Sister Who Cares, are you a Believer? Have you admitted that you are a sinner in need of a savior?
That may seem like a strange question, but you can be very busy doing good, but have neglected to ask Jesus to be your Savior and Lord.
Maybe you didn’t reject salvation, but can you truly say that Jesus is Lord of your life? Do you live in a way that others can know that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
Another strange question? Maybe; but some of us are not doing “good” for the right reasons. Or maybe you’ve lost your joy in your caring because your focus is wrong.
Listen as Jesus tells a story…
Mark 12:1-12 (HCSB)
1 Then He began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug out a pit for a winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went away.
2 At harvest time he sent a slave to the farmers to collect some of the fruit of the vineyard from the farmers.
3 But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.
4 Again he sent another slave to them, and they hit him on the head and treated him shamefully.
5 Then he sent another, and they killed that one. [He] also [sent] many others; they beat some and they killed some.
6 “He still had one to send, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
7 “But those tenant farmers said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours!’
8 So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.
9 “Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the farmers and give the vineyard to others.
10 Haven’t you read this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected— this has become the cornerstone.
11 This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes?”
12 Because they knew He had said this parable against them, they were looking for a way to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they left Him and went away.
Jesus is telling this parable so that the Pharisees will hear. The fist servants sent were the prophets. The son is Jesus.
It is hard to understand how Jesus, God, could have been in the middle of the Pharisees – the most learned men of the Jews - and they missed him.
Jesus warned them repeatedly; still they rejected Him.
Once Jesus told them
John 5:39-43 (KJV)
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honor from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
They rejected the Son of God and, thus, their own salvation.
Today as I walked along the sidewalk, I saw probably fifty dead worms. They weren’t more than a foot away from the grass and dirt from which they had crawled. There was a storm last night and the worms had left the ground and crawled out onto the concrete. When the sun came out, rather than turn around and go back to the dirt from which they’d come, the worms continued to try to dig into the concrete. They died in the hot sun on the concrete – only a foot or less from the safety of the cool earth.
How sad, when the Father offers His best and man says no. Judas lived with Jesus, ate with Jesus, listened as He taught, saw the miracles up close. He rejected the way of salvation.
The Pharisees had the Scriptures in a way that wasn’t available to other men; they rejected the Son of God.
The rich young ruler chose his riches, and went away sad.
Pilate knew; and he didn’t have the courage to make a choice.
What about you? Are you a Believer? Have you admitted that you are a sinner in need of a savior? Have you asked for forgiveness from Jesus and told Him that you believe that He died on the cross to save you from your sins? Have you made a public confession of your faith in Him? It is so simple.
**Lord Jesus, I know that I have done things that are against You and Your will – I have sinned. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again on the third day. Please forgive me and come and live in my heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to follow You as Lord for the rest of my life. Amen.
What about those of you who are Believers? Maybe you didn’t reject salvation, but can you truly say that Jesus is Lord of your life? Do you live in a way that others can know that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
Are you like the little worms? Do you know a better way, even though the hot sun is scorching you? Are you refusing to walk His way and insisting on your way?
Child of God, the Bible calls that choice “Rebellion.” And the Bible says that “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” If you aren’t following Jesus, then you are following the Enemy. Repent and say, “Yes,” to Jesus.
**Lord Jesus, I have sinned. Forgive me. I commit this area of my life. Yes, Lord; I want to follow You in every area of my life. Be Lord of my life. I submit to Your Authority. Amen.
If you prayed to accept Jesus, you need to contact a pastor or your church and make a public profession of faith and get some help with discipleship. I would be happy to recommend a church; just contact me. And my husband, who is a pastor, would be glad to talk with you.
If you just prayed and recommitted your life to Jesus; if you just asked forgiveness and committed to follow Him, you need to ask someone to hold you accountable. If you don’t know someone who is walking in the ways of the Lord, contact me and I will help you.
It’s all about Loving God and Loving People. There is no greater calling.
Mark 12:29-31 (HCSB)
29 “This is the most important,(commandment)” Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, The Lord is One.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
31 “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
