Monday, July 20, 2015

[size=18pt]If Jesus Came to Your House[/size]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'"1

"Former President Harry Truman was famous for the long walks he took. Those were simpler days when he could take a walk like everyone else. One evening Truman decided to stroll to Memorial Bridge on the Potomac. While there, he grew curious about the mechanism that raised the middle span of the bridge. Making his way across the catwalks and through the inner workings of the bridge, he suddenly came upon the bridge tender, eating his supper out of a tin bucket.

"The man showed no surprise when he looked up and saw the most powerful man in the world. He just swallowed his food, wiped his mouth, smiled, and said, 'You know, Mr. President, I was just thinking of you.' It was a greeting Truman never forgot."2

President Truman's experience reminds us of the poem, "If Jesus Came to Your House." A poem that I read many years ago and found a copy on the web. It would be more applicable for me if it were, "If Jesus Came to My House."

"If Jesus came to your house to spend a day or two / If he came unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do. / Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest, / And all the food you'd serve to Him would be the very best, / And you'd keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there / That serving Him in your own home is joy beyond compare.

"But when you saw Him coming, would you meet Him at the door / With arms outstretched in welcome to your heavenly Visitor? / Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in? / Or hide some magazines and put the Bible where they'd been? / Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard? / And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

"Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out? / Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about? / And I wonder if the Savior spent a day or two with you, / Would you go right on doing the things you always do? / Would you go right on saying the things you always say? / Would life for you continue as it does from day to day? / Would your family conversation keep up its usual pace? / And would you find it hard each meal to say a table grace? / Would you sing the songs you always sing, / and read the books you read, / And let him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed? / Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you'd planned to go? / Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

"Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends? / Or would you hope they'd stay away until His visit ends? / Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on? / Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone? / It might be interesting to know the things that you would do? / If Jesus Christ in person came to spend some time with you."3

It would be very interesting if Jesus did come in person to your house and mine.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to so live that should Jesus turn up in my house in person, there would be nothing that I would be embarrassed or shamed about. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV).
2. The President Truman story is told in David McCullough's book, Truman, (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1992), 623, and recorded in Nelson's Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes by Robert J. Morgan.
3. Credited to Lois Blanchard Eades.

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http://www.actsweb.org/daily.php?id=1705

here we are now entertain us

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

[size=18pt]The Only Time We Ever Have

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."1[/size]

In his sermon, "Obedience," Warren Lamb said, "I used to have problems getting my son to clean his room. I would insist that he, 'Do it now,' and he would always agree to do so, but then he wouldn't follow through—at least, not right away.

"After high school he joined the Marine Corps, which is where he is now [or was at time of writing]. When he and I were on the plane together coming home for his leave after Boot Camp, he said to me, 'My life makes sense now, Dad. Everything you said and did when I was growing up now makes sense. I really, really understand.'

"Oh yeah, Dad," he added. "I learned what 'now' means."2

For all of us, the only time we ever have is now.

If God is urging you to make amends with a friend or loved one, do it now. If there is a job or responsibility you have been putting off, do it now. If God is calling you to accept his gift of salvation, remember NOW is the day of salvation. Be sure to do this today. For help go to: http:///8glq9 to read, "How to Be Sure You're a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank You for your Word that reminds me that the day of salvation is now—today. Please help me to do today what is the most important thing in my life, and especially to make sure my life is right with You. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus's name, amen."

1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV).
2. Warren Lamb, www.sermoncentral.com

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ROSSIKE:
Most people here who scream 'Jesus' everyday wouldn't let him in their front gate, never mind their front door, if he suddenly turned up.

It's not as though he would arrive in a shiny Jeep or helicopter....more like a bicycle or by walking - legs covered in dust, unshaven, and likely hungry. A far cry from their designer suit wearing pastor flaunting private jet. THAT'S who they'd welcome, NOT 'Jesus'.

Matthew 25 explains it all. But many of us who claim to be Christians don't practice what Jesus Christ taught us and is still teaching us every day from the closet to the pulpit and from the street to the internet.