by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 6:33-34
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Worry produces bitter fruit. Try to recall the times that you have worn yourself out worrying about something only to realize that you really didn’t need to worry about it. There were other times when pain and suffering came so unexpectedly that you had no time to worry about it. So why worry?!
There’s another passage of Scripture in the same sermon that Jesus shared with the people on the Mount. It is found in Matthew 6 verse 27; “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” The answer to this question of course is that no one can profit by worrying. So why worry!
The alternative to worry is to obey the command of our Lord. And what is that command? We read it very plain in verse 23. We are to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness before anything else. Before we worry, before we fret, before we stew, before we lose sleep, we seek to know and experience God and his fullness.
The next time you are prone to worry I urge you immediately to stop and begin quoting every Scripture that you have ever memorized. If you have not memorized any carry a little 3 x 5 card with some meaningful Scripture on it. Feast on it do not worry about the details of life!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 25, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 24:32-35
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”
Some things never seem to change while at the same time some things seem to be in a constant state of change. One of the things that always changes is the weather. We can complain about how cold it is or how hot it is, but all we have to do is wait for a while and it will change.
Sometimes we attend some function such as a wedding or a family reunion and see a young person that looks strangely familiar and yet we cannot place them. Hesitantly we ask who they are. The answer is that they were once a tiny child we knew, but now they have grown up.
We can become far more introspective if we will look at a picture of ourselves when we were younger and then look in the mirror. Yikes! I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be so personal about that, but it illustrates my point. We go through the seasons of life from youth, to young adult, to adult, and to be kind we call it, “mature adult.”
In today’s Scripture, Jesus is giving a prophetic look at the future. His reference to the fig tree has largely been interpreted as referring to the birth of nation Israel. That being the case He says that the generation that sees the birth of this new nation will signal His soon return. The seasons of His coming are close! Be ready!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 19, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:16
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
My wife, Joyce had a tradition that on the birthday of one of our family or loved ones who had passed on to be with the Lord she would light a candle and burn it all day in memory of that precious one. Last Sunday, May 10, was Mother’s Day but it was also Joyce’s birthday. Early in the day I turned on a LED candle . . . one of those tiny candles that I had purchased at the Dollar Tree. My experiences with these candles are that they usually last only a couple of days. After seven days that tiny candle still flickers . . . faintly but it’s flickering.
It is made me think about our testimony . . . The things that make us all we really are. Do people see our light burning brightly? Do they see the light of Jesus in all that we do and all that we say? Actions burn brighter than mere words.
I want my light to shine for Christ, especially in this sin darkened world, so that people will be able to see that there is hope. I want them to see that in the midst of all the rotten things around us there can be light.
Someone has written; The darker the night the brighter our light shines. Unfortunately we spend much of our time complaining about the darkness instead of getting so close to Jesus that we begin to glow. That makes me wonder again about how bright my light shines. I want it to shine for Jesus.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 4, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:10-12
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Last week a dear friend shared a message on YouTube.com delivered to the United Nations by Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. He challenged that August body to the horrible persecution of Christians all over the globe. You can watch this 13-minute speech by going to: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CzQjFqR4Zzsen
It seems impossible to comprehend that men, women, and even children are being slaughtered because they are Christians and refuse to renounce their faith and allegiance to Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. I was proud to be one of God’s family when I heard of four children who chose to be beheaded rather than to deny the One who had died to give them eternal life.
Even in so-called Christian nations we have felt the tide of oppression coming our way. We have not yet felt the death sentence hanging over our head, but in many ways there has been opposition.
I would like to spend a few days in the Daily-E-Votional considering how we as believers should react to the persecution that is approaching at an alarming rate. I want to encourage us with the words of Jesus in Luke 21:28: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 27, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
“Though now at his Savior’s side, he is sorely missed for his rock-solid faith and thankfulness for God’s grace, his big heart, his quick smile, and for always being there with a word of encouragement.” These words were just a part of an obituary for a man I had never met and who lived and died hundreds of miles away from me.
What wonderful memories he has left behind for friends and family who knew him and will always remember him. The life that he lived became the very precious memories that would linger in their hearts.
Have you ever written an obituary? Perhaps it’s a father, mother, or a sibling? It is a daunting task and no doubt you will end up with tears as you reflect on those times in the past that will always be remembered.
An even more daunting task is to type your own obituary. In what way do you want to be remembered? Has your light burned so bright that it provided light to those who walk in darkness? Do you live so consistently for the Lord that people will remember you as one who walked close to God? Now is the time to take stock of the things that really matter in life and will count for eternity. REMEMBER!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 8, 2015 | Matthew
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Years ago I heard a returned missionary speak about the ministry he had been involved in for many years. It seemed as if all of his efforts produced little or nothing. He was sharing his disappointment with another missionary as they sat watching their horses drink from a shallow pond.
The other missionary listened to his frustration. He asked how you could force a horse to drink if he was stubborn and obstinate. The first missionary agreed that it would be impossible to force him to drink. “Horses are too big and strong and if their will is set not to drink they won’t drink.” The fellow missionary told him he had a secret to make them drink — SALT THE OATS!
I have thought about that illustration every time I try to get my little dog, Izzy to eat. Salt won’t do it, but when I mix something I know she likes in with her regular food before long she eats everything.
As servants of the Jesus Christ we have been given the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. That begins right here at home. Are we making the things of God so appealing that it is like salting the oats or lacing the dog food? Are people bored to death when we talk about spiritual things? In order to attract people to Christ we need to get excited ourselves. PASS THE SALT PLEASE!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
