Is three generation of imbeciles enough?
When I hear a question like the above, I seriously think of Jesus prophecy on, 'this generation will not pass'; He is speaking of future events. Jesus had already told those living during His earthly ministry that the kingdom had been taken from them (Matthew 21:43). Therefore, it is imperative that Matthew 24-25 be seen as dealing with a future time. The word generation refers to the people alive in the future when the events of Matthew 24-25 take place; namely, the people living when the predicted events occur.
Essentially, Jesus is saying that, once the events of the end times begin, they will happen quickly. The age of grace has continued for a very long time. But when the time for judgment finally arrives, things will be wrapped up without delay.Are you ready?Do not delay another moment. Trust Christ now.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39
God is for us, says Paul in the above scripture,Christ’s faithfulness—and ours, by God’s grace—overcomes the worst that life and work can do to us. If career progress, income, or prestige is our highest goal at work, we may end up disappointed. But if salvation—that is, reconciliation with God and people, faithfulness, and justice—is our chief hope, then we will find it amid both the good and bad in work. Paul’s affirmations mean that no matter what the difficulties we encounter with our work, or the complexities and challenges we face with co-workers or superiors in our workplaces, the love of God in Christ always abides with us. The love of God in Christ is the steadying force in the midst of adversity now, as well as our hope for bodily redemption in the future.
And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.Genesis 1:29 So why be fearful? How does someone taste and share the goodness of God? (Daily)
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." This certainly includes a life characterized by goodness. In letting the Holy Spirit control, us, we are blessed with the fruit of goodness. As others see our good works, they will praise our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
I get it. Your favorite restaurant is a,“all you can eat restaurant”? Unlimited food. These restaurants give you all-you-can-eat for one fixed price. You grab a plate, fill it with food, eat, and repeat. As many times as, you want with less need for faithful servers. Sounds like a pretty good deal, but how do these restaurants make any money? With just a few ploys, like using smaller plates, putting cheap items towards the front (carbs we can’t resist), and using drinks to off-set other costs, all-you-can-eat restaurants are able to accomplish the same goal as any other, as they share their strategiesof good news with “food”. Get people in the entrance?Then, just below a large board displaying that good news food, it usually says “thank you for not sharing. Those last words were certainly understandable in that context of a business trying to make money. However, it is very different in the Christian Church? Where there is an unstoppable impulse to share the Good News of Jesus the Bread of life daily as we join Jesus on his mission. Or is it?
However, due to the sinful natures we all possess (Romans 2:10,23), my question arises, how do we share the Gospel and with whom? we often allow selfishness to rule instead of sharing and generosity. Regardless of chronological age, we can still be toddlers in our attitudes. We don’t want to share. Beneath our plastic smiles and socialized responses, our sinful hearts may be thinking, “What’s mine is mine, and what’s yours should be mine.” Sharing is seen as a nice concept that makes me full on the outside, but a little too uncomfortable to put into practice.
I have read portions of the passage from Roman 8:31-39 (particularly vs 31-39) out loud at countless sickbeds. Often, I have read them when it was unlikely that I would be seeing a gravely ill person again on this earth. Never have I failed to be comforted personally by these affirmations, even as I trust that the patient and relatives were too.
However, this is not just for hospital rooms. Paul writes to encourage the Christians in Rome, in their often-hostile environment, to keep the faith. Be confident in Christ no matter what. Whatever happens, says Paul, God is going to keep working with those who love him (vs28) for the supreme good, namely to become like Jesus Christ (vs 29).
Christian sharing can take many forms, but it is the heart attitude that matters to God (Matthew 6:2-4). We who have been bought and set apart by the blood of Jesus must be eager to share what He has entrusted to us, whether it be time, energy, or resources. Sharing reminds us that we are not to set our affections on things of this earth, nor store up treasures that have no eternal value (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:20). Sharing also keeps us humble, frees us from the love of money, or all we can eat and teaches us to die to ourselves Romans 6:6; 1 Timothy 6:10). We are most like Jesus when we freely share ourselves with those He brings into our lives.
Wow! to be like Jesus! This very day, in your little victories and your trying moments, take heart that in everything God works for good!
God Bless You and This Ministry!
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