February 8, 2019

Excuses by Gary Rose



Well, here is one that I haven’t heard before; remind me to stay just as far as I can from THAT REFRIGERATOR. Of course those magnets have nothing at all to do with this person’s weight loss problem. The problem is the person, period. But, as long as they were trying to avoid loosing weight, this EXCUSE is just as good as any other.

Excuses are not limited to just loosing weight, they can apply to almost any topic you can imagine...

Luke 14 ( World English Bible )
 12  He also said to the one who had invited him, When you make a dinner or a supper, don’t call your friends, nor your brothers, nor your kinsmen, nor rich neighbors, or perhaps they might also return the favor, and pay you back.   13  But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind;   14  and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.” 

  15  When one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is he who will feast in the Kingdom of God!” 

  16  But he said to him, A certain man made a great supper, and he invited many people.   17  He sent out his servant at supper time to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, for everything is ready now.’   18  They all as one began to make excuses. (emphasis added)
“The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go and see it. (emphasis added) Please have me excused.’

  19  Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go try them out. (emphasis added) Please have me excused.’ 

  20  Another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I can’t come.’ (emphasis added)

  21  That servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’ 

  22  The servant said, ‘Lord, it is done as you commanded, and there is still room.’ 

  23  The lord said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.   24  For I tell you that none of those men who were invited will taste of my supper.’” 

Three excuses, and all sound reasonable enough. Yet, they all have something in common; misplaced priorities. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus’ parable comes right after his statement about feasting in the kingdom of God? Right about now, many out there are saying something like – “That doesn’t apply to me, I’m a faithful Christian.” OK, you may be, but have you missed a worship service or a mid-week Bible study because something came up? Humm, tell me all about that refrigerator you own – Does it have magnets?

Bible Reading February 8-10 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading  February 8-10

World  English  Bible

Feb. 8
Genesis 39

Gen 39:1 Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.
Gen 39:2 Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Gen 39:3 His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand.
Gen 39:4 Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Gen 39:5 It happened from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Yahweh was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
Gen 39:6 He left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He didn't concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.
Gen 39:7 It happened after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph; and she said, "Lie with me."
Gen 39:8 But he refused, and said to his master's wife, "Behold, my master doesn't know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.
Gen 39:9 He isn't greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
Gen 39:10 As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
Gen 39:11 About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
Gen 39:12 She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!" He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
Gen 39:13 When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
Gen 39:14 she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, "Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
Gen 39:15 It happened, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside."
Gen 39:16 She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
Gen 39:17 She spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
Gen 39:18 and it happened, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside."
Gen 39:19 It happened, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, "This is what your servant did to me," that his wrath was kindled.
Gen 39:20 Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody.
Gen 39:21 But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Gen 39:22 The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it.
Gen 39:23 The keeper of the prison didn't look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper.

Feb. 9
Genesis 40

Gen 40:1 It happened after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.
Gen 40:2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
Gen 40:3 He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
Gen 40:4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.
Gen 40:5 They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison.
Gen 40:6 Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad.
Gen 40:7 He asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in custody in his master's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?"
Gen 40:8 They said to him, "We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Don't interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me."
Gen 40:9 The chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,
Gen 40:10 and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes.
Gen 40:11 Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand."
Gen 40:12 Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.
Gen 40:13 Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cupbearer.
Gen 40:14 But remember me when it will be well with you, and show kindness, please, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.
Gen 40:15 For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."
Gen 40:16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head.
Gen 40:17 In the uppermost basket there was all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."
Gen 40:18 Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days.
Gen 40:19 Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you."
Gen 40:20 It happened the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.
Gen 40:21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand;
Gen 40:22 but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.
Gen 40:23 Yet the chief cupbearer didn't remember Joseph, but forgot him.

Feb. 10
Genesis 41

Gen 41:1 It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and behold, he stood by the river.
Gen 41:2 Behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, sleek and fat, and they fed in the marsh grass.
Gen 41:3 Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river.
Gen 41:4 The ugly and thin cattle ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.
Gen 41:5 He slept and dreamed a second time: and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good.
Gen 41:6 Behold, seven heads of grain, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
Gen 41:7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
Gen 41:8 It happened in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt's magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
Gen 41:9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults today.
Gen 41:10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker.
Gen 41:11 We dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
Gen 41:12 There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. To each man according to his dream he interpreted.
Gen 41:13 It happened, as he interpreted to us, so it was: he restored me to my office, and he hanged him."
Gen 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh.
Gen 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
Gen 41:16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It isn't in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
Gen 41:17 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river:
Gen 41:18 and behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, fat and sleek. They fed in the marsh grass,
Gen 41:19 and behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for ugliness.
Gen 41:20 The thin and ugly cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle,
Gen 41:21 and when they had eaten them up, it couldn't be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ugly, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
Gen 41:22 I saw in my dream, and behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, full and good:
Gen 41:23 and behold, seven heads of grain, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
Gen 41:24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me."
Gen 41:25 Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.
Gen 41:26 The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one.
Gen 41:27 The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine.
Gen 41:28 That is the thing which I spoke to Pharaoh. What God is about to do he has shown to Pharaoh.
Gen 41:29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:30 There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,
Gen 41:31 and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.
Gen 41:32 The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Gen 41:33 "Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt's produce in the seven plenteous years.
Gen 41:35 Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.
Gen 41:36 The food will be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; that the land not perish through the famine."
Gen 41:37 The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
Gen 41:38 Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"
Gen 41:39 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you.
Gen 41:40 You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you."
Gen 41:41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."
Gen 41:42 Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck,
Gen 41:43 and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, "Bow the knee!" He set him over all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:44 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt."
Gen 41:45 Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-Paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:47 In the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth abundantly.
Gen 41:48 He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was around every city, he laid up in the same.
Gen 41:49 Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number.
Gen 41:50 To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.
Gen 41:51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house."
Gen 41:52 The name of the second, he called Ephraim: "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."
Gen 41:53 The seven years of plenty, that were in the land of Egypt, came to an end.
Gen 41:54 The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Gen 41:55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do."
Gen 41:56 The famine was over all the surface of the earth. Joseph opened all the store houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:57 All countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth.


Feb. 8, 9
Matthew 20

Mat 20:1 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
Mat 20:2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
Mat 20:3 He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
Mat 20:4 To them he said, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went their way.
Mat 20:5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
Mat 20:6 About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here all day idle?'
Mat 20:7 "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' "He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.'
Mat 20:8 When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'
Mat 20:9 "When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
Mat 20:10 When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
Mat 20:11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
Mat 20:12 saying, 'These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!'
Mat 20:13 "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn't you agree with me for a denarius?
Mat 20:14 Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
Mat 20:15 Isn't it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?'
Mat 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen."
Mat 20:17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
Mat 20:18 "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,
Mat 20:19 and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up."
Mat 20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 He said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom."
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered, "You don't know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to him, "We are able."
Mat 20:23 He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
Mat 20:24 When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus summoned them, and said, "You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
Mat 20:26 It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
Mat 20:27 Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
Mat 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Mat 20:29 As they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.
Mat 20:30 Behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!"
Mat 20:31 The multitude rebuked them, telling them that they should be quiet, but they cried out even more, "Lord, have mercy on us, you son of David!"
Mat 20:32 Jesus stood still, and called them, and asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"
Mat 20:33 They told him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
Mat 20:34 Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they followed him.

Feb. 10
Matthew 21

Mat 21:1 When they drew near to Jerusalem, and came to Bethsphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
Mat 21:2 saying to them, "Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them, and bring them to me.
Mat 21:3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord needs them,' and immediately he will send them."
Mat 21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,
Mat 21:5 "Tell the daughter of Zion, behold, your King comes to you, humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
Mat 21:6 The disciples went, and did just as Jesus commanded them,
Mat 21:7 and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their clothes on them; and he sat on them.
Mat 21:8 A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road.
Mat 21:9 The multitudes who went before him, and who followed kept shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
Mat 21:10 When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, "Who is this?"
Mat 21:11 The multitudes said, "This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee."
Mat 21:12 Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers' tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
Mat 21:13 He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers!"
Mat 21:14 The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.
Mat 21:15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the son of David!" they were indignant,
Mat 21:16 and said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" Jesus said to them, "Yes. Did you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise?' "
Mat 21:17 He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.
Mat 21:18 Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.
Mat 21:19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it, and found nothing on it but leaves. He said to it, "Let there be no fruit from you forever!" Immediately the fig tree withered away.
Mat 21:20 When the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?"
Mat 21:21 Jesus answered them, "Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith, and don't doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it would be done.
Mat 21:22 All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Mat 21:23 When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
Mat 21:24 Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mat 21:25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?" They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Mat 21:26 But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet."
Mat 21:27 They answered Jesus, and said, "We don't know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mat 21:28 But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, 'Son, go work today in my vineyard.'
Mat 21:29 He answered, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
Mat 21:30 He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, 'I go, sir,' but he didn't go.
Mat 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said to him, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into the Kingdom of God before you.
Mat 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.
Mat 21:33 "Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country.
Mat 21:34 When the season for the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the farmers, to receive his fruit.
Mat 21:35 The farmers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
Mat 21:36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they treated them the same way.
Mat 21:37 But afterward he sent to them his son, saying, 'They will respect my son.'
Mat 21:38 But the farmers, when they saw the son, said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and seize his inheritance.'
Mat 21:39 So they took him, and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Mat 21:40 When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?"
Mat 21:41 They told him, "He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers, who will give him the fruit in its season."
Mat 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?'
Mat 21:43 "Therefore I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and will be given to a nation bringing forth its fruit.
Mat 21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but on whoever it will fall, it will scatter him as dust."
Mat 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke about them.
Mat 21:46 When they sought to seize him, they feared the multitudes, because they considered him to be a prophet. 

Conclusion CHOOSE YE THIS DAY by CA Feenstra

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Feenstra/C/A/1931/choose.html

Conclusion
CHOOSE YE THIS DAY
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:12
"See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; ... I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him;..." Deut. 30:15, 19
"Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death." Jer. 21:8
"For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish." Psalm 1:6
"And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him..." I Kings 18:21
"Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served ... but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." Josh. 24:15
     
Man's words
  X  
GOD'S WORD
     
Calvin
  X  
CHRIST
Order this book from:

C.A. Feenstra
108 Bobwhite Dr.
Dickson, TN 37055
Tel. (615) 446 2195

Anyone desiring a Bible study in his home, with his friends, or with his church group, on any subject in this book or any other Bible subject, contact Mr. C. A. Feenstra for appointment. I will be happy to come and study the Bible with anyone, anytime, at your convenience.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Child Of the King (Father’s Day 2014) (By Ben Fronczek)

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1483

Child of the King (Father’s Day 2014)



Child Of the King (Father’s Day 2014)
(By Ben Fronczek)
Open:   A story is told of a little boy named William, (or Billy as most knew him) who was a orphan child that lived and survived on his own on streets of a large city. No one knew what happened to his parents, there were only whispers and rumors about them. Even at a very young age, Billy learned to do what he had to do to survive. His clothes were not much more than rags, and he learned what restaurants had the best food in their garbage cans. He even found rest and comfort sleeping between beams under a certain bridge. And in His little mind, all seems well with the world.
 One day as he was hanging around out on the streets, he notice a man staring at him. He had seen him a number of times before and he always caught him looking at him with a concerned look. This time was different. This time the man came walking towards him and sat down right beside him on the step that he was sitting on. He noticed that the man was dressed very nice, he was well groomed, he even noticed that he smelled good when sat down beside him. The only thing that Billy thought that was a bit unusual was how he seem to conceal his face a bit with his high collar.
 He asked, “What is your name young man?”
“William, but everyone calls me Billy”, he responded with a cheerful note in his voice.
“I like the name William”, the man responded. “It sounds, dignified”.      Billy liked this guy already. He not only looked nice, and smelled nice, what he said also made him feel good.
The man asked, “How old are you Master William?
And Billy responded with a smile saying, “I think I am about ten.”            He had never had anyone call him ‘Master William’ before. He kinda liked it. It made him feel important.
The man softly asked, “William, do you have any parents, and if not who do you live with”?
With down cast eyes Billy responded by saying, “I don’t know if I have any parents. If I do, I don’t know who they are or where they are. I sort of been passed around from one old street lady to another. They took care of me until the last one got sick and they took her away to the city clinic. I’ve been on my own since then”.
“Then where do you live William”.
And Billy with an excited tone in his voice responded, “Do you want to see”? He had never had any guest come to his place before.
He grabbed the man by the hand and started leading him off. He said, “Come on, its not that far”.
After going down a few side streets and down an alley or two, they came to the underside of a bridge. Billy scurried over to where the beams of the bridge meet the concrete on the ground. And nestled up under the bridge he had place a number of boards on the beams to make a shelter, or what many kids would have considered a fort.
“This is home sweet home”, he said proud as a peacock.
“This is where you sleep at night”, the man said with a look of concern on his face?
“Yea isn’t it neat, I made it myself” responding with a bit of pride in his voice. “The sound of the hooves and carriages going across the bridge at night help me fall to sleep at night”.
After they talked a bit more the man took Billy to get something to eat at a diner close by. And after Billy finished his sandwich, the man with a gentle smile told Billy that he was sincerely concerned for him. He admitted that he saw him around the neighborhood more than once and that he had even asked some of the locals about him and how they all said that he was a nice boy and polite to all.
He then in turn asked, “Billy, have you ever dreamed about living in a nice home, with a new mom and dad, and all the nice things that life can offered”? 
Billy responded by saying, “Sure, what street kid hasn’t? But who is going to take a dirty little kid like me in, someone like you”?
“As a matter of fact,” the man said, ”that is exactly what I would like to do”. And then the gentle man proceeded to tell Billy how much he and his wife wanted to have children of their own, but that they were unable. He also told him he really wanted to adopt a polite young boy to share his home and life with.
And then he turned to Billy, and softly took him by the hand and asked, “William, would you like to come and live with me and my wife in our home. I will adopt you as my son, and I will become your new dad, and all that I have will be yours?”
Stunned and then with small tears in his eyes the skinny frame of the boy reached out and clung to the man and responded by saying, “I’d be crazy not too. Besides I like the way you smell. Can I call you daddy?”
Having joy move his heart by this boy he responded, “yes” with a smile. He told Billy to leave all his belongings behind, he would not need anything because he would get all new clothes, and anything else he wanted.
As the two walked hand in hand down the street and rounded the corner, the boy could not help but notice a magnificent carriage, with 2 stunning black horses set with elaborate gold embossed harnesses and reins. And when the man picked Billy up and put him in the seat the thrill of awe almost took his breath away.
He turned to his new dad and asked, “Is this yours”? And His new dad nodded yes, with a smile.
And so Billy responded by saying, “You must be rich or something”.
As they moved from street to street Billy noticed that they were moving into the nicer part of the city and he wondered what kind of home his new dad and mom lived in. After much twisting and turning thru the streets, they found     themselves heading for the small rear gate in the royal palace.
Billy asked, “Daddy, where are you going, that is the royal palace. This is where the king lives.”
To which his new father responded, “You are right, and it is also the new home of the king’s new son, Prince William.”
“You are the king”, Billy asked with wide eyes.
“Yes, and now you are my son.”
As you could imagine Billy was given more than he could have ever imagined; beautiful clothes, respect, the best of food, servants, an awesome bedroom, parent that truly loved him, and all the blessings that come with being the king’s son. It was more than any orphan boy could ever dream. It was like he was living in some kind of a fairytale.
But one day not to long after, no one could find Prince William. It was as if he just disappeared from the palace. And after a diligent search one of the servants said that he saw a little beggar boy leaving the palace wearing scruffy old rags for cloths. And when Billy’s trusted servant investigated further, he found Billy back under the bridge, sleeping in his old dwelling on a pile of straw with part of a loaf of bread that he had pulled from a garbage can.
When asked why he left the palace and returned to that place, Billy responded by saying that he did not think that he deserved to be live in such a beautiful palace, and enjoy all those gifts and the king favor, because he was just a beggar boy.
And to that the servant responded, “No, you are no longer that little beggar boy. By the kings own decree you are now a child of the king, you are his son, you are a prince. And even though you may have troubles and heartaches in this life, you will forever be his son. And all the blessings that come with being the king’s son will be there for you as well. Whether you take advantage of the blessing and opportunities, well, that’s up to you. Either way, you are still a child of the king now and forever more. (Author unknown)
Sometimes I wonder if we are more like this little boy than we realize. I can’t help wonder if we forget what Father God has done for us, or is it that we feel guilty like we don’t deserve what He makes available to us now that He has taken us in as His own. Or it’s maybe a little of both?
Jesus referred to the all powerful God as “My Father” 53 times in the Gospels. He also called God “Our Father” some 21 times. Jesus also calls God “your Father” 21 times in the Gospels as well! So, Jesus clearly shows us that those of us who are Christians share the same relationship with almighty God as He Himself does. He is our Father, abba father, or dad.
In Ephesians Paul tried to get those early Christian to open their mind up to this reality as well, in chapter 1 he writes, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. In Christ, He chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased Him to do it. And this brings praise to God because of His wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves. “ ERV
The wonderful thing or big deal about being a Christian is not the fact that we put our faith in and accepted God into our liferather, I believe the most wonderful and amazing thing is the fact that even before the world was made God, the supreme being over all creation, wanted to adopt us and become our spiritual Father, our eternal, heavenly dad. Not because He had to, or felt obligated to because He created us, but rather, like the king in our story, He chose to make us His sons and daughters because He wanted to. It was something He wanted to do because it pleased Him to do it. And, I’m sure, like the king who adopted Billy, He was filled with joy and loved us so very much because we wanted to become His child.
Like Billy, all too often we seem to forget this and who we are now, and the blessings that our heavenly Dad wants to pour out on us if we would only let Him. Either that or we don’t feel that we are worthy, or we feel guilty about our past life, and so we find our self holding back something of our self, or we just go back to some of things we did before. Maybe we just don’t understand who we are now or the Father’s love for us.
We are born again, yet rather than accepting that fact and maturing and growing up in His grace some of us go back to where we were before, just like Billy. Rather than renewing our mind and feeding it rich spiritual food some of us choose the garbage of the world to feed on.
Rather than clothing our self with Jesus we, we return to and put our old filthy ways back on our self. Rather than living like a child of God who belongs in the kingdom some of us return to live in the world and live like it’s resident do.
Jesus tried to explain the love of God, the Father’s love for us in His parable of the prodigal son. Most of know that story which is recorded in Luke 15:11-31. It is the story of the wayward son who asks for his inheritance even before his father dies. He then leaves his father’s home and goes off to another land where trades all that wealth for a worldly, wild, and ungodly lifestyle that only the world could give.
Eventually he runs out of money and in desperation he gets a job slopping pigs where he finally comes to his senses and decides to return home to his father.
In that parable we read that even before this young man got home his dad was seemingly outside waiting and looking for his lost son. And when he saw him we read that he ran to greet and hug his boy. He also showers him with gifts and has a party because he returned.
Maybe what we don’t realize is how moved the father was to see his son return. This father portrayed in the parable does not appear to be a simple or common man, but rather, someone who was quite successful in his old age. Individuals like this did not normally run anywhere unless they really had to. If you can just imagine, he probably would have had to pull up a long dress like robe to run, which would have been very undignified for a man of his stature and age… But it did not matter. It did not matter if he appeared undignified or not, he loved his son and was willing to do anything to show his love to him. That’s the image of our Father God that Jesus wanted to show us.
By telling that story, Jesus wanted to show you and me how much God loves his children that return to Him.
The king did not owe Billy his love, nor did he somehow deserve it.           The wayward, prodigal son did not deserve his father’s love.
And likewise, Father God does not owe us anything, and we certainly don’t deserve His love either…. But He loves us anyway, why? Because He wants to. No other reason. It’s simply His choice.
So I say this Father’s Day, just say thank you, ‘Thank you for loving me Father God, thank you so much for making me your son! (or daughter)’…  and then just accept and enjoy that love.
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com