Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: Jesus is the same yesterday today and forever

Be ye Steadfast :: In your belief in God

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On July 16, 2012

In Be ye steadfast, Christian

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). Recently, after my beloved wife, Sangeetha checked the weight of our darling 6 year old firstborn son, Reuben’s, she was concerned as he had no change in weight for a considerable period of time. Out of love and concern, she was counseling him that he ought to eat well so that he can grow physically. When they were sharing the constancy of his weight with me, I used the opportunity to jokingly express to Reuben, that when we teach him, that he ought to be like Jesus, the same yesterday, today and for ever, the matter of his weight is not what we were talking about. Reuben asked me, “Really, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and for ever?” and I responded affirmatively and assuredly, “Absolutely!”

The Bible teaches us that Jesus is stedfast; the same yesterday, today and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). He is good and his mercies are stedfast (endures for ever) (Psalm 136). Even Darius, a foreign king, recognized this, when Daniel, was miraculously saved from the lions, by God, who sent his angel to shut the mouth of the lions, because Daniel believed in God (Daniel 6:22-23). And when Darius recognized this, he made a decree that in every dominion of his own kingdom, men should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. Why? Because God is a living God and stedfast for ever and God’s kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall be unto the end (Daniel 6:26).

Points to ponder:
God is a good God and his mercies endures for ever. He is a living and stedfast God. Do you and I tremble and fear before this living and stedfast God, who is the same yesterday, today and for ever? Are we stedfast in our belief as was Daniel? Is our belief so stedfast (unmoveable) that the kings (rulers/powers/authorities) of this world would recognize the indestructible nature of God’s kingdom and his very own nature as Sovereign (ruling over all), Stedfast and Living?

Daniel 6:22-23…26 (KJV)
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
…
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever [is stedfast].

Psalm 136:1-26 (KJV) 
1 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth [is stedfast] for ever.

Jesus Calls :: Known, Know and Follow

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On June 22, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd and his people as the sheep who know him and are known by him (John 10:14) and then he went on to add that “my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). When Jesus calls, his people hear his voice and he knows them and his people respond by following him. They follow him because they know him. What does it mean to know Jesus? To know Jesus is to believe in him, the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), which is eternal life (John 17:3).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as he expressed. He knows his sheep and he calls them. His sheep know him, hear his voice and follow him.

Points to ponder:
Does Jesus, the chief and good Shepherd, know you/me? Do you/I hear the voice of Jesus, the chief Shepherd? Do you/I know him? i.e., Are you/I assured of eternal life? If you/I know him and you/I hear his voice, do you/I respond by FOLLOWING him. Jesus calls – “Follow me”.

John 10:14 , 27-28 (KJV)
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
…
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Jesus Calls :: Finding

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On June 21, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called Philip, the Bible records that he found him (John 1:3). Jesus sought out and found Philip before telling him, “Follow me.”

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today to follow him and to be his disciple is very similar. He seeks you and me out and he finds you and me, before he asks us to follow him. Imagine this, that the God of the universe is seeking you to find you as a good shepherd seeks out the sheep that is lost (Luke 15:4).

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he seeks you to find you. The question that remains, which demands an answer is, Have you in turn sought Jesus and found him and when you find him, are you willing to follow him, as he has concisely and precisely commanded?

John 1:43 (KJV)
43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Luke 15:2-7 (KJV)
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Jesus Calls :: Precisely

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On June 20, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called his disciples, he was very precise. When he saw Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, the fishermen, he called them by saying “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19). He was very specific about what he wanted his followers to be – fishers of men.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as precise as it was when he called Simon Peter and Andrew. His call today for you and me is “Follow him” so that he can make us fishers of men.

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he has precisely commanded us to be made “fishers of men”, when we follow him.

Matthew 4:18-20 (KJV)
18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Jesus Calls :: Concisely

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On June 19, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

When Jesus called his disciples, he was very concise, often using just a few words. When he saw Matthew, the tax collector (who was despised by his own people for his profession and deemed a sinner), he concisely commanded “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9). He isn’t garrulous in his call and is very direct. Jesus did not see Matthew for who he was (a sinful tax collector) but who he was going to be (his disciple).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as direct and concise as it was when he called Matthew, to be his disciple. He does not see us today for who we are, but who we are going to be as his disciple. His call today for you and me is concise – “Follow me” (to be his disciple).

Points to ponder:
Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart, but respond to “Follow Jesus Christ” for he has concisely commanded – “Follow me.”

Matthew 9:9 (KJV)
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 

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