Wisdom 3:1-9
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.
I have had many a person scoff at my Christianity. To them it seems like a waste of time, "why do it?" I have been asked bluntly. My answer, "It makes me happy." I know this might sound stupid or uneducated but 'STUFF' no longer has an appeal, and as a father of 6 I get to stand at a distance and watch my children react to 'STUFF'. It's not good. Don't get the impression that we don't have a TV or radio, that we pee in an outhouse and we use to sticks to light a fire. We have all the normal amenities but I watch how the kids react when they get too much screen time. It's just not worth it and down right unhealthy. I am a Christian because it makes me happy and I wouldn't want to live an eternity without God. I've seen too much in this life to believe that he is not real. So if I gotta take a little flack because my faith so be it.
John 6:37-40
Jesus said to the crowds:
"Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
"Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
Jesus turns away no one. People may turn you away but Jesus turns away NO ONE. It's a strange world we live in but know that certain things hold the test of time. One of those things is God's love for you. He wants to save you. Maybe you don't think you need saving. I would pray on it. Maybe you think Jesus is a joke. I urge you, pray on it. Jesus loves you and wants to save you because you are a beautiful person that deserves God's love, but you have to choose. There will be an end. You will die. Your soul will need a place to go till the resurrection. What do you choose?
Jesus,
This world can throw a lot at a person and it doesn't seem fair, but when I think of what you went through I cant deny you. I can't say to myself that any minor discomforts on your behalf are too much. I have no nails in my hands or feet, no crown of thorns on my head, haven't been whipped till the skin has been ripped of me, haven't been spit on, beat and mocked by crowds walking down the street. If I do some day please give the the strength to bare it all as you did. I love you without pause. You have my heart and soul in your hands. Please make me worthy or your kingdom.
In Jesus Christ's name I pray,
Amen
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