Today’s Devotional – February 4th (“Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?”)

By admin On February 2nd, 2014

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Today’s Devotional – February 4th

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Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work?

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Are you asking yourself the questions, “Why doesn’t my Christianity work? Why can’t I study my Bible more? Why is my prayer-life so anemic?”

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Do you sit in church each week and smile, pay tithes, and bless, and sing, and pray, all the while knowing that your Christianity just isn’t working?

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**Does your pastor constantly reassure his flock, “You’re all on the road to Heaven!” And you try to hang on to that reassurance, only to be overwhelmed with doubts?**

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Well, you are not alone!

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Probably most other churchgoers these days, are wondering the very same thing!

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Audience hands – cropped & altered – Wikimedia – Universal Public Domain

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BIBLE OFFERS REMEDIES

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The Bible has the remedy for this condition. And there are perhaps many passages in Scripture which offer the solution to your dilemma.

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But this little devotional will only deal with just one of these passages. It is found in Luke.

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Listen… “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33

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Here is perhaps the greatest reason why the vast majority of churchgoers fail to have a rich and vibrant communion with God. They have never forsaken all.

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Therefore, they have not even become a disciple of Jesus. That’s right! Unless we have forsaken, in heart this world, with all its selfish pleasures and ambitious pursuits, then we cannot even attain to the level of being called “a disciple of Jesus”!

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Jesus is still knocking on the door of our heart!

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Question Marks-At a loss svg – Wikimedia Commons – share-alike license

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MAJORITY IN TROUBLE

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Now you say you don’t believe church conditions could be that bad?

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Well, for instance, one recent poll found that a majority of Christians believe that Christianity is NOT the only way to Salvation!

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So yes, this and many other similar statistics reveal that there is a big problem in Christianity today!

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Hindu God Of Wealth – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikimedia Commons – Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0

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FEW WILLING TO FORSAKE ALL

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This following story is a perfect example of a supposed Believer who really wants to obey God, and yet he knows deep down that his religion just isn’t working correctly.

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This rich young ruler wished to become a disciple and follower of Jesus. And though he tried to keep the commandments since childhood, he knew that there was something wrong in his life.

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His conscience convicted him that he was lacking something…“The young man saith unto Him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” Matthew 19:20

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But just what was missing, he knew not!

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Rich Young Ruler Hoffman complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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“GO, SELL THAT THOU HAST…”

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And Jesus said to this young man… “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Matthew 19:21, 22.

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No doubt, this rich young ruler had various gifts and pleasures and cares, and aspirations: and these were among the riches he didn’t want to give up for Jesus. He enjoyed this life!

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This present world was “his oyster”, so to speak. There were simply too many things to give up!

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Rich Young Ruler Hoffman complete and entire surrender of this world, in order to gain Christ – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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THAT RICH YOUNG RULER IS US!

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And these are the very same riches that people today are not willing to sacrifice, to follow Jesus.

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And like that rich young ruler, there are many churchgoers who merely try to keep the Law to the letter.

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Like the rich young ruler, we think we can fulfill the Law’s demands, and yet still hold on to this life, with all its self-seeking aspirations, pleasures, and amusements!

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Listen… “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

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Yes, as this above verse reveals, Jesus accepts no one who insists on maintaining a divided heart.

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“AND THEY FORSOOK ALL & FOLLOWED HIM”

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Now, in contrast to this rich young ruler, is the account of Jesus calling Peter, John, James, and Andrew. When Jesus called those disciples, it is written…

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***“And when they had brought their ships* *to land, they forsook all, and followed Him.” Luke 5:11.***

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Yes, those disciples totally forsook the selfish pleasures and proud pursuits of the world, and wholeheartedly followed Jesus.

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And those disciples were a picture of what God expects from us!

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And God expects no less from us, than He expected from those faithful disciples!

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Christ calling His Disciples by Edward Armitage 1869 – courtesy wikigallery.com – public domain

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“A BILLIONAIRE…NO…A TRILLIONAIRE!!!…”

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But just because a follower of Jesus renounces all the riches and glitter of this selfish world, does not leave that new Believer a poor man!

summer constellations with treasure chest

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No, by becoming a true follower of Jesus, the Christian will become one of the wealthiest persons on Earth! A billionaire! No…a trillionaire!!

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And how is this possible? This is because, as God’s child, He has promised eternal life to all those who persevere in following Him.

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And of course, everlasting life is worth more than all the riches that this world could possibly give, wouldn’t you agree?

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LOVE & SYMPATHY UNLIMITED

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And furthermore, you will gain a love and a sympathy and an understanding for lost sinners, just as the great love which Jesus has for miserable sinners: miserable sinners such as you and me!

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So don’t hesitate! And don’t be afraid to follow Jesus. We have everything to gain, and we’ll have all eternity to enjoy it!

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Just think! Everlasting life, filled with the treasures of joy, wisdom, purity, and God’s infinite love!

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Now that’s true riches!

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Woman why weepest thou – Jesus – Wikipedia – US Public Domain

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To read Part 2 of this devotional, just click here…

“March 17th (Why Doesn’t My Christianity Work? Part 2)”

Question Mark – at a loss – Wikimedia – Share-alike license

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the desire to follow Thee unreservedly. Show me where I may be hiding any idols. Help me forsake them. Let me know what joy is in store for those who forsake all to follow Thee…

Marines at Prayer by Alex Raymond – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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THE END

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TODAY’S FEATURED HEAVENLY SIGN

The info and pics of the constellations on this site are all taken from Wikipedia and from The Internation Astronomical Union (click here to view their site)

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HOW THE GATES RELATE TO ORION & DRAGON

This sketch below is when these constellations are in the eastern sky in early winter (However, this constellation group can even be seen as early as July, in the pre-dawn hours). In the eastern sky, it’s not so easily seen which gate the Revelation 12 Woman will enter. The Wide Gate is made of the two brightest stars of this Wave of Water Constellation. Satan spews out the deadly water of his false worldly ideologies; which many of these ideologies have a form of godliness, but in some way are not in harmony; or perhaps these worldly ideologies add to the Bible, which is strictly forbidden (see Deuteronomy 4:2).

On the other hand, the Strait Gate (narrow gate) is composed of the two brightest stars of the Orion The Reaper’s sickle. The true Strait Gate represents Jesus, the Word of God. Listen… “I [Jesus] am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

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TOMORROW:

February 5th (The Monkey Trap!)

Dhamrai Monkey Family wikimedia share-alike license

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20 MINUTE+ AUDIO STUDY IN JEREMIAH

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ALL‘NOBLE BEREANS’ (open-minded seekers of Bible truth) ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN FOLLOWING THIS 650+ AUDIO BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH EACH DAY ON THIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

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THIS STUDY #35 IS PRESENTED BY THE LATE HAROLD CAMPING, FORMER CEO OF FAMILY RADIO…

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above picture: Prophet Jeremiah – www.christianimagesource.org – Public Domain

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