Today's Scripture(s) - Jude 1:1

What does a servant do? A servant does whatever his master asks of him. A servant obeys without questioning. A true servant is trustworthy and the master is able to put tasks within his or her hands knowing without a shadow of a doubt that his command will be carried out. Which brings us to: Today's Scripture(s) - Jude 1:1 "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:" A very simple verse of scripture, yes? But this morning while reading Jude again, as over the past few days I've read it over and over again, the first verse stood out and 'servant', 'sanctified', 'preserved' and 'called' were the go to words illuminated. Many of us are living under the "You Don't Have To Do Anything" doctrine. Repentance is a joke to many. Why do I say that? Because many do not understand or do not want to understand what repentance really means. Many are seeing repentance as merely saying "I'm Sorry, forgive me".  When or if we go to the Lord and say that we are sorry, many of us say just that: "Lord, I'm sorry for sinning, forgive me". And they go about their business and this is the mindset: "I repented so I'm good" (good until they do it again and then simply go to their knees and say I'm sorry, forgive me, again.) When someone is TRULY sorry for their actions they are determined not to continue to do them. Forget that Flip Wilson line "The devil made me do it"! Listen up! The devil can't MAKE you do anything. This is what the devil does: he presents an 'opportunity' to sin to you which is called 'temptation' and if you take the bait, James 1:14 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." When the devil comes with, 'his opportunity', this is supposed to be our stance: James 4:7 "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Truth be told many don't want to resist because they like the sin that is being presented. Let's just be real. Often times than not, sin feels good. There is momentary gratification to this flesh in sin. Ah, but in the end... James 1:15 "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (to be continued).

 

Today's Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus I come today before you with thanks and praise. I thank you Father for waking me up this morning and thank you Father for keeping watch over me as I slumbered on last night. Father I thank you for your goodness and your mercy on me and my love ones and all of my brothers and sisters in you Lord, both near and far. Father I thank you for your love and your kindness to us. I am so grateful to you Lord for all that you do for each one of us. I am so grateful to you Lord for providing for us all that we need, you Father provide everything I need according to your riches in glory, you Father keep me on the right pathway, it is you Father God that lead and guide my footsteps and I am grateful to you Father for thinking of me and caring for me and caring about me. Lord today I ask that you would help me to be a good, true servant. I want to serve you Lord with a pure heart. I want to serve you Lord untainted by this world. I want to serve you Lord holy and righteous. Help me Holy Spirit. Help me to be a true servant of my Lord Jesus. I want to be trustworthy with what you put in my hands to do Father. So I ask today Father that you would mold me, prune me, strip away every hindrance so that I can serve you rightly. I want to be one that says with a truthful heart 'not my will but your will be done' Father God. Your will be done in my life Lord. Father I bless you. Father I praise you. Father I glorify your great and wonderful name. Thank you for everything Lord. Thank you for your love. I thank you Lord for your grace and your mercy on my life. Thank you Father God. I love you Lord. I love you. Blessing and honor and glory and power to you Father, forever and ever. In Jesus name I pray. Amen