I have a Word for You Today: "See To It"

"And Jesus answered and said to them, 'See to it that no one misleads (deceives) you.'" (Matthew 24:4, NASB)

Now we can pray, "Father, don't let anyone mislead me."  But Jesus does not tell us that here.  The command is, "You see to it."  Jesus shed His Blood, died, and rose again; He and Father sent us and came to us in the Holy Spirit.  He has empowered us to, "See to it." 

We live in an age of remarkable deception in all areas of life; and the responsibility for victory is not in our pastor, Christian Television, books, CDs.  They can help, but nothing replaces the way reality works, "You see to it."  The classic, "Well, he seemed so sincere," or, "He really knows his Bible," are excuses of those who want others to, "See to it," for them.  These are the people who are impressed with someone who "really knows his Bible"---------------------- because they don't.

The best way for us to, "See to it," is to walk in all the Living Triune God has for us.  "Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil."  Jesus did not leave us, "comfortless," nor powerless.  He "left us" with Himself, well prepared to, "see to it."

Father, in Jesus' Name, I embrace Your command to, "See to it."  A fearful and awesome command it is.  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Thanks For Everything, Dad"

"I will...show you great and mighty things...which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3, Amplified Bible)

"Through your eyes, I saw the world-- and always felt I had a special place in it.  Thanks for everything. Dad."  This was a "Fathers' Day" card from one of our children.  I cannot remember a card that ever got to me as that one. 

I need not say much more.  This has been my relationship in Jesus Christ, the Life of the Godhead in me.  I have seen the world through His eyes----- "and always felt I had a special place in it."

Father, in Jesus' Name, with honor and reverence I say, "Thanks for everything, Dad."   Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"I...Lifted My Eyes to Heaven, And My Understanding Returned to Me"

"And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation."  (Daniel 4:34b)

 

If one just read the latter part of our text, he might think it is from the Psalms.  But as we see, it is from a very pagan king of antiquity who came to a great realization that you just cannot fight God, though, he certainly tried.

 

I saw on "Facebook" that someone "likes" a postmodern writer.  Of course they do, and why not?  Someone wrote that reality for the postmodernist "is constructed as the mind tries to understand its own particular and personal reality.  For this reason, postmodernism is highly skeptical of explanations which claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races, and instead focuses on the relative truths of each person," you know, sort of like Adam and Eve--------- and Nebuchadnezzar.  Who wouldn't like someone who propagates the relativity of truth?  Then they can be their own truth, set their own life's goals, and ignore, "the Most High." 

 

Regardless, whatever is touted as postmodern is really not so "post" anything; it is as old as the human race.  But academics love to think they are the discoverers of some "new thing," just at those on Mars Hill.  It gives them uniqueness, draws attention to themselves, and attracts far more followers than those of, "I am the...truth."  My dear friend, truth is not innate to you and me.  Truth is "outside" us.  If man is to walk in truth, He Who Alone is Truth must come into him.  The Bible teaches that at a point in antiquity Truth was manifested, not as garbled philosophy, but a Person, Jesus Christ, revealer of the Godhead in the flesh.     

 

The context of our text reveals that people have not changed.  They can be God-resistors, even God-haters.  But the very God they resist loves them, and through a series of "events" will bring them to Himself in Jesus Christ, the Blood of His Cross, and resurrection, if, they are as Nebuchadnezzar, "I...lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me...."  Understanding is before us continually, ready for the taking.  All I need do is embrace that, "understanding," the understanding that I am not truth; Jesus Christ is Truth.

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that when I stray, there is a possibility that, "my understanding return[s] to me."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"That Very Night,...In One Hour"

"That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain."

(Daniel 5:30)

 

The danger of complacence is unpreparedness.  Belshazzar was probably living as most people today.  If someone would have challenged him, he most likely would have agreed that life is limited for all.  But, again as most, his life style did not reflect the sobriety which that realization brings.

 

I often like to remind myself that even though most days go by with non earth-shattering experiences, that does not negate the reality of a literal "earth-shattering" Day coming.  Neither does it mean that great cataclysmic prophetic events cannot unfold, "that very night"-------------- they will. Consider, "every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God" -----"And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day....It is not for you to know the times or the dates....It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown....For in one hour your judgment has come."  

 

The question is, What are we doing to prepare?  Right now the "mature" among us are saying, "You should not be an escapist.  You can't live in the future.  You must live now; be involved; be active in serving the Lord Jesus Christ."  Of course; yet if we did not need to be reminded, "that very night," is coming, "in one hour," the "God-Breathed" Word would not say so.  It is very easy for us time-space humans to get so involved in our plans and work, we lose sight of the impending, "that very night."  Four times in Matthew's Gospel our Lord Jesus Christ refers to, "the end of the age."  This is not to be trivialized!  Obadiah 15 says, "For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near...."

 

Yet the Followers of Jesus Christ, those who are members of the Church of Christ can rejoice, even in the midst of events which put terror in the hearts of those who reject Jesus.  For there is coming a, "that very night," when our King Jesus says to us, "Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world...."  (Pardon me)  -----------------------------------------  GLORY!

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, may I never sleep the sleep of complacency, but always be awake with the alertness of a watchman.  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

If Anyone Reading This Has "Freedom," Someone Fought For It

"Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan." (Genesis 14:14)

 

Our text reveals that when evil men do evil things, righteous men must do righteous things.  "When Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed...."  Most people do not think of Abraham like this.  Yet this is the same man of whom Jesus said, "....rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 

 

I put some "Independence Day" thoughts on Facebook yesterday and received some interesting, moralizing responses.  I wrote, "'And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that'"-- without war there would be no United States of America."  I also shared what I witnessed over the weekend at a Fourth of July Parade.  A woman was carrying a sign, "War is not the answer."  I wrote that it was ironical her sign appeared in a Fourth of July celebration.  It was the Declaration of July 4, 1776, which told the world the colonialists were not turning back--- which intensified the Revolutionary War--- which led to the United States of America's liberation from British rule.  I then commented that if it takes war to get what we have, I choose war.  Well, history proved that there was no "if" about it.  

 

Beware of the moralizing smooth talking pundits, politicians, religionists, and arm chair philosophers.  Most "moralists" are humanists.  They speak of unreality because they reject, "the way, and the truth, and the life," Who is Jesus Christ.  The Bible says only, "....those who are people of faith are blessed and made happy and favored by God [as partners in fellowship] with the believing and trusting Abraham"------- the warrior.  

 

Father, in Jesus' Name, Your Word alone, and not moralizing humanity, is, "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Amen.

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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2