Mistaken

 

Monday morning, I stopped by Walmart on my way home from cardiac rehab to pick up a few items.  I parked the car and started into the store when I noticed a shopping cart that had been left between two cars.  Being the nice guy that I am, I grabbed the cart to take it into the store.  Bad idea!  I had forgotten that it was 30° that morning, but my hands instantly made me aware of it!  When I got into the store, I traded the cold cart for a warm one.  No good deed goes unpunished.  Hey, some “bad ideas” result in cold hands, but other “bad ideas” have much worse consequences.  Jesus tells of folk who worked hard to get into heaven, but when they arrived at the pearly gates, they were sadly mistaken.  Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?”  Jesus went on to say in verse 23, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Hey, don’t attempt to get into heaven the best way that you can.  Read the Bible and do what God says to get into heaven.  Remember, faith in Jesus Christ is the only way into heaven. Read John 14:1-6 carefully.  Don’t be mistaken … by a cold cart or worse yet, by wrong doctrine.

Thank You

 

I received some good advice many years ago (but I can’t remember who it was from).  I was told, “If you have something negative, say it to their face, and clear the air.  But if you have something positive to say, write it in a note so that the recipient can read it over and over again.”  Good advice.  A couple of weeks ago, I transposed a song for Brother Clif (he has a low bass voice), and he wrote me a sweet thank you note (and included two CfA gift cards).  I was a blessing to him, but he was a greater blessing to me!  I read his kind note several times, and then put it in a file folder downstairs where I have many other encouraging notes.  And when I get discouraged, I get out that folder and read a few encouraging words!  Sunday evening, Pastor Jamie preached an entire message on writing encouraging notes.  I John 1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”  I understand that the old apostle John was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but our notes can have a lasting effect just like John’s did!  Written notes are personal, they take time, and they leave a lasting benefit.  Hey, take the time today to write a kind note to someone special.  Send it by e-mail, send it by facebook, or better yet, send it by snail mail.  You will be blessed and so will the recipient.

English Lesson

 

I was reading my Bible Saturday evening, and I was intrigued by two verses in I John.  Well, actually, I was not as intrigued as I was excited.  So, as I read these two verses, my English major in college perked up.  There are two types of verbs: transitive and intransitive.  Transitive verbs “transfer” the action of the subject to an object.  Like, “John hit the ball.”  John is the subject and ball is the object.  The action started by John is transferred to the ball.  Now, don’t stop reading just because I’m getting technical on you, because I’m going somewhere with this English lesson, and eventually, you will be excited too.  Trust me.  I John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”  In this verse the word love is used as a noun (not as a verb) three times and the word fear is used four times, three times as a noun and once as a verb (actually feareth).  In this verse, love doesn’t have an object because love IS the object.  The old apostle John is telling us to love … not to love something, but just to love.  And fear is the antithesis of love.  John says to love and not to fear.  Actually, love and fear are mutually exclusive.  This is exciting: If you love, you can’t fear; and if you fear, you can’t love.  But then John goes on in verse 19 to say, “We love him, because he first loved us.”  And in this verse, the word love is a transitive verb.  Both times!  The action of the subject is transferred to the object.  How wonderful!  We love God because God first loved us!  What a complete circle!  The love of God is lavished upon us, and we just can’t help but love God right back because He is so wonderful!  See, an English lesson can be wonderful … but not as wonderful as the love of God.