Tag: watch yourselves
Standing before the Son of Man!
Scripture reading for April 8th: Judges 4-6, Luke 21
Key Scriptures: Luke 21:34-36 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Jesus closed out His time of ministry by preparing His disciples for the temptations and trials that would accompany the time just before He would return. Watchfulness was required of each believer because of the temptations and wickedness that would abound before Christ’s return. These temptations would attack all who dwelled on the earth. Prayer and alertness was required to escape the temptations and to stand before “The Son of Man” when He returned to receive His own and judge the wicked. Those not able to stand would be cast out of His presence forever.
Faith Confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, temptations and seduction fill the world in this time that I live. Give me Your strength to stand firm and encourage the brothers and sisters and warn those who are not right with God. May none in my family circle and my friends fail to stand before You when You return.
Judges 5:31 “”So may all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But Your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.” And the land had rest for forty years.”
Guard your heart!
Scripture reading for February 26th: Luke 17
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Luke 17:3-6 “So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea’ and it will obey you.”
Forgiveness is difficult for us. Pride often gets in the way and our desire to get even or to make the person who has wronged us feel our wrath. Jesus warned His disciples to watch themselves for this trap of offence. When He told them that they must forgive “seven times” in a single day if the offender repented, they shouted in exasperation: “Lord, increase our faith!” Jesus simple told them that they had sufficient faith to forgive and to move great mountains if they would only apply it! A very small amount of faith the size of a mustard seed could move a deeply rooted mulberry tree.
Observations for over-comers: As Christ has forgiven us great offence, we must forgive others quickly by faith. All vengeance belongs to God alone. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
Watch yourselves!
Scripture reading for March 26th: Luke 17
“Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.” (Luke 17:1-3) Jesus was concerned for His disciples and their walk with their fellow men. People have strong opinions and often get into conflicts with one another or offend each other. Offense is Satan’s trap to divide people from God and His grace. Disciples of Jesus must be watchful for each other concerning offenses.
“If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” “The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:3-4) Jesus knew the hearts of men. Offense often causes thoughts of revenge and avoidance of the offender. Gossip about the offense causes more troubles and leads to people stumbling into Satan’s trap of offense. Jesus taught open confrontation of the offender by the one offended. This was among brothers in the faith. This gives the opportunity for the offender to repent and ask for mercy. If there is humility and mercy is sought, believers always forgive, even seven times in a single day by the same person!
The disciples were aware of how difficult this teaching was to put into practice! They asked Jesus to increase their faith! Jesus replied that if they had only a mustard seed of faith, they could move a mulberry tree! This was to be normal kingdom living for those with faith in Jesus! Lord Jesus, help me to be watchful!
Watch yourselves!
Scripture reading for April 14th: Luke 16:19-17:10
“Jesus said to His disciples; “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.'” (Luke 17:1-2) The world we live in is fallen and there are many opportunities to sin and break God’s eternal law. People are ‘sinners’ by nature, born with a propensity to sin until that is remedied by a new birth. (Psalm 51:5)
Jesus warned His followers about the future judgment for those causing sin in ‘little ones.’ In other accounts, the ‘little ones’ were small children. Some feel that this also applied to new believers who were young in the ways of Christ. Jesus talked about a millstone being tied around the neck of any person who would cause sin in these little ones. A millstone was a large round stone used to grind grain and it usually weighed several hundred pounds. You can imagine the difficulties swimming a person would have with one of these tied to their neck! This word picture helps us understand the desperate state of a person causing a little one to sin!
Jesus told His followers to “Watch yourselves!” First this means to be personally watchful and examine our own lives for causes of sin. Jesus pointed out lack of forgiveness in the next part of this teaching as a big problem causing others to sin. (Luke 17:3-4) We must let go of offenses. Failure to forgive is cited by Jesus several times as a hindrance for prayer and here as a cause of stumbling for ‘little ones’. (Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:25, Luke 11:4)
Second, we must be watchful for others and especially the ‘little ones.’ Jesus tells us that we must watch out for others as well as ourselves. Love your neighbor as yourself is the second part of the great commandment that now fulfills all the commandments. Children and ‘little ones’ are so precious to the Lord and must be loved, nurtured and protected from causes of sin. Examine your own life and the ‘little ones’ around you. Are you leading them towards Jesus by your life and testimony? Today is a great day to repent! God will forgive!
Watch yourselves!
Scripture reading for April 14th: Luke 16:19-17:10
“Jesus said to His disciples; “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves.” “ The world we live in is fallen and there are many opportunities to sin and break God’s eternal law. People are ‘sinners’ by nature, born with a propensity to sin until that is remedied by a new birth. (Psalm 51:5) Jesus was stating the obvious truth!
Jesus also warned His followers about the future judgment for those causing sin in ‘little ones.’ In other accounts, the ‘little ones’ were small children. Some feel that this also applies to new believers who are young in the ways of Christ. Jesus talked about a millstone being tied around the neck of any person who would cause sin in these little ones. A millstone was a large round stone used to grind grain and it usually weighed several hundred pounds. You can imagine the difficulties swimming a person would have with one of these tied to their neck! This word picture makes us understand the nature of the woe of a person causing a little one to sin!
Jesus told His followers to “Watch yourselves!” First this means to be personally watchful and examine our own lives for causes to sin. Jesus pointed out unforgiveness in the next part of this teaching as a big problem causing others to sin. (Luke 17:3-4) We must let go of offenses. Unforgiveness is cited by Jesus several times as a hindrance for prayer and here as a cause of stumbling for ‘little ones’. (Matthew 6:14, Mark 11:25, Luke 11:4)
Second, we must be watchful for others and especially the ‘little ones.’ Jesus tells us that we must watch out for others as well as ourselves. Love your neighbor as yourself is the second part of the great commandment that now fulfills all the commandments. Children and ‘little ones’ are so precious to the Lord and must be loved, nurtured and protected from causes of sin. Examine your own life and the ‘little ones’ around you. Are you leading them towards Jesus by your life and testimony? Today is a great day to repent! God will forgive!