“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul….” Hebrews 6:19
By definition an anchor is that which holds a boat of any size secure in a lake, a river or an ocean from drifting onto the rocks or into other problems. For our purposes today we choose to define the anchor of the soul. The soul In Scripture is the real you. The question then is what is the anchor for your soul\ boat of life? What is it in your life that gives stability in the everyday pressures of living?
For many people the anchor is money. They work 12-14 maybe 20 hours a day to secure money. As the bank account balance Increases, they feel more secure.
For others the anchor is found in property. The average person spends 30% of total income to buy and maintain property. You can add Another eight to 10% for transportation and another 10% to maintain your health.
Perhaps the most common anchor is retirement income. A person should or have a plan that equals 70 to 80% of gross income for retirement. However, unless your money is well placed and protected you could still lose it all.
The issue is not what you have or how much you have, but what you do not have. Every person was created to love God and serve him alone. The Bible is very clear “You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24) By one definition mammon means money.
If you possess all that which is noted above, I am happy for you. But if you have all these things and still do not havepeace in your heart, God is waiting to help you. I have friends who are wealthy and others who are poor, but they all have that peace which money cannot buy. Your Heavenly Father wants you to have this peace regardless of income.
He alone can give you that anchor and peace. If you have everything, but you do not have peace, I encourage you to go to your pastor or close Christian friend and share your heart about your lack of peace.
Reader, if you do not have this anchor and peace and have no one to turn to simply pray this prayer: ” God please bring someone into my life that can explain to me how I can know you and Ican know the love you have forme.”
One day when heaven was filled with his praises, One day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, Lived among men my Redeemer is he. Living he loved me, Dying he saved me, Buried he carried my sins far away. Rising he justified ________ forever. One day he’s coming. O glorious day.
If you are at peace with your past life and if you are pleased with your life as lived today and if you have no question about what would happen if you were to die right now, then you need read no further.
However, if events in the past trouble you, and if you have present issues in your life that trouble you. and if you are troubled at the future thought of dying, then read very carefully the song quoted above, note the blank space. Then read what the Bible says in Hebrews 9: 27,28.
” And just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes judgment, so Christ having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”
You may eagerly await him, if you follow the instructions in Romans 10:9,10.
“…. Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
When you believe and confess you may go back to the opening Paragraph and write your name in the blank space provided. Then go to your pastor or close Christian friend and share with them what you have just done. And the Lord will bless you as you walk with Him by faith each day.
Dear reader, if you cannot write your name in the blank space provided, and have no one to turn to, simply pray this prayer: ” God, I know you love me and I want my name in your book. Please help someone to teach me more.“
Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor of France in 18O4 and went on to create an empire that covered most of western and central Europe. His armies crushed one foe after another and seemed invincible.
What did this military genius have to say about the Bible? He said: “It is no mere book, but a living creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.” Napoleon Bonaparte was correct in his assessment of the Bible the Word of God.
The Bible says of itself that it is “…. living and active. sharper than any double-edged sword….” (Hebrews 4:12)
The apostle Peter wrote that we “… have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23)
Jesus said: ” Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away ” (Matthew 24:35)
The Bible was spoken of by the Apostle Paul when he wrote: ” All scripture is God inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness …” (11Timothy 3:16)
The Bible tells us about Jesus, who He was,what He did, and what He wants us to do.
Who was he? “Surely, He was the Son of God” (Matthew 27-54).
What did he do? ” He died for our sins” (1st Corinthians 15:3).
What does he want us to do? ” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is new creation; the old has gone, the new had come! ” (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
The living, imperishable, God-breathed Word of God will make you into a new person when you by faith receive Jesus into your heart and your life.
The word of God is the necessary food for the one who had made this choice. If you have not made this decision my prayer is that you will make it today.
Reader, if you need help in making this decision right now pray this simple prayer: ‘ Please send someone to explain to me How I can know you in a personal way.”
For further questions you may contact me at rerj56@gmail.com
Easter is a remembrance and celebration of the resurrection of JesusChrist. It is recorded in the four Gospels: Matthew 28: 1-16, Mark 16:1-20, Luke 24:1-12 and John 20:1-29. Also, remember again this principle in a study of the Bible, anything that is repeated two or more times, demands attention.
The facts of the resurrection are very clear as recorded in 1st Corinthians 15:3,4:
” For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance (1) that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (2) that He was buried, (3) that He was raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures.”
The significance of the resurrection is also very clear: 1st Corinthians 15:17 ,20:
1. ” And if Christ has not been raised (1) your faith is futile; (2) you are still in your sins.”
2 ” But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
3. the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
Easter is also a remembrance and celebration of the believer’s resurrection.
1. The believer is made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2: 4-5)
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions………”
2. The believer is made a new person in Christ. (2nd Corinthians 5:17)
” Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Nature itself has, since the beginning of time, prepared people for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God has put within the heart of every person a desire for a new life-— a resurrection to a new and better life. Unlike nature which experiences a new birth each year you and I must choose to participate in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and this is necessary only one time.
John 1:12,13 “But as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.“
Once you are bornagainyou cannot be unborn!
If this makes sense to you, I encourage you to seek out a Christian friend or go to your pastor and make this simple request: I want to be born again.
With further questions you may contact the author at rerj56@gmail.com
It is so easy to plan activities. present and future and then ask God to bless them.
There are many ways we do this: we read a book and are challenged; we hear a speaker tell of God’s call; we listen to a counselor who assures us that we are gifted; we havean older brother or sister whose success inspires us. Each has value. However, God may have a different path for you.
One thing we know for certain: God wantsto direct our steps. In the midst of all these good goals, the Lord may have a better one for you. If you will prayerfully ask Him to direct you, He will. But you must be sensitive to God’s voice and willing to follow His directions.
The following verses in Psalm 123:2,3 give a very clear picture of how we should discern the plan the Father has for us:
” Behold as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the eyes of her mistress; so, our eyes wait upon the Lord our God until that he has mercy upon us.“
Now notice the setting for this. You are a servant in a large, crowded and noisy dining room. The guests are laughing and visiting with one another. The meal is half over, and you are now standing at a short distance from your employer. You have been trained to be alert and to watch him. If he needs something from you, he will simply raise a hand, which is seen only by you. You immediately go to him, and he whispers to you what he wants you to do.
One application of this is found in First Kings 19: 9-15. In this passage Elijah Is it running for his life and ready to give up and die. But God speaks to the prophet: first, in a great and strong wind, then in an earthquake, next in a fire and finally the sound of a low whisper. If God wants your attention and to give you instructions, but you must listen for his voice.
God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. But you must lay it all on the line before Him, and when you hear his voice, you must listen and follow Him. How do we hear hisvoice? by having a personal quiet time with the Lord, by hearing the Bible preached by a faithful servant and especially by a personal study of the word of God!
Jesus said:” My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)
If you are facing a decision or are in a difficult situation don’t wait for the wind, the earthquake or the fire, but take the initiative and listen for that whisper: the voice of the Lord Jesus. As you follow the personal steps noted above, and should you need confirmation seek council from your pastor or a brother or sister in the Lord.
I love that old song which says trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
How sensitive are you to God’s plan for your life?
Dear reader, if you have no plan for your life and what one, but have no one to turn to, simply bow your head and pray this prayer: ” God I do not have a plan for my life but I know you can help me. Pease send somewhat into my to guide me.”
If you have further questions please contact me at rerj56@gmail.com
