lesson to be drawn from it.

Luke 22:31-32(NKJV)
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

As I read that the smart alec side of me thought "Wow, thanks a lot Bro Jesus.  Way to go all out to protect me there.  You prayed that my faith wouldn't fail?  That's it?  How about praying that Satan would just leave me alone all together?"

 But Jesus didn't do that did He?  So the question that comes to mind is why not?

I believe the reason is that there is tremendous value in the struggle.  We learn way more by having our faith tested than we ever learn by being saved from the struggle.

One of my favorite verses on this subject is:

Romans 5:3(NKJV)
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

Glory in the struggle?  That's right.  Face adversity with a smile.  Face it with a grateful heart.  Face it with a heart full of joyful expectation.  

So the next time you are facing a challenge, recognize it for what it is, a chance to grow, and get excited about all the new things God has in store for you on the other side!