Don't Just Listen

Tuesday, ‎April ‎18, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Memory of the Month: John 10:27-28

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Today's reading: 2 SAMUEL 3-5 LUKE 14:25-35

Don't Just Listen

Computers have changed the way the world works and communicates and stores information. But once upon a time, everything was written down. Words were written on paper with ink-first from a stylus of some kind that was dipped in something like ink. The point of a feather was used for this for several centuries and then came miniaturisation with fountain pens in the beginning and then came the ball-point pen, the ball called a 'Biro' after its inventor.

Did you ever look at the end of a ball-point pen? As a child, did you ever try to remove the ball from the end of an ink cartridge? It is extremely hard and really messy.

Now to get to the point-pun intended-all the technology involved in making something that small is worthless without the ink...

There are people who study these things. They sit and find ways to make pens more comfortable in our hands. They have perfected ways to prevent ink blotting and special materials are used to be hypoallergenic. The 'Bic' company sells over 14 million pens a day, worldwide-a day. But none of them are any good without the ink.

Over 2 billion people identify as Christians in the world today. But how many are conscious of the leadership of the Holy Spirit enough to be filled and used by Him? How many really belong to Jesus?

Romans 10:9 ►If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38.

A person really saved and baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus receives the Holy Spirit. How many of us seek God's kingdom in the Way and know the Holy Spirit's presence and power? His power is the same as it has always been.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

We must ask and obey.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13.

“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32.

It is time to ask God for more. It is time to seek God and His kingdom and learn to live an obedient life. We are simply the 'Biro' in this life God has given us-we are no good without the ink-the power of God-the Holy Spirit. If the mark we leave on this world is not written by the power of God, it is invisible in eternity. The only mark that is eternal is made by God. His love endures forever.

Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."Matthew 24:35

Jesus also said, "7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."Matthew 7:7-8

In Luke 14, Jesus also said, "Don’t just listen to My words here. Get the deeper meaning."

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I read and read but I miss so much because of my laziness. Have mercy on me and let me get the deeper meanings in Your message for me and us.

Most wise and generous God!

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen