The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Love

  • The Christian’s Goal

    I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
    Philippians 3:14

    Paul, the Apostle, lived as a mighty example of a Christ-like life. He had once tried serving a religion, but when he met Jesus, he understood the uselessness of it (see Philippians 3:1-10).            

    Although Paul was not perfect, he understood that the goal of his life was to follow Jesus – wherever that may lead him (remember, he wrote this letter to the church at Philippi from prison!). “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12). Paul understood something very important that Christians today should understand, too. “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). John wrote, understanding that without God loving us first, we could never love Him. Do you remember how God revealed His love to us? “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God sent His only Son, Jesus, to be the “propitiation for our sins.” This means that Jesus became the atoning sacrifice that God demanded for my sin, taking away my penalty of death – for Jesus died for me. Because of that, Paul declared, “I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” When Paul relinquished his will, trusting Christ, Paul had been saved. He then belonged to Jesus. However, living here on earth, he still lived in his physical body, in a world of sin. Nevertheless, Paul understood that by following after the things of Christ, he was becoming more like Christ. Because of that, Paul wanted to “apprehend” a Christ-like life. Moreover, one day Paul would be in heaven with Jesus, perfect in every way.

    Paul used a race to help understand something one cannot physically see. The Christian life is a spiritual one, and you cannot see the spirit. However, one can see the results of living a Christ-like life, and that is what Paul wanted Christians to understand. Just as in a race, one must focus the eyes upon the goal, the finish line, without looking back. “13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14). Each Christian is to strive to know God by understanding and living a Christ-like life.    

    How can a Christian who lives in this world possibly reach for and live a Christ-like life? Remember back to what Paul already told them in Philippians 2:5: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” No one can do it unless that Christian has the mind of Christ. Being like Jesus must be the goal in a Christian’s life. “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:15). Perfect means “full-grown in the knowledge of the truth in comparison to the babes in Christ.” Another way to understand it is that there are mature Christians who know and understand God’s Word. Be thus minded means “to think or sense mentally one and the same thing; as in ‘the same mind be in you as in Christ.’” Paul was setting himself up as an example of one who had learned to have the mind of Christ. The Christians were to follow his example, and any other who lived the same – and God would reveal the right Christian lifestyle example to follow. “16. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:16-17). Paul lived his Christian life becoming more like Christ. He was a great example to follow. Part of their Christian duty was to recognize fellow Christians who were striving to become more Christ-like, because they could be examples as well.

    However, Paul parenthetically gave an important warning. “18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” (Philippians 3:18-19). There are many who do not strive to be Christ-like, and instead become enemies of the cross. They were to recognize true followers of Christ, following them, and remember the enemies Paul warned them to avoid – those who mind earthly things.

    Paul reminded them of something important. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). Although we live here on this earth now, Paul wanted them to remember that a Christian’s home (the word conversation means “citizenship”) is (and one day will forever be) in heaven with Jesus. We are to look for Jesus, the Saviour, who will return for us one day.

    Do you have the mind of Christ, which enables you to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus?

  • How Can One Love Jesus?

    “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
    John 14:15

    Why is it so important to study the books of History and the Prophets in the Old Testament, along with the New Testament? “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). As we remember the history of Israel and Judah, we are to remember that God always dealt with his people. He warned of discipline for disobedience and promised restoration of His people when they repented. God is the same today. God disciplines Christians to bring them back to Him when they are not living according to the Bible’s teachings. “5. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:5-6). Remember, God loved us so much, He sent His only begotten Son to die upon the cross to pay for our sins. We are to show our love to Him by obeying His commands – remember Jesus’ words. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

    Recognize some things we just cannot help but notice. God has always warned His people to avoid sin and people who sin. “14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:14-19). 

    God has always called people to turn from their sin toward Him. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). These were encouraging words for the Israelites in King Solomon’s day.

    God wants people to live a just life, not a wicked life. God also warned us in the following verses.  “23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life … 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:23, 27). It is important to protect each heart – for what is placed in each individual’s heart will come out. Avoid wickedness and evil.

    Christians today are to recognize the destruction sin can do to a life. Remember what James teaches. “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15). Lust means “to satisfy the carnal appetites.” Christians are to choose to do what is right (what pleases God) over what we want to do. When we choose our own pleasures over God’s plan, it is sin and it brings death. Also, see the following verse. “As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death” (Proverbs 11:19). 

    Christians must also be careful that something that has the appearance of good is not just a form of godliness, denying the power of Jesus (never having known Jesus themselves). “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5). We are to be cautious and make sure that what seems good is something that is truly from God.

    There is something else important to recognize. Once one becomes a Christian and begins to follow the Lord, that person must forsake all of the things of their past life. When Jesus called his disciples, they forsook all to follow Him. “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him” (Luke 5:11). When the people in Ephesus believed in Jesus and confessed Him as their Lord. “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds” (Acts 19:18). Deeds means “an act, practice; works; meaning conduct.” They had to remove their “deeds” from their sinful past. “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:19). Curious arts means “a standard term for magic or black arts; pointing to the lengthy and various rituals involved in incantation ceremonies and the precision with which they were performed.” The people understood that they must eliminate theses wicked things from their lives. It did not matter to them the monetary cost.  They wanted to live a new life pleasing God. Once they did this, read what followed. “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed” (Acts 19:20). Many people were saved, and God’s Word was spread.

    Are you avoiding evil and eliminating wicked things from your life, choosing to obey Jesus’ commands?

  • Turn unto Me

     “Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.”
    Zechariah 1:3

    Have you ever made a wrong turn in traffic? Did you lose time with the error? Could you potentially become lost? If you have a GPS system that helps you find your way, it is much easier to stay on the chosen path. Moreover, if you make a wrong turn along the way, you may hear a voice say something like, “Wrong turn; recalculating your route.” Or maybe something like, “Make a U-turn at the next available intersection.” The idea is to let you know, immediately, that you are on the wrong course heading in the wrong direction. The sooner you correct the course, the fewer delays you have and the quicker you return to where you should be. The same is true in a Christian’s life. God has a plan (a course) for you to take. When you detour from that plan, it can cause you to lose time, or potentially become way off course. In the Old Testament, God often sent prophets to remind the people of God’s Word, to turn them around and put them back on the correct course (the plan God had for them).

    When God’s people were allowed to return home after the seventy years of captivity in Babylon, they once again needed to be reminded to turn back to God. See some of the prophet’s words from the Lord to the Israelites: “2. The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers. 3. Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. 4. Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD. 5. Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? 6. But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us” (Zechariah 1:2-6)

    Today, we are privileged to own our personal copies of God’s Word, the Bible. It is our responsibility to read our Bible, daily, to stay on the path God has for our lives. He is not going to send a prophet to you personally to remind you of what He has told you to do. Each Christian is to read their Bible to remember what God has told them to do according to His Word.

    The Israelites still failed to do what God asked them to do. They needed reminding – just as we often do.

    The following is a quick check list to consider how you are doing:

    • Do you have Jesus in your heart?
    • Do you read your Bible daily?
    • Do you obey what it says in God’s Word?
    • Do you realize when you are doing wrong?
    • Do you correct your course when you recognize you have detoured from what God has planned for you?

    Answering these questions will help you look at your own heart and life. God does – daily. Remember Job 7:17-18: “17. What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18. And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?” The word try here means “to test; to investigate, to examine, prove.”

    God loves those who belong to Him. He checks on you each day (much like a loving parent checks on a child) to see how you are doing.

    How are you doing?

    Are you keeping your life on the course God has planned for you?

    How to be Saved

  • Choose You This Day

    “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
    Joshua 24:15

    What would happen if you were faced with a generation of young people, most of which were never taught to love the Lord or obey His commands?

    In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses gave God’s commands to the new generation who wandered in the wilderness to prepare them to enter into the land God promised them. God gave him specific directions for His people. One of the greatest is found in Deuteronomy chapter six. “1. Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them … 2. That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged” (Deuteronomy 6:1-2).

    The people were taught God’s commandments.

    The people were to obey God’s commandments.

    The people were to teach these commandments to their children and their children’s children.

    Those words are extremely important. The following words are just as important. “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5). If they loved God with all of their heart, soul and might, their obedience would reveal that love of God.

    We just read that God’s people were taught to obey God’s Words and preserve them by teaching them to their children. The following verses help us understand the best way these things can be taught. “6. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7. And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). First, these words must be in the parents’ hearts. It would be then that they would be able to teach their children when they sit or when they walk. It is important to be able to teach children the principles found in God’s Word in everyday life situations when they arise. In the morning when they wake, ready to start a new day, with questions in their hearts and minds. As they get ready for bed, and have had challenging circumstances from the day. The Bible says for parents to teach their children the things of God diligently! We can clearly read in these verses the importance of a parent teaching their child of the ways of God, and to “love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Teaching children the commandments of God is important!

    Joshua led the people after Moses. He had learned much about the importance of loving the Lord and obeying His commands. At the end of Joshua’s life, before he died, he left a word that has been remembered throughout the ages: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). He understood the importance not only of knowing to love and obey the Lord himself, but to teach these things to his children. The whole family, together, would serve the Lord. By teaching it to his children, they would know how to live a life pleasing to God in this world. If you read the book of Judges, the book that immediately follows this statement by Joshua, you learn what kind of a nation they became. All because the people forgot God and failed to teach God’s commandments to their children. This is to be a warning to us today!

    Think about our world today. Does it sometimes appear that we live among a generation of young people, most of which were never taught to love the Lord, obeying His commands?

    Do you love and serve the Lord?

    Have you taught your children to love the Lord and obey His commands?

  • The Wrath of God

    “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
    John 3:36

    No one talks about the wrath of God anymore. What exactly is the wrath of God?  It is mentioned most often in the New Testament. One clear understanding of it is found in the reading of Romans chapter one. In that chapter, one can understand that God’s wrath is holy and just in its indignation against sin. It is so much more than just anger at the willingness of people to continue in sin, it is extreme anger mingled with disgust or abhorrence of that sin.

    Doesn’t God love people? See what Jesus said in the following verses:

    • “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
    •  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
    •  “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).
    •  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

    Why would God, who is known for His great love, condemn people? People condemn themselves because they have chosen to not believe in Jesus (the Light) and instead love darkness – because their deeds are evil. John summed up the consequences in the last verse of that chapter. It tells what becomes of one who does not believe that Jesus came to die and take away the sin of each individual who would only believe. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36)

    How can one escape the wrath of God? It is declared simply in the Scriptures: “9. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). In doing this, one must turn from idols (anything that is more important than God – including self) and serve the living God. One must also understand that Jesus, God’s Son, is the only One who can deliver one from the wrath to come. “9. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10. And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). We are now waiting for Jesus to come and take us out of the world before the wrath of God comes. The book of Revelation gives us a glimpse into the wrath of God that will be unleashed upon the earth one day (not to mention in eternity for those who have already died in their sin). One only needs to read the chapters of fourteen and fifteen of Revelation to understand just how bad the wrath of God that will befall those left on the earth.

    Now having understood from John chapter three that the wrath of God abides upon people who do not believe in Jesus, each person has a choice to make:

    Believe on the Son and have everlasting life

    Or

    Believe not the Son and have the wrath of God abide upon them.

    Have you made the choice to believe in Jesus, choosing life?

    How to be Saved

  • God Loves You

    “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
    Romans 5:8

    What does it mean when someone says that God loves you?

    Paul was zealous for God. He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees (this means he was very religious!). He knew God’s Word – better than most people. He went to the Temple (church to us today) all of the time. And when there was a new Way (Christianity) in town, he fought against it. Read what Paul wrote, “13. For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14. And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:13-14). In his persecution of the church of God, he even imprisoned those who believed in Jesus.

    Paul went on a special trip to find more of those who believed in Jesus, when he met Jesus for himself. He found out just how much God loved him. See how he understood what Jesus did for him: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God showed Paul how much He loved him by sending His Son, Jesus, to die for Paul, a sinner. That changed Paul’s life! He no longer went about persecuting those who gave their hearts and lives to Jesus, he became one of the most well known preachers in the New Testament! He completely changed.

    Paul penned the book of Romans for us to read. Within that book, one cannot help but recognize the sinfulness of people, the penalty of death for each person because of that sin, and the need of the Saviour, Jesus (the only One who can take away that penalty of sin). He explained the reason Jesus came into this world. Remember that God gave His Son, because He loves you!

    With that thought in mind, see the following: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God is waiting for you to come to repentance and know His Son, Jesus.

    When should you answer His call? “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Today is that day. Do not wait! 

    Read the following message Paul preached to those who placed their faith and trust in Jesus: “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Romans 6: 22).

    Now can you see just how much God loves you?

    How to be Saved

  • Those Who Love God

    “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
    Romans 8:28

    Have you ever had something bad happen to you? According to Romans 8:28, if we are Christians (have Jesus in our hearts and lives), and are living according to God’s Word doing what God wants us to do with our lives, everything will work out for good – even if it seems like something bad at the time. There is a great picture of this lived out in the life of Elijah. Even when the king and queen wanted Elijah dead, God provided for him and took care of him.

    In Elijah’s day, the nation of Israel had already divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah. The kingdom of Israel never had a good king. The worst was King Ahab. God called Elijah to speak to wicked King Ahab. God sent Elijah to tell the king there would be no rain in the land; and there was a drought for over three years. God provided for Elijah during the drought. He sent Elijah to the brook Cherith where he had water. God sent ravens to bring him food. When the brook dried up, God sent him to Zarephath where a widow woman took care of him until the end of the drought. After over three years, God sent Elijah back to King Ahab with a great challenge. Elijah told him to have all of Israel to meet on top of Mount Carmel. He called for a decision from the people. Choose who the true God is. After Elijah’s great victory when fire fell from heaven and consumed his offering, the people declared, “The Lord, He is the God.” Because Elijah had all of the false prophets killed, Queen Jezebel, Ahab’s wicked wife, wanted him dead. Elijah ran for his life. We learn that God had not forgotten Elijah, for He showed Himself to Elijah in a still small voice. Elijah thought he was the last one who loved and served God. But God told him that there seven thousand others that had not served the false gods. Therefore, Elijah was not alone. However, more than this reassurance, he gave Elijah a helper – Elisha. Through all of this, we can learn that even though the nation as a whole had forsaken God and turned to idol worship, there were still those who had not forsaken God. Elijah was a great example of God providing for one who was willing to give his life wholly to serve God, obeying His every command. We should remember the encouragement God gave to Elijah when he was greatly discouraged – and even fearful for his life (see 1 Kings 17-20). Remember Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Especially that all things will work together for good if one is living the life God would have them to live. It is important to trust that God will provide for our every need.

    During days where there are trying times and all seems to be going wrong, stop and look at your heart and life. Seek God to see if you are where you should be, doing what you should be doing. If you seek Him with all of your heart, you can find Him. “11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD …” (Jeremiah 29: 11-14a).  

    If we will obey God, God will provide for us and take care of us – no matter what.

    Are you living for God, trusting that He will work all things together for good?

  • Seek God Early

    The most important thing a human being can do is to seek after God. God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son to die upon the cross – just so we could have a relationship with Him! All we must do is to love Him enough to seek after Him. (Read Romans 10:8-13 to see what to do when you find Him.) Proverbs 8:17 tells us that God loves those who love Him. “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me”(Proverbs 8:17). It also says that those who seek him early will find Him. But did you notice the word “early” in that verse? The word “early” means be up early at any task with the implication of earnestness and by extension to search for painstakingly. One must earnestly seek God early. The best time is to seek God first thing each morning. Not only will you not run out of time during the day to spend with Him, but the course of your day will be better set by seeking Him early.

    It is not only important to seek God early in each day, but early in one’s life. The earlier a child (or even a young person) begins to seek after God, the easier it will be for them to find Him. The older a person gets, the less likely they will find it important enough to seek after God. There are many excuses; too many to even try to list. But the longer one waits in their life, the less likely they will even try to seek earnestly after God.

    But there is so much more than just this one verse. What happens when one loves God and chooses to seek Him early – finding Him? Read what God says in the verses that follow that one: “18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (Proverbs 8:18-21). God has all of the riches, righteousness, and fruit (reward) better than gold or silver. God leads into the paths of righteousness, causing those that love Him to inherit substance. Our treasures will be filled by God, Himself! What better life could one hope to have?

    But it all begins with loving God enough to seek after him diligently.

    Things in this life should never keep us from seeking God or the things of God.

    Have you sought after God?

  • The Door

    Something has happened in my lifetime. When I was a young person growing up in church, everything was about Jesus. Jesus loved me. Jesus died on the cross for my sin.

    Sin?

    What sin?

    I learned that disobedience to any of God’s commands was sin. And that sin separated me from God. In church, I learned that that separation from God could be restored – but only by Jesus’ death on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin. Once I heard this, I wanted to have that relationship restored. I didn’t want to be separated from God for eternity. Once I recognized that I had sinned, and wanted God to forgive me of that sin, I trusted Jesus was the only One who could take that sin away (see John 14:6).

    But something has happened in most churches. What Jesus did on the cross to take away sin is only mentioned once in a blue moon. Now the focus has turned to the thought that God loves everyone. He wants us to love everyone. The way to show the world that we love them is to bring them into the church, just as they are, and the church will minister to them. The church shows love by meeting any physical or emotional need they may have. Meeting those needs is a wonderful way to show the love of God – but only if one has first showed them that Jesus is that love of God. Remember “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God’s love is revealed in the death of Jesus on the cross to pay the penalty for individual’s sin in order to restore that broken relationship. By not making this the primary message in the churches today, many churches have in essence pushed Jesus out of the door and closed it. It’s almost as if many churches have made their own door (good works, meeting people’s needs) and replacing Jesus as the Door of the sheep. That is the condition of the church in the final church age, portrayed in Revelation 3:14-22.  They are doing so well, doing works, that they don’t even realize they are in need. Because the churches as a whole are so busy doing good works, they have forgotten to share the message of Jesus and His death to take away individual people’s sin as the Only Way to truly help anyone. Remember what Paul wrote: “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3). Remember that the “righteousness of God” is Jesus. This is a picture of what is happening.

    But as we see in Revelation 3:20, Jesus is still available to any one who will open the Door (for Jesus is the Door, see John 10:7) to allow Jesus inside. He will come inside, and there can be sweet fellowship. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

    Are you someone who has allowed Jesus to be pushed out, forgetting why He came?

    Will you be willing to open the door and let Him back in?

    Make sure that you find a church that still faithfully presents the Gospel message of Jesus, the only way to be saved. Make sure that He is the primary focus of your life.

    “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:22).

  • Lesson 13 (Lesson 52): Jesus in the Old Testament: Jesus our Friend

    Key Verse

    “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if any of them have friends.  What characteristics make someone your friend? (i.e.: dependable, good listener, kind, always there, etc.)  Read today’s memory verse to your class.  Ask if any of them have a friend like that.  Would they, themselves, be the kind of friend that would lay down their life for another person?  The best friend in the world we could ever have is Jesus.  Today we will look at Jesus’ prayer in the garden on the night he was arrested.  Have them pay attention to what was on Jesus’ heart and mind as we read His prayer in the garden the night before He died on the cross.

    Summary:  We have been studying the five Personal Books of the Old Testament.  As we have learned, these books dealt with individuals’ very personal experiences with God.  We have been able to see some serious heart issues as these individuals sought to know and understand God better.  In studying them, we should now understand how very personal of a God we serve.  When these men cried out for answers, God answered.

    If you remember last week, we learned of a perfect love and compared it to a Christian’s love with God.  Just as God loved us and sent His Son, Jesus, we are to love Him with all of our hearts.  If our students can learn to love Jesus with all of their hearts, then their hearts will be prepared to one day love a man or a woman.  Remember, Christians are the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25:  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”.  Compare this thought to today’s memory verse.)

    Today we will see the heart of Jesus revealed as He prayed in the garden on the eve of his arrest and crucifixion.  Just as the men who wrote the Personal Books laid their hearts open and bare for us to read about, Jesus’ prayer revealed the deepest and innermost thoughts of His heart.  Notice how He first dealt with himself, then his disciples He would be leaving behind, and finally with those who hadn’t believed upon Him yet – many of which hadn’t even been born yet (that is you and me.)  After this great prayer, we then look back at Psalm 22 which foretold of Jesus’ suffering death upon the cross, realizing Jesus knew He was about to lay down His life for His friends.  This is the greatest picture of a friend (see today’s key verse).  Jesus is the greatest friend because He gave up His life for me (and anyone who would believe).

    Just as we have been learning how to relate to God as the men who recorded the Personal Books, Jesus is our ultimate example of one who was not afraid to make His petitions known to God – knowing He would answer.  He is also a perfect example of the kind of friend we are to be to others.  Remember, the people He prayed for were the same people He gave His life for – His friends.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  Jesus is our ultimate example of the kind of friend we are to be – willing to give all.

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 52 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 52 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  For today’s lesson give your students a blank piece of paper.  Have them write down some of their friend’s names.  Once they have finished this, have them think of something specific that they can pray about for each friend. (Examples:  maybe their friend is sick, or maybe they are on vacation, or maybe they are not very truthful and need prayer, maybe they have a friend who is especially mean to others and need prayer to help them be kinder, etc.)  Over all, encourage them to see needs in their own hearts and lives and the lives of others for which they can pray  Children, too, need to learn the importance of prayer.  And they will be encouraged and blessed as they see a prayer that they have written down answered!

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.