“Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. 2And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.” I Chronicles 7:1-2
Tola was a judge in Israel, back in the days before Israel had a king. The generations of his family went on to be valiant men. You too can be a powerful influence on the generation to follow. How will you influence the generation to follow you? Will you show them how to be valiant for the kingdom of God?
“I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9
John was exiled to Patmos for punishment from the devil and this world, but John’s Patmos ended up being a powerful revelation of Christ. Saint, what will get out of your Patmos?
“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. 10And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” I Chronicles 4:9-10
We were all born into sorrow. This world insists that we are to let all the things of our past and everything we did, be pinned on us. The experts of our day tell us all those things from our past life are what make us today. That may be true for unredeemed people, but you and I are born again. We are brand new creatures. So say good bye to that old life and live in newness of life.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” I John 5:12
I don’t know if it can get any simpler than this, if you have Jesus Christ you have life, if you don’t have Him you are dead. It is Christ that brings life, not religion, not commitments to a church. Since the only way to have real life is for the Spirit of Christ to dwell in us. Why then are there so many other things that ministers insist the church has to offer? Some preach Jesus + (plus sign). That means that Jesus is not enough and that you have to add something to Him for life to be realized. Some preach Jesus , (comma) or ; (semicolon) as if there is more that needs to follow Him to make Him effective. Others preach Jesus ? (question mark) doubting if He is really all we need. Let’s get our grammar straight, it is Jesus . (period) and Jesus ! (exclamation mark). End of sentence.
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” I John 4:8
God is love, not because others love Him, but because He loved all men, while they were yet sinners. Your love is also gauged, not by how much people love you, but by how much you love others. Even those who are your enemy.
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” II Peter 3:4
Jesus promised that He is coming to get us. Is that a promise that excites you or is that a promise that is a little inconvenient for you right now?
“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” II Peter 3:4
We would expect scoffing to come from the world, but the worse scoffing will come from church members. The more Christians get wrapped and absorbed into the world, the further their mind is from Christ and the less interested they are in His return. Thus they will mock those believers who are excited about the soon return of the Lord. He is coming soon, are you ready or are you scoffing?
“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” II Peter 3:4
The more humble we walk before God, the greater the value of our life is to Him.