Happiness...... The stuff dreams are made of. Each of us has our own concept of what happiness is. It may be a relationship, riches, success or even health. It can be simple or very complex. What we believe in regards to this subject can be either the life or death of us. So I ask you to carefully consider your own pursuit of happiness. What are you seeking after and where do you spend your time and energies finding this elusive dream.
As always, I will share with you from the pages of the Bible. I was reading this morning and came across a passage in Luke 11:28 where someone was making a statement regarding the blessing Jesus' mother must have regarding Him. HIS response was rather enlightening. Jesus said...."More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it."
Wow! How many of us actually realize the power of this statement? It seems so simple yet it is full of lifechanging truth. It is a two fold statement. On one hand HE pronounces a blessing to all who hear the word of God. Secondly, HE also promises a blessing to those who keep it. Let's think these through.....
If we are to receive the promised blessing then we must understand what Jesus actually is saying to them and us! The word for hear in the original languages tells us that Jesus did NOT mean someone who just heard the bible but it means a hearing with understanding. Not just hearing the sound but discerning the sound heard. Now to apply it to us in this context we must understand what we hear regarding the word of God, the Bible.
Let's think through this today. How do we gain understanding of the Bible? Of course one way is to be faithful to the house of God where the Bible should be preached everytime you gather for service. If you aren't in a Bible believing , Bible preaching church then you have a serious dilema. How will you be blessed if the church you attend rejects the Bible? This is a SERIOUS issue!!! God has designated that through the "foolishness" of preaching the Bible that people will be saved from the wrath to come. This would be like going to a doctor that does not believe his medical journals to be accurate so he or his clinic rejects the authority of them and devises his own course of healing. Would you go???? Not me friend! I would call him a fruit loop and move on to someone who believed!
Why would we not apply this to our church? Because we have always gone there? Because mom and dad raised me there? Because I like the singing? Because I like the preacher and he is friendly? It is convenient? This list could go on and on. Let me simply say in closing out today's blog.... The first thing we should do is place ourselves in the best place for God to bless us and our families. If that means making some changes then so be it. Let go of the mundane and put yourself in the best place to encounter God. Are you where you can hear His word faithfully proclaimed? If so... keep up the good work. If not make the change! You will be glad you did. He has promised to bless you and I but we are responsible to do our part....We'll see the rest of this later!!!
Blessings,
Bruce
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