February 2017
February is here! As I ask myself what happened to January, I ponder what does the month of February have to offer? I came to the conclusion, OPPORTUNITY, to learn more of the WORD of GOD, to have experiences with the LORD JESUS, and then to live out what we have learned while being in the presence of JESUS.
I think of many who have the knowledge of God in their minds (head knowledge). They know good and well what the word of God says, they just feel it is so difficult to live it. To live for JESUS is difficult even to the point that Jesus warns us of “Two Ways of Life” in Matthew 7:12 therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Some have even felt compelled to confess to the LORD JESUS that they were sinners and they needed HIS Atoning Blood to forgive their sins. Please refer to John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-13. They even ask JESUS into their hearts and confessed HIM with their mouths. To be SAVED! Well Praise Be To GOD!
Now we come to our Will. What are we willing to do for the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who paid the penalty for our sin so that we could have life eternal with the FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT? It comes down to having a relationship with JESUS CHRIST! In every relationship there needs to be some sort of effort in making it work. In marriage it is 100% from each partner. So I have a couple of questions for you this month.
- Are you giving your 100 percent in your relationship with JESUS? If not, Why? If so, then what are you doing to help others see JESUS in your life? In your Church? In your Community?
- Are you willing to spend some quiet time with The LORD JESUS to seek out HIS WILL for your life day-to-day? If not, Why? If so, what is HE (JESUS) telling you to do for HIS GLORY?
Every day we have opportunity to show the world in which we live, who we are serving? I pray you are not self-serving? Is it all about you and what you can gain? BEWARE! Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
These are soul searching questions for all of us. Taking up the cross means, we are to seek out the LORD JESUS, learn HIS WORD, spend time developing our relationship with JESUS, and surrendering our WILL to HIS! As this occurs in our lives we will exhibit love toward others. These are the two commandments Jesus left with us. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.40On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Therefore, you and I are to be the example of GOD’s LOVE to the people in our world. However, the only way we will know this love is to experience it in the presence of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. This happens by spending time developing our relationship with HIM. Praying, reading the WORD of GOD, studying the WORD, reading devotionals, sharing time with other Christians, giving of our talents, money, and time to HIS church and learning how we can serve HIM.
February has many opportunities ahead for each of us. I pray that the LORD JESUS will open our eyes to see those opportunities and guide our paths so we may learn wonderful Truths from HIS WORD so we can live out HIS COMMANDS in our world! Have a blessed month of ministry!
Bro. Tony Antonelli