18 minute read
Christian Living
Jesus, The Friend Of Sinners
Perhaps you think you’ve sinned too much — that there is no hope for you. But Jesus has always reached out to sinners. In (Luke 15:1-2), the Pharisees were questioning Him about this. Then, Jesus answered them with a three-part parable describing a little more about the character of man and a lot more about the character of God.
Advertisement
The Sinful Nature of Man
Man Is Weak Like a Sheep. In (Luke 15:4-7), Jesus compares man to sheep, and that’s not a compliment. Sheep are very weak animals. A sheep is not very smart either: you may see a trained elephant, horse, or dog, but not a trained sheep. A sheep is defenseless: a horse can run; a wolf can bite; and a cat can scratch; but a sheep cannot defend itself. And a sheep is dependent: when it lies down to digest its food, a sheep will sometimes find itself on its back unable to get up. Then, it will bloat and soon die. Like a sheep, we too are weak. We need a Shepherd to guide, protect; and lift us up.
Man Is Worthless Like a Lost Coin. (Luke 15:8-10) tells of a woman who has lost a silver coin. Jesus was referring to ten coins that would have been given to a woman by her husband. To have one missing would indicate unfaithfulness. Her coin was lost in darkness, dirt, and disgrace. Like this coin, an unsaved man is lost in darkness and in the filth and disgrace of his sin.
Man Is Wretched Like a Lost Son. Finally, beginning in (Luke 15:11), Jesus refers to a son who left his father and chose to live a rebellious life. His sin led to depression, deprivation, and starvation. And like this son, there is a gnawing hunger in every man’s heart who does not know the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Saving Nature of God
We have just seen man’s hopelessness apart from God. But Jesus showed us the sinful nature of man so He could explain the saving nature of God. The Shepherd shows the rescuing nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 10:11) says, “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.” Jesus’ nature is to seek the lost. He came not primarily as a teacher or a healer but as a Savior. (Luke 19:10) says, “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
The woman shows the revealing nature of the Holy Spirit. To find her coin, the woman lit a candle. That’s what God the Holy Spirit wants to do in your heart. And the woman also began to sweep her house. Through conviction, the Holy Spirit will sweep and stir up all the filth and dirt in your life to reveal your condition.
The father shows the receiving nature of God the Father. (Luke 15:20) says, “… when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” This is one of the most moving pictures in all the Bible. What a picture of God the Father.
Come Home
An old preacher sat across the aisle from a young man on a train. He could see the boy was troubled. He went over and said, “Son, I’m a minister. I don’t want to pry, but do you have a problem?” The boy said, “Yes, sir. Many years ago, I had a fight with my parents. I left home and slammed the door behind me. I said I would never come back.” He said, “I have received word that my daddy is sick, and I don’t want him to die without apologizing to him and asking his forgiveness.”
He continued, “These tracks run close to my house, and out by the tracks is a large tree. I told them if they would let me come home, to tie a handkerchief on that tree. If I don’t see it, I will know to keep riding.” The preacher said, “You pray, and I’ll look.” And the old preacher in his heart said, “O God, let there be a handkerchief on that tree.” The train came around a curve, and he said, “Son, look!” That old couple had gotten every handkerchief, every towel, and every bed sheet that was white and put them in that tree. It looked like a mountain of snow.
God loves you! The good Shepherd is seeking you; the Holy Spirit is shining His light on you; and God the Father has His arms open wide. Come home!
Did you find it helpful? © 2022 Love Worth Finding Ministries. All Rights Reserved >
465 Morris Road, Hammond, LA 985-345-7629 gatenbuscharters.com
1099
FREE FREE
Kids Meal Fried Pickles Appetizer
Not redeemable for cash value. Only one coupon per visit. Must present coupon. Must purchase adult entree. No Ranger Meals. Dine-in or Carry-out. Expires 6/10/22 Covington Location Only With purchase of an adult entree
Not redeemable for cash value. Only one coupon per visit. Must present coupon. Dine-in or Carry-out. Expires 6/10/22 Covington Location Only Gourmet Pizza & Italian Cuisine, using the highest quality cheeses, the freshest ingredients, possible and dough prepared fresh daily!
Dine In • Take Out • Delivery 11am – 9pm Every Day! 11am – 9pm Every Day! Catering Available
Whether you are entertaining at home or planning a working lunch at the office, The Olive Branch Café has the solutions to all your catering needs!
Eat Better! Feel Better! Be Better!
Algiers 5145 General de Gaulle Dr. 504-393-1107 Marrero 1995 Barataria Blvd. 504-348-2008
CATERING Delivery Available (Call for Details)
Westbank Born • Westbank Raised • Westbank Proud
Death Leads To The Good Life
“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” – Jesus Christ, (Luke
9:23-25 (ESV) )
It is one of the foundational paradoxes of grace. You cannot understand God’s work of redemption if you don’t pursue this theological paradox: Death leads to life.
How would you define “the good life”? What do you feel you can’t live without? What can make or break your day?
What do others have that causes you to envy? If you could acquire just one thing, what would it be? What does your use of money tell you about what’s important to you?
What would the video of your last six weeks reveal about what has you in its hold?
Is there a place where you’re asking the creation to do what only the Creator can?
Because creation is so obvious— you can see it, taste it, feel it, and smell it—it’s tempting to look to it to deliver “the good life.”
But creation was made to point us to the Creator, who alone has the power to satisfy our longing hearts. He is the bread that will satisfy our hunger. He is the living water that makes us thirst no longer.
Looking to creation to do what it was not meant to do will not only disappoint us, but it will also enslave us. Idols never just disappoint us; they addict us as well.
Because the buzz of joy that creation gives us is so short, we must go back again and again, and soon we’re convinced we cannot live without the next hit. What we tightly hold onto takes hold of us, now commanding of us what only God should ever control: our hearts.
And what holds our hearts will dictate our words and behavior.
During this Easter season, we are called to remember that sin reduces us all to idolaters of creation somehow. Lent gives us a time in the calendar year to pause and reflect on created things that have taken too strong a hold on us, things that we have come to crave too intensely and love too dearly.
If someone doesn’t rescue us from our idolatrous and worldly pursuit of “the good life,” we will lose our lives. We must die if we are ever going to live.
Death leads to life. Coming to Jesus is not a negotiation, an agreement, or a contract. Coming to Jesus is a death—your death.
Christ died so that you may live. Now He asks you to lose your life so that you may find life in him—real, abundant, and eternal life.
Don’t fight the death of your old life; instead, celebrate the new life that is yours by grace and grace alone. And remember that your Savior will continue to call you to die; it is the way of life.
God bless,
Paul David Tripp
REFLECTION QUESTIONS 1. What has the power to make you very sad? 2. What can produce almost instant happiness? 3. What physical idols tempt you most? 4. What relational idols attract you the most? 5. Review your answers to the questions throughout this devotional again. What might you need to give up, for this season of Lent or more permanently, to root the idols out of your heart?
Paul Tripp Ministries, Inc. 7214 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19135 · 215-338-4000 info@paultripp.com >
Distracted From God's Purpose
By Dr. Tony Evans
In His Presence:Whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:7).
Position is a distraction—everybody wants to be somebody. When you accepted Christ, you became somebody, but if you are seeking position independently of God's purpose, you have been duped by the deceiver. Your name may be up in lights today, but years from now people won't remember your name. Remember the apostle Paul was quite a man in his day and age, but he said that his claim to fame was only that he was a bondservant of Jesus Christ.
People also become distracted from their purpose when they spend their lives living for other people. People are very important to God; we are to serve, love, and minister to people. But pleasing God is more important than pleasing men. God wants us to live for Him and His glory, and to do that we must sometimes go against what other people want. When it comes to fulfilling our calling, what matters is what God wants us to do.
Another distraction from moving forward in God's purpose is dealing with the past. Paul said: "I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing is forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14). We all have regrets, but Paul said we are not to allow our yesterdays to determine our tomorrows. Instead of living with a rear-view mirror mentality, we should focus on the windshield and the big picture that is in front of us.
One Minute Please
Don't let yesterday mess up today, which will ruin tomorrow.
Copyright © 2022 Tony Evans. All Rights Reserved. >
Prescription, OTC Medications, Immunizations and Compounded Medications
70367 HWY 21 Suite 100 Covington, LA 70433 (985) 276-4500
Available for a limited Available for a limited time!time!
@halfshelloysterhouse @halfshelloysterhousecovington
A A CajunCajun & & CreoleCreole classic,classic, homemadehomemade withwith shrimpshrimp andand crawfishcrawfish andand servedserved overover whitewhite rice.rice. ServedServed withwith youryour choicechoice ofof sideside andand sideside saladsalad
www.halfshelloysterhouse.com
An Urgent Message
By David Wilkerson
I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to friends and to church leaders we have met all over the world. An earth-shattering calamity is about to happen. It is going to be so frightening that we are all going to tremble, even the godliest among us. We are under God’s wrath. In the psalms, it is written, “For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:2-3).
In (Psalm 11:6), David warns, “Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.” This is a righteous judgment, just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.
The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way and make your ways and your doings good.’” (Jeremiah 18:11). Instead of repenting, though, “They said, ‘That is hopeless! So, we will walk according to our own plans, and we will everyone obey the dictates of his evil heart.’” (Jeremiah 18:12).
God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations, but what about God’s people? What shall the righteous do?
For our spiritual reaction, we have two options. This is outlined in (Psalm 11). We can “flee like a bird to a mountain”; or do as the psalmist did: “In the Lord I put my trust” because “He loves righteousness; his countenance beholds the upright”.
I will say to my soul, “No need to run. No need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne with his eye of loving kindness, watching over every step I take. I will trust that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires and calamities of all kinds.”
I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose. © 2022 World Challenge, Inc | All Rights Reserved >
Food For Thought
By J.R. Miller
Earth's Saddest Failure "A bruised reed he will not break" (Matthew 12:20)
Christ is building His kingdom with earth's broken people. Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the whole — in building their kingdoms. But God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filled with earth's broken lives, and there is no bruised reed whom Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take a life crushed by pain and sorrow — and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth's saddest failure up to Heaven's glory! "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
(Matthew 11:28)
GRACE GEMS! A Treasury of Ageless Sovereign Grace Devotional Writings Our Purpose
To humble the pride of man, to exalt the grace of God in salvation and to promote real holiness in heart and life. ©GraceGems.org 2022 >
The True Vine: 1. The Vine
By Andrew Murray
I am the True Vine--(John 15.1)
All earthly things are the shadows of heavenly realities--the expression, in created, visible forms, of the invisible glory of God. The Life and the Truth are in Heaven; on earth we have figures and shadows of the heavenly truths. When Jesus says: "I am the true Vine," He tells us that all the vines of earth are pictures and emblems of Himself. He is the divine reality, of which they are the created expression. They all point to Him, and preach Him, and reveal Him. If you would know Jesus, study the vine.
How many eyes have gazed on and admired a great vine with its beautiful fruit? Come and gaze on the heavenly Vine till your eye turns from all else to admire Him. How many, in a sunny clime, sit and rest under the shadow of a vine. Be still under the shadow of the true Vine, and rest under it from the heat of the day. What countless numbers rejoice in the fruit of the vine! Come, and take, and eat of the heavenly fruit of the true Vine, and let your soul say: "I sat under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste."
I am the true Vine. --This is a heavenly mystery. The earthly vine can teach you much about this Vine of Heaven. Many interesting and beautiful points of comparison suggest themselves and help us to get conceptions of what Christ meant. But such thoughts do not teach us to know what the heavenly Vine really is, in its cooling shade, and its lifegiving fruit. The experience of this is part of the hidden mystery, which none but Jesus Himself, by His Holy Spirit, can unfold and impart.
I am the true Vine. --The vine is the living Lord, who Himself speaks, and gives, and works all that He has for us. If you would know the meaning and power of that word, do not think to find it by thought or study; these may help to show you what you must get from Him to awaken desire, hope, and prayer, but they cannot show you the Vine. Jesus alone can reveal Himself. He gives His Holy Spirit to open the eyes to gaze upon Himself, to open the heart to receive Himself. He must Himself speak the word to you and me.
I am the true Vine. --And what am I to do, if I want the mystery, in all its heavenly beauty and blessing, opened to me? With what you already know of the parable, bow down and be still, worship and wait, until the divine Word enters your heart, and you feel His holy presence with you, and in you. The overshadowing of His holy love will give you the perfect calm and rest of knowing that the Vine will do all.
I am the true Vine. --He who speaks is God, in His infinite power able to enter us. He is man, one with us. He is the crucified One, who won a perfect righteousness and a divine life for us through His death. He is the glorified One, who from the throne gives His Spirit to make His presence real and true. He speaks--oh, listen, not to His words only, but to Himself, as He whispers secretly day by day: "I am the true Vine! All that the Vine can ever be to its branch, "I will be to you."
Holy Lord Jesus, the heavenly Vine of God's own planting, I beseech Thee, reveal Thyself to my soul. Let the Holy Spirit, not only in thought, but in experience, give me to know all that Thou, the Son of God, art to me as the true Vine. © 2022 oChristian. com. All Rights Reserved >
Changing>imes
A donation to Save the Nations Ministries is tax deductible. And as an added bonus you will receive a FREE subscription to Changing Times. It's the gift that keeps giving all year long!
❏ Yes, I will pledge my support for Changing Times by donating $ ________________. Make check payable to Save the Nations Ministries, Inc. [A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization]. ❏ I prefer to pay by credit card. ❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard ❏ American Express Number __________________________ Exp. Date ___________ Name ______________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ City _________________________ State _______ Zip _______ Phone ( ) ________________________________________ E-mail ______________________________________________ Mail your donations to: Save The Nations Ministries, Inc. P. O. Box 1095 ❏ Prayer request enclosed. Covington, LA 70434
