Tag: feed

Sheep without a Shepherd

Sheep without a Shepherd

Sheep who have no shepherd will die.  The shepherd protects his sheep, keeps his flock intact and leads them to still waters and grassy fields where they can feed.  He keeps watch over them and guards them from predators and thieves.

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.  (Mk 6:33-34)  The multitudes ran to Jesus, because they heard so much about Him and they wanted to hear what He had to say.  Jesus responded to them with compassion, knowing that they needed a spiritual and moral shepherd.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  (Mt 9:36)  Jesus saw that the people were weary and that they were scattered in their beliefs and faith.  He felt concern and yearned to show mercy toward them.

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!  There is no want to those who fear Him.  10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.  (Ps 34:9-10)  Those who seek the Lord do not lack ANY good thing!  What a promise and what a blessing!

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  (Rom 8:31)  No one can successfully oppose the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.  (Lk 9:11)  Jesus taught the multitudes about the kingdom of God and the love of the Father.  He also healed all of those who needed any form of healing.  Praise God!

We, as the sheep of His pasture (Ps 95:7; 100:3), have the blessings of God’s protection, provision, and leadership.  Glory to God!

Justified by Faith

Justified by Faith

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are justified (made righteous) through faith in Jesus Christ alone—not by works. 

Here’s what the Bible has to say about justification:

. . . knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.  (Gal 2:16)

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (Gal 3:24)

. . . and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith . . .  (Phil 3:9)

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.  (Ac 13:38-39, underscoring added)

Even the faith which we have is a gift from God according to Ephesians 2:8.  So we cannot boast in our faith, because the faith in which we operate is a gift of God.  So, am I saying that good works have no place in the believer’s life?  No!  Of course not, but let us appreciate and thank God for His precious gift of salvation and the justification that is included in it.

Yes, there is a place for good works.  According to Ephesians 2:10, we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works.  Titus 3:8 reminds us to maintain good works because they are good and profitable to all people.

So, in our walk of faith let us recognize that we need to feed and strengthen our faith by reading the Word, and we need to maintain good works, as well.  With such behavior as this, God is well pleased.

Hear Him! Part 2

Hear Him! Part 2

What does Jesus want us to hear?  There are many things that Jesus wants us to know as well as what it’s wise to obey.  Here are just some possibilities:

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  (Mt 4:4) 

  • Feed daily on the Word of God.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”  (Mt 7:24-27) 

  • Build your foundation upon the Rock that is Jesus.

When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.  (Mk 7:14-15) 

  • Choose your words wisely.

However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.  (Lk 5:15) 

  • When you open your heart to the voice of the Savior, and believe Him, you receive healing.

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”  (Lk 11:28) 

  • We’re blessed when we hear and obey God’s Word.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  (Jas 1:22 NIV) 

  • Do what it says.

 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”  (Lk 14:34-35) 

  • We are the salt of the earth; as such, Jesus does not want us to lose our flavor. The “flavor” of salvation!

Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”  (Joh 4:42) 

  • Jesus is the Savior of the world.

In our previous article, we shared Bible verses that demonstrated that the Lord hears US.   It’s only appropriate and right that we should hear HIM!  The Scriptures teach us that when we hear God, we have the responsibility to obey Him!  God is so good, loving, and gracious that He empowers us to obedience by His free gift of grace.

In obedience and submission to God’s Word, we can be assured of blessings and victory in life. Hallelujah!

Feed on His Faithfulness

Feed on His Faithfulness

Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.  (Ps 37:3-4, emphasis added)

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.  (Ps 36:8)

The verses above talk about God’s desire to bless us, and to give us our hearts’ desires.  But, how do we feed on His faithfulness?  What does that phrase even mean?

David strengthened himself in his faith in God by remembering all of the instances where God had done miraculous wonders for David.  God had shown His faithfulness to David repeatedly.  Circumstances–and the enemy of our souls–want us to focus upon our troubles, needs or pains; but the Bible directs us to focus upon God’s promises and upon His character.

So, practically speaking, how does that work?  There are various ways to do this but here are some ideas:

  • If you have pain or a negative medical diagnosis, find a small promise book of Scripture verses pertaining to healing, and read them several times a day to encourage your own faith.  If you can’t find a promise book, compile a list of verses of your own.  Add to reading God’s promises, an intentional remembering and dwelling upon the signs and wonders that God has performed for you and your loved ones in the past.  Feast on these very genuine, supernatural deeds of the Savior.
  • If you have financial challenges, find Biblical promises that relate to God’s provision for you, and read them several times a day to build your faith and as a means of supporting your faith.  Add to that, the purposeful remembrance of God’s previous answered prayers for you in finances.

Follow this pattern in regard to any issue or problem.  Find the promises of God relative to your challenge, and focus and meditate upon them.  It builds your faith and feeds your spirit.  Add to that a daily dose of thinking about and cherishing your memories of God’s past miracles and answered prayers for you and for those you love. 

Here are a few Scriptures to remind you of the faithfulness of God—the One in whom we place our trust.

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness . . . (Ex 34:6)

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.  (Ps 86:15)

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, your faithfulness surrounds you.  (Ps 89:8)

Persevere and refuse to surrender!  Jesus arose victorious from the grave for each one of us, and He has given us the victory.  (1 Cor 15:57)