A LOSER--NOW OR LATER

MATTHEW 16:24-27 (AMP)

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].
For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

'For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] life [in the kingdom of God]?

'For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory (majesty, splendor) of His Father with His angels, and then He will render account and reward every man in accordance with what he has done.'"

PRACTICAL HOLINESS

LEVITICUS 19:1-3; 11-18 (MSG)

"God spoke to Moses: 'Speak to the congregation of Israel. Tell them, Be holy because I, God, your God, am holy.

Every one of you must respect his mother and father.

Keep my Sabbaths. I am God, your God.

Don't steal.

Don't lie.

Don't deceive anyone.

Don't swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am
God.

Don't exploit your friend or rob him.

Don't hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.

Don't curse the deaf; don't put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God.

Don't pervert justice. Don't show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right.

Don't spread gossip and rumors.

Don't just stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am God.

Don't secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt.

Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people.

Love your neighbor as yourself. I am God.'"

A BUSY BODY OR A BUSYBODY?

2 THESSALONIANS 3:10-13 (KJV)

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing."

A ZERO WITH THE RING RUBBED OUT

ISAIAH 40:15-17 (ESV)

"Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. Lebanon would not suffice for fuel, nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness."

A PLACE TO HANG OUR HOPE

EZRA 9:8-9 (KJV)

"And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem."

GOD ALLOWS U-TURNS

NEHEMIAH 1:8-9 (CEV)

"Please remember the promise you made to Moses. You told him that if we were unfaithful, you would scatter us among foreign nations. But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshiped."

LOVE WHAT IS ABOVE!

COLOSSIANS 3:1-4 (KJV)

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."