Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Oh Friends, isn’t it a lovely day out? Oh yes it is! Now I don’t really know that, since it’s still dark outside. (smile) But the weatherman predicted the day in my area would be bright and sunny and somewhere between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius. Wow! Spring-like temps in early March! And because I know that weather prediction is an inexact science, if a science at all, I take the weatherman’s view with a grain of salt; hoping it’s true, but not seriously holding my breath. Now that’s akin to faith, but not quite, for with faith there’s no doubt whatsoever. Whatever the Holy Trinity promises or says, it is the truth, and nothing but. So if Jesus says that ‘whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple,’ then we’d better believe it. If we don’t clean up our act and buckle down to His rules and thoughts then we won’t ever be a true follower of His. However, as a quote attributed to the famous English writer, W. Somerset Maugham states; ‘The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones.’ And we all know that’s gospel. But the fact remains that if we truly want to be in with Jesus, we have to give up some of the bad habits that the world glories in and develop more of the good ones that Jesus desires in His people. As we keep saying, it’s not easy, because our flesh naturally leans to the lusts of the world. Consequently, we have to plan very carefully if we intend to become believers. It’s not something to rush into without proper thought, planning and prayer. And I like how Jesus left no stone unturned when He ministered. After speaking Today’s Bit, He also explained it by giving examples. ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply (perhaps), after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30) Becoming a follower of Jesus is like any other situation, we have to plan and prepare before we jump into it because if we don’t, we’re quite likely to find ourselves in above our heads, and won’t be able to function properly. It’s as Sol advised: ‘Prepare thy work without (work outside) and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterward build thine house,’ (Prov.24:27) Yes Friends, it’s always wise to have good plans for any project we intend to invest time and money in, and if possible make small mock-ups, or have trial runs to iron out any inconsistencies, before we get into the real McCoy. Jesus gave another example of being prepared. ‘Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth (considers) whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage (a delegation) and desireth (asks for) conditions of peace.’ (Luke 14:31-32) Mih breddren, as the old people always advised, ‘drunk or sober, mind yuh business.’ And is only a fool would hurry to fight twenty thousand with only ten thousand, unless the Most High God Jehovah explicitly says to do it. ‘So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.’ (Luke 14:33) Jesus reiterates His conditions for discipleship. Yes my people, we have to be willing to renounce or give up certain things for the Lord’s sake, and always be in a state of readiness to obey His dictates and do with our physical body, time and material possessions as He demands. And the rewards you ask? Now we should not be in it solely for the rewards, but because we LOVE, appreciate and are grateful that Jesus brokered our sins on the cross, but nonetheless, here’s Jesus’ reply to Peter in answer to that very question. ‘Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.’ (Mat.19:28-29) And all God’s people sang out a mighty: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to be praised!’ Oh Friends, what can be better than that eh? Nothing! And please remember that the Lord never gives us more than we can handle, for He best knows our capacity, and He always provides the tools with which to do His bidding. That’s why I encourage us to truly become followers of Jesus. And it doesn’t always mean we have to give up our material possessions, for sometimes the Lord even increases them. The whole issue is being willing to sacrifice our earthly and material well-being for our heavenly and spiritual good, if called upon to do so. As always my people, it’s in the motive, the rightness of our hearts that the Lord looks to judge us. So let’s concentrate on making our hearts right nuh, so when He checks them out, He’ll smile and say of each one, ‘Yes, there’s a true, upstanding and faithful servant.’ Much LOVE!…our sacrifices for Jesus…they are trivial…compared to His for us…
Oh Friends, isn’t it a lovely day out? Oh yes it is! Now I don’t really know that, since it’s still dark outside. (smile) But the weatherman predicted the day in my area would be bright and sunny and somewhere between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius. Wow! Spring-like temps in early March! And because I know that weather prediction is an inexact science, if a science at all, I take the weatherman’s view with a grain of salt; hoping it’s true, but not seriously holding my breath. Now that’s akin to faith, but not quite, for with faith there’s no doubt whatsoever. Whatever the Holy Trinity promises or says, it is the truth, and nothing but. So if Jesus says that ‘whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple,’ then we’d better believe it. If we don’t clean up our act and buckle down to His rules and thoughts then we won’t ever be a true follower of His. However, as a quote attributed to the famous English writer, W. Somerset Maugham states; ‘The unfortunate thing about this world is that good habits are so much easier to give up than bad ones.’ And we all know that’s gospel. But the fact remains that if we truly want to be in with Jesus, we have to give up some of the bad habits that the world glories in and develop more of the good ones that Jesus desires in His people. As we keep saying, it’s not easy, because our flesh naturally leans to the lusts of the world. Consequently, we have to plan very carefully if we intend to become believers. It’s not something to rush into without proper thought, planning and prayer. And I like how Jesus left no stone unturned when He ministered. After speaking Today’s Bit, He also explained it by giving examples. ‘For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply (perhaps), after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.’ (Luke 14:28-30) Becoming a follower of Jesus is like any other situation, we have to plan and prepare before we jump into it because if we don’t, we’re quite likely to find ourselves in above our heads, and won’t be able to function properly. It’s as Sol advised: ‘Prepare thy work without (work outside) and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterward build thine house,’ (Prov.24:27) Yes Friends, it’s always wise to have good plans for any project we intend to invest time and money in, and if possible make small mock-ups, or have trial runs to iron out any inconsistencies, before we get into the real McCoy. Jesus gave another example of being prepared. ‘Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth (considers) whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage (a delegation) and desireth (asks for) conditions of peace.’ (Luke 14:31-32) Mih breddren, as the old people always advised, ‘drunk or sober, mind yuh business.’ And is only a fool would hurry to fight twenty thousand with only ten thousand, unless the Most High God Jehovah explicitly says to do it. ‘So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.’ (Luke 14:33) Jesus reiterates His conditions for discipleship. Yes my people, we have to be willing to renounce or give up certain things for the Lord’s sake, and always be in a state of readiness to obey His dictates and do with our physical body, time and material possessions as He demands. And the rewards you ask? Now we should not be in it solely for the rewards, but because we LOVE, appreciate and are grateful that Jesus brokered our sins on the cross, but nonetheless, here’s Jesus’ reply to Peter in answer to that very question. ‘Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.’ (Mat.19:28-29) And all God’s people sang out a mighty: ‘Glory Hallelujah! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to be praised!’ Oh Friends, what can be better than that eh? Nothing! And please remember that the Lord never gives us more than we can handle, for He best knows our capacity, and He always provides the tools with which to do His bidding. That’s why I encourage us to truly become followers of Jesus. And it doesn’t always mean we have to give up our material possessions, for sometimes the Lord even increases them. The whole issue is being willing to sacrifice our earthly and material well-being for our heavenly and spiritual good, if called upon to do so. As always my people, it’s in the motive, the rightness of our hearts that the Lord looks to judge us. So let’s concentrate on making our hearts right nuh, so when He checks them out, He’ll smile and say of each one, ‘Yes, there’s a true, upstanding and faithful servant.’ Much LOVE!…our sacrifices for Jesus…they are trivial…compared to His for us…
SCRIP-BITS 