Will We Ever Be "Completely Trained Pupils?" - By The Grace Of God We Will

Today's Focus Scripture: Luke 6:35-45

Luke 6:35-45

35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.
38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
39 And He also spoke a parable to them: “A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?
40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.
41 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
43 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.
44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.
45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.



LAGNIAPPE:

Luke 6:40
Amplified Bible (AMP)
40 A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but everyone [when he is] completely trained (readjusted, restored, set to rights, and perfected) will be like his teacher.

Luke 6:40
King James Version (KJV)
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Luke 6:40
New King James Version (NKJV)
40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.


Luke 6:40
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
40 A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.

St. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 11:1
"Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."

Go - Make - Baptize - Teach - Observing All That Jesus Commanded

Today's Focus Scripture: Matthew 28:10-20

Matthew 28:10-20

10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’
14 And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.
16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.
17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Betrayed and Conspired against for "Silver."
Interesting thought!!!!

Jesus was betrayed by Judas for silver.
A conspiracy to deny Jesus' Resurrection was paid for with silver, verse 12.

(vs 12 - "Money" in the Greek = silver _-_ Strong's G694 - argurion - drachma or shekel - piece of silver)

Does Our Fruit Show That We Are Doing The Will Of Our Father In Heaven?

Today's Focus Scripture:  Matthew 7:11-21

Matthew 7:11-20
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14 For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.

A LITTLE LAGNIAPPE: 
How many "Believers" are in this boat?  What must it be like for the one who thinks they are doing the will of the Lord, to think they are serving Jesus, to think they are firm in their belief, their doctrines, and "religion," only to find out all they have done is practice lawlessness and to have Jesus inform them on their day of Judgement that He never knew them, and that they practiced lawlessness for all that time instead of actually serving Jesus?

A REAL EYE OPENER FOR SURE TO THOSE WHO FOOLED THEMSELVES THEIR ENTIRE WALK WITH JESUS.  Just Who did they think they were praying to and serving all that time?

Matthew 7:21-23 
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The Grace Of The Lord Jesus Christ Be With Your Spirit

Today's Focus Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Thanksgiving for Faith and Perseverance

1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.
11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

--

Thank you Lord Jesus for paying our penalty and thereby blessing us with an escape, through Your blood,  from eternal destruction.

The Little Things Could Be Opportunities God Uses To Prepare Us

Today's Focus Scripture: Luke 16:10-17


Luke 16:10-17

10 “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 
11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 
12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 
13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 
17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail."

Today we also included a devotional by Ed Young - "Trustworthy"

This devotional can be found at http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/edyoung/ 

Week of February 18

Ed Young Television Weekly Devotional

Trustworthy

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10

Can you be trusted? I think the first response for all of us is, "Of course I can!" And there are probably plenty of times when that is true. Most of us can be trusted when we make a promise, or when there are serious consequences at stake. But that is only part of being trustworthy.

Can you be trusted in the little things? That is where the rubber meets the road. When you tell someone you will call them, do you? When you say you will meet a friend at a certain time, do you show up 15… 30… 60 minutes late?

Real trust is proven when we follow through with the little things, not just the big ones. Because the little things could be opportunities God uses to prepare you for something more.

When a friend asks you to help with something small, remember that the little things matter. Be trustworthy with them. And discover how it can lead you to being "trusted with much."

God Set Eternity In The Heart Of Man - A Time For Everything

Today's Focus Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-15


Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—
2 A time to give birth, and a time to die;
   A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal;
   A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
   A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;
   A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search, and a time to give up as lost;
   A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together;
   A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
8 A time to love, and a time to hate;
   A time for war, and a time for peace.
9 What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils?
10 I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.
11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;
13 moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God.
14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him.
15 That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.

Eternity is waiting for us all after the physical aspect of our lives is done. Then that time for us to enter into eternity becomes our new reality.  Question is, will you be with Jesus for all eternity?  If not, all you have to do is ask the Lord to forgive you for your sins.  Of course one must lay down their ego and pride and all justification for all their sins before one can admit they are a sinner.

What Is It To Walk In A Manner Worthy Of God - Humble And Contrite Maybe?

Today's Focus Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-20


9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,
18 because we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, again and again — but Satan hindered us. 
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
20 For you are our glory and joy.

THOUGHT: Satan attempts to hinder only those who are a threat to his plans. (vs 18)

A Little Lagniappe: <(A term used a lot in New Orleans ^ Lan-Yap)


Isaiah 1:18-19
18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
    they shall become like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
    you shall eat the good of the land;

Mark Twain writes about the word [Lagniappe]in a chapter on New Orleans in Life on the Mississippi (1883). He called it "a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get."