Are you ready?

Do you recognize any of these symptoms in people today?

Love only themselves and their money
Boastful and proud
Disobedient
Ungrateful
Consider nothing sacred.
 Unloving and unforgiving
Slandering others
No self-control
Cruel and hate what is good
 Betrayal of friends
Reckless
Puffed up with pride
Love pleasure rather than God
 Act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly

If you’re honest your answer is yes and you shouldn’t be surprised. Is this list one I just came up with in my dealings with people yesterday? No, but it could have been. This list came straight out of 2 Timothy 3 with the heading of Dangers of the Last Days. I’m not running around saying the end of the world is near, but it could be. To be true to scripture no one knows when that day will come. However the signs are there, there are indications, signs or whatever you want to call it, that the end of the world is approaching. And I can’t wait. How about you? Are you ready for the end of the world? You don’t get ready by stocking up on food, water, and guns. You get ready for the end of the world by trusting in Jesus.

What are you afraid of?

Time to fire up the blog again, I have found a book that I think is very good, a book that besides the Bible I can use as a daily devotional. The book is Note to Self by Joe Thorn, so each day I will share the scripture passage a expert from the book and a few of my own thoughts.

Scripture passage Matthew 10:28

²⁸ “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell

Section from the book

The problem with this kind of worldly fear is that it will lead you to toe party lines instead of correcting and challenging the people you are close to. It will compel you to try to live a safe life, free from risk or danger instead of being willing to make the hard and “risky” choice of following Jesus in a culture that rejects him. It will lead you to so prize the good gifts of God that they mutate into idols that you are unwilling to let go of.

Simple thoughts

I have never been to a movie that I would call scary. What horror movies I have been too I usually end up laughing at the so called scary parts.  The reason is I know nothing in the movie can harm me. But I do not do so well when it comes to life. I am afraid of what people might think of me, I am afraid of being challenged for what I believe, I am afraid of conflict. The sad thing is these things are not even close to killing me like Matthew 10:28 says. However if I’m not careful these things could dominate my life. The idol I fight against everyday is comfort. I too often try to live safe from the risk or danger of speaking up for what I believe in. I need to ask myself if I won’t stand up for it do I really believe in it. Following Jesus is risky as far as the world is concerned, but consider the danger of not following Him, that is where the fear of God has to overcome the fear of man.