Tag: hell
Sins terrible consequences
Scripture reading for January 28th: Mark 9
Key Scriptures: Mark 9:42-48 “”Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for your to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire.””
Sin is destructive and terrible. Because of sin, man is destined to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire made for the devil and his angels. Jesus wanted all who followed Him to know the terrible reality of hell and the seriousness of sin that will bring that judgment. Sin is offense against God and God’s law defining sinful acts and attitudes. At its core, sin is selfishness–the desire to be God placed in the human heart because of Adam’s sinfulness and disobedience. The members of our body can lead us into sin so Jesus used radical amputation of hands, feet, and eyes as illustrations of the violent means we should take to avoid sinning. The first step to deliverance is admitting the problem–confession. The next is repentance–a change of mind and direction away from the sinful acts.
Romans 3:23 “. . .for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, I am again struck by the destructiveness of sin and its terrible affects on the sinner and their family and friends. Forgive me and have mercy on my family and friends. Thank You for taking the judgment for my sins. Hallelujah! You are so worthy of praise!
Romans 3:24-26 “and we are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins.”
Hell is real. Avoid it at all costs!
Scripture reading for February 20th: Mark 9, Psalm 37, Proverbs 6
Key Scriptures: Mark 9:42-44 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great mill-stone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled that with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”
Jesus taught His disciples plainly about sin and its consequences. Jesus plainly believed in a literal “hell” where there was unquenchable fire. He also talked about worms eating on those who went there. Hell is the place reserved for unrepentant sinners. Sin is so serious, according to Jesus, that it would be better to surgically remove members of your body, such as limbs or eyes, causing sin to avoid it than to keep them and end up in hell eternally.
Faith’s confession: Lord, I believe Your warning about sin and its ultimate consequence: hell. I ask You to give me discernment and warning by Your Holy Spirit to keep me from sin. I heed Your Word, which is truth.
Proverbs 6:32-33 “He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.”
A student will become like his teacher!
Scripture reading for January 14th: Matthew 10
Key scriptures: Matthew 10:24-25, 28 “”A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household. . . . Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Jesus plainly taught His disciples that persecution would be their lot from others, often members of their own household. After all, Jesus was a Jew and His own countrymen turned on Him, some accusing Him of being demon-possessed and others plotting His murder–for religious reasons, of course!
However, Jesus’ disciples must continue to share the good news and preach truth without regard for those who opposed them. Their fear or respect for God must always be above a fear of man–even their own family! The fear of man could be the snare of the enemy that would take Jesus’ followers to their destruction in Hell! Jesus taught them that hell was a real place where the devil and his followers would spend eternity suffering for their lack of fear of God.
Observation for over-comers: As we follow Jesus, we are being transformed to be more like Him each day. This brings persecution from those in rebellion. Don’t fear their taunts, Christ has overcome! “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25)