“…do not worry about your LIFE, what you will EAT or what you will DRINK; or about your body, what you will PUT ON. Is not life MORE THAN FOOD and the body MORE THAN CLOTHING?” (Matthew 6:25) So, what is more important than doing what will keep us alive?
This is what Jesus says is more important! “I say to you, do not worry about your LIFE, what you will EAT or what you will DRINK; nor about your body, what you will PUT ON. IS NOT LIFE MORE than food and the body more than clothing…SEEK FIRST the KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all THESE THINGS (our food, drink and clothing) shall BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Matthew 6:25, 33)
Jesus teaches us that putting Him and His Word first must be our priority! “…whoever HEARS these sayings of Mine, and DOES THEM, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and IT DID NOT FALL, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and DOES NOT DO THEM, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and IT FELL. And GREAT WAS ITS FALL.” (Matthew 7:24-27) If we seek the wrong thing first, GREAT will be OUR FALL…
So, how many will actually fall? “Enter by the NARROW GATE (this means we must listen and obey); for WIDE IS THE GATE and broad is the way that LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, and there are MANY WHO GO IN BY IT. Because NARROW IS THE GATE and difficult is the way which LEADS TO LIFE, and there are FEW WHO FIND IT.” (Matthew 7:13-14) Jesus illustrates this truth another way, “Then the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN shall be LIKENED (homoioō: illustrate by comparisons) to TEN VIRGINS who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now FIVE (1\2 of them) OF THEM WERE WISE, and FIVE WERE FOOLISH. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took NO OIL with them, but the wise TOOK OIL in their VESSELS with their LAMPS.” (Matthew 25:1-4) Half of the church was not prepared (oil represents our relationship with the Holy Spirit) THEY WERE NOT SAVED! How many? HALF of them so, they went to buy oil (trying to get right…) “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready WENT IN WITH HIM to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But Jesus answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’” (Matthew 25:10-12)
THINKING WE ARE OK DOES NOT MAKE US OK, WE MUST TURN AWAY FROM SIN AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham