What do you wear to play your favorite sport? Basketball gear is pretty basic. Comfortable clothes that allow a lot of freedom for movement work best. What about football? Hmm, that's not as easy. A football player must wear a lot of protective gear - a helmet to protect their head, a mouthguard to protect their mouth, lots of pads to protect the body from potential hits and cleats to help them to be more sure-footed when traveling with force on a potentially slippery turf.
What would happen if the football player didn't wear the protective gear? They could get hurt. They might not play as well because they might want to avoid physical contact.
Jesus spoke in parables. Matthew 13:3 "And he told them many things in parables..." My analogy is similar to a parable. This is an attempt to portray a God given message with contemporary examples that might help the message marinate in your hearts and minds.
The bible is the protective gear that God gave us to muddle through the bumps and bruises of this life on earth. It gives us all the equipment that we need to handle life's triumphs and hard hits.
The Ten Commandments are like a gameplan,....follow them and you will finish life on earth well.
But, the best protective gear provided for us in the bible is the gospel of Jesus. He was born, lived and died sinless. I love the depiction of Jesus as foretold in Isaiah 53(ESV):
When He submitted His life to His Father's will by allowing His Crucifixion, without bitterness of heart; but with compassion on those who killed Him, He gave the most perfect example of a life well-lived and sacrificially given. His reward awaited Him in heaven, as will ours, who believe.
Yet, we are not able to completely submit the way Jesus did. If you doubt that fact, imagine someone slapping you. What would be your gut reaction? Would you immediately say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 (ESV)? If you are anything like me, your impulse would be to slap them back.
So here is the good news!! Jesus already lived and died perfectly. AND,...the bible tells us that all we have to do is accept the gift of eternal life in a perfect paradise called heaven by believing in our hearts and professing with our mouths that He is Lord.
But, if you want a good game plan for all that life has to "hit" on you, the bible has it all.
What would happen if the football player didn't wear the protective gear? They could get hurt. They might not play as well because they might want to avoid physical contact.
Jesus spoke in parables. Matthew 13:3 "And he told them many things in parables..." My analogy is similar to a parable. This is an attempt to portray a God given message with contemporary examples that might help the message marinate in your hearts and minds.
The bible is the protective gear that God gave us to muddle through the bumps and bruises of this life on earth. It gives us all the equipment that we need to handle life's triumphs and hard hits.
The Ten Commandments are like a gameplan,....follow them and you will finish life on earth well.
But, the best protective gear provided for us in the bible is the gospel of Jesus. He was born, lived and died sinless. I love the depiction of Jesus as foretold in Isaiah 53(ESV):
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
When He submitted His life to His Father's will by allowing His Crucifixion, without bitterness of heart; but with compassion on those who killed Him, He gave the most perfect example of a life well-lived and sacrificially given. His reward awaited Him in heaven, as will ours, who believe.
Yet, we are not able to completely submit the way Jesus did. If you doubt that fact, imagine someone slapping you. What would be your gut reaction? Would you immediately say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 (ESV)? If you are anything like me, your impulse would be to slap them back.
So here is the good news!! Jesus already lived and died perfectly. AND,...the bible tells us that all we have to do is accept the gift of eternal life in a perfect paradise called heaven by believing in our hearts and professing with our mouths that He is Lord.
Romans 10:9 (ESV) _ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
So, if you haven't accepted this truth yet, I encourage you to find a friend who believes to help you do this, see a pastors at a bible believing church to assist or guide you or simply talk to God yourself.
So, if you haven't accepted this truth yet, I encourage you to find a friend who believes to help you do this, see a pastors at a bible believing church to assist or guide you or simply talk to God yourself.
But, if you want a good game plan for all that life has to "hit" on you, the bible has it all.
Matthew 7:24-28 (ESV)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
All Titles, subtitles and organization to this writing are words moved by thoughts in my personal reflection. All biblical references are God's words spoken through His Prophets that hold the test of time and keys to life itself. I have quoted God through the Holy Bible. I believe this post was God inspired. Please share as you feel led and acknowledge the sources of your information.
All Titles, subtitles and organization to this writing are words moved by thoughts in my personal reflection. All biblical references are God's words spoken through His Prophets that hold the test of time and keys to life itself. I have quoted God through the Holy Bible. I believe this post was God inspired. Please share as you feel led and acknowledge the sources of your information.
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