I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL…

Yesterday my daughter was asked to look at a house for someone. She asked if I wanted to go along and I did. The owners were home when we went in with the realtor, which is unusual. After we toured the house we all stood in the kitchen chatting. Such a sweet elderly couple I thought, I wish I could give them one of the tiny Bible booklets (tract) that I give out. Then I wondered if it was appropriate to give out a Bible tract in a situation such as this. But after thinking about who Jesus is, I thought yes, it absolutely is appropriate!

Colossions 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

I almost felt it was insulting to the Lord to even think it would be inappropriate to include him!

But how?

When?

It was starting to look like a lost opportunity, but as we said our goodbyes and headed out the door I was one of the last ones going out. I turned around and gave the husband a Bible tract. I think he said thank you, but I clearly remember he said “I understand”. His expression told me he probably saw it as a kind jesture, but his expression also told me he wasn’t receiving it, even though he took it.

After we left my daughter said there were things around the home indicating that they were probably Jewish. How did I miss that! I had a similar booklet tract in my purse specifically for Jewish people! When I got home I pulled out the Jewish tract from my purse and read it. It had a few Messianic prophecies but no Jesus, no gospel. Now I was happy that I gave him the other tract! Did the Lord blind me to the fact that they were Jewish? Probably!

I wish I could have sat down with that sweet elderly couple. I would have shared, if they let me, the Old Testament prophecies concerning Jesus, and shared the love of Jesus in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

So little time.

A moment.

A little tract.

But the Lord can use it.

Bless his holy name.

Jesus Christ and the Fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

CHOICES: Lead me, O LORD

Psalm 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

Spurgeon:

“Lead me, O Lord,” as a little child is led by its father, as a blind man is guided by his friend. It is safe and pleasant walking when God leads the way.

Brethren, when we have learned to give up our own way, and long to walk in God’s way, it is a happy sign of grace; and it is no small mercy to see the way of God with clear vision straight before our face. Errors about duty may lead us into a sea of sins, before we know where we are.

Benson:

Lead me, O Lord —

Make the way — Wherein thou wouldst have me to walk, or the course thou wouldst have me to take;

straight before my face — Plain to my view, that I may clearly discern it, and readily, evenly, and smoothly walk in it without mistake, hinderance, or stumbling,…

Barnes:

Make thy way straight before my face – The way in which thou wouldst have me to walk. That is, mark out or make plain before me the path for me to tread – the path in which thou wilt deliver me. He was in perplexity, and knew not which way to go, and he looks up to God for guidance and direction.

Matthew Poole:

Thy way, i.e. the way wherein thou wouldst have me to walk, or the course which thou wouldst have me to take; for God’s precepts or counsels are most commonly called his way.

Straight, or plain, or smooth, that I may clearly discern it, and readily walk in it, without mistake, or let, or stumbling, or offence. This was a needful request, because many good men are oft at a loss what their duty is in several circumstances. And God granted this request to David, as in many other things, so in this,…

Gill:

Make thy way straight before my face; thy way of providence, thy way of grace, thy way of worship and duty; let it appear plain and manifest, that I may know in which way I should walk; and let all obstructions be removed out of the way, that I may walk straight on, without any difficulty or hinderance.

Cambridge:

The prayer for guidance which is the main object and central thought of the Psalm.

CHOICES: How Can We Protect Ourselves From Making Wrong Choices

“Many choices in life are like that. At the time they don’t seem significant. But those choices set in motion a series of events which shape your life and the lives of your children and grandchildren after you.”

“Since seemingly small decisions can have such momentous consequences, how can we protect ourselves from making wrong choices? The story of Lot’s choice (Gen. 13:5-18) teaches a crucial lesson about life’s choices:”

“Since choices often result in eternally significant consequences, we must choose in line with God’s principles.”

Continue reading… here.

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Read… Genesis 13

CHOICES and CONSEQUENCES

Make wise choices.

Your choices have consequences.

Consequence:

1. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier:

2. an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.

dictionary .com

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John Ker:

(Excerpt)

“II. CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF LOT’S CHOICE.

As he made worldly advantage his chief aim, he failed in gaining it.

Twice he lost his entire possessions;

he left Sodom poorer than he entered it.

He was stripped of the labours of years, and dared not even look behind on the ruin of his hopes.

Lot’s choice showed disregard of religious privileges.

The sins of the men of Sodom were of a peculiarly gross and inhuman kind;

had Lot’s religion been warm and bright he would not have ventured among them.

He may have excused himself to his conscience by saying that he was going to do good, but when he left Sodom he could not count a single convert.

Lot’s disregard of spiritual privileges brought on him a bitter entail of sin and shame.

His own religious character suffered from his sojourn in Sodom.

This alone can account for the grievous termination of his history.

His life remains as a warning against the spirit of worldliness.

Both worlds frequently slip from the grasp in the miserable attempt to gain the false glitter of the present.”

Full sermon… here

https://biblehub.com/sermons/auth/ker/a_worldly_choice_and_its_consequences.htm

CHOICES

Choose what is best for you spiritually.

Proverbs 21:11 …when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

Gill:

when the wise is instructed; by others, superior to him in wisdom; by the ministers of the Gospel, by reading and hearing the word of God, and the writings of good men; or by corrections and chastisements:

he receiveth knowledge; the wise man receives it, he attends to the instruction given him, and improves in knowledge:

Genesis 13:12-13 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Matthew Henry:

Abram having offered Lot the choice, he at once accepted it. … Lot looked to the goodness of the land; therefore he doubted not that in such a fruitful soil he should certainly thrive. But what came of it? Those who, in choosing relations, callings, dwellings, or settlements, are guided and governed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, or the pride of life, cannot expect God’s presence or blessing. They are commonly disappointed even in that which they principally aim at.

In all our choices this principle should rule, That is best for us, which is best for our souls.

Lot little considered the badness of the inhabitants… It has often been the vexatious lot of good men to live among wicked neighbors; and it must be the more grievous, if, as Lot here, they have brought it upon themselves by a wrong choice.

JFB:

Then Lot chose him all the plain—a choice excellent from a worldly point of view, but most inexpedient for his best interests. He seems, though a good man, to have been too much under the influence of a selfish and covetous spirit: and how many, alas! imperil the good of their souls for the prospect of worldly advantage.