Bible Prophecy and Inspiration

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 – ¹¹ For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

We need to always be encouraging and not afraid to urge each other in living our lives for the Lord.  We feel like we lived worthy when we stand before the Throne of God.  Where as we know that only He is worthy and our worthiness comes from Him, we don’t want to face Him not living our lives for Him.  Comfort one another and help each other strive for this goal.

Philippians 3:12-14  –¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.

I’ve had some great memories in my past, but I don’t live for those.  This whole earth is going to be our past.  Everything worldly that we do is going to be gone and left behind.  Everything we do for our Lord is coming with us.  Everything the Lord has to offer lasts forever.

Who are the ones warning us about not living selfishly for the world today?  That would be our Creator and King along with the Holy Spirit.  I’m going to take Them at Their (His) Word.  I am going to trust Them.  I’m going to choose to listen when They say:

Matthew 6:19-20 – ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

James 5:3 –  ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

Revelation 3: 17-18- ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

The goal!  The goal is working for our Lord and His kingdom.

What if no one obeyed God?

It would be time for Him to close shop and move on to the next phase of eternity.

However, there are those who love Him.  We see this especially in their obedience.

Does the Lord care about obedience?

1 Samuel 15:22 – ²² But Samuel replied:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

Luke 11:28 – ²⁸ He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Very much so, in fact it’s what the Lord wants from us.  If we obey what He asks it means we’re loving Him, serving Him, and reaching others for Him which are lost.

The world is full of people who aren’t doing what He wants them to do, or that care about Him.

I see people who have gotten their lives closer to God.  They have a loving relationship with Jesus which wasn’t all that strong or much existent before.  As a result I see their families getting closer to the Lord.  Their obedience is helping to spread God’s love and power.

Obedience strengthens our own lives with God and it helps bring others to Him.  It is so important to seek and obey our Lord.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We really need to strive on the above scripture.  As a perfect God we have no idea how much He wants us to succeed in getting our hearts right with Him.  If we do that, we care about all those things mentioned above. 

 We’re in spiritual war and it’s for the hearts of men.

God wants us to live for Him and concentrate on eternity, not a fallen temporary abode in which we are trying to build a kingdom. 

I saw the movie the Bucket List.  The thing I don’t like about the Bucket list is people are trying to get things in before they die as if they will not have any opportunities in the future. 

I don’t know about you, but the Lord has put on my heart that real living begins at that time.  We have a job to do now and if we focus it on Him, the next step is going to be more glorious than ever.