"Friends, it would be far better to obey God and give it all away to those in need; and face the great possibility of our starving or freezing to death for the faith, and follow Jesus, rather than keeping these "things" held tightly to ourselves (unable to part with them) and die with them, yet lose the Lord (lose our willingness to keep His words) in the bargain (Lk.18:22; Mt.16:26; Lk.12:23; 14:26-28)."
That's what I believe it would cost us (the loss of Him) to "Go on making sure that "self" will always be #1 in the way of always being
considered and served first and foremost:
Rev 3:17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing..."
notice Rev 18:7 "...for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow."
"Self" will go on ever assuring itself (like a Sacarlet O'Hara in Gone with the wind) "never" to be without these "creature comforts" of
life. "Never" to be found thirsty or starving again! Thus we will always be found striving and worrying over them in the life-time deal
we made with self to always take care of it (us).
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
him, and he with me.
I pray this is clear.
Jesus assures us that if we give away our coats and our food (to those He lays on our heart) we will not be without protection: "and all
these things you once were so concerned over will be added unto you". "I have been young and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread."
I said what I said because I really believe; that much like Stephen was when he was being stoned to death, the Lord will be with us all to some extent when we die, in whatever way He chooses, and His presence through His grace will be more than enough to see us through anything, including the worst kinds of death, because we love Him, and we trust Him, and He is with us and in us, and we rest completely assured in the knowledge that He alone is our one and only hope of glory.
On top of that, we can't wait until that day when He appears and we see Him whom we love, honor and trust, coming in full and
breath-taking regalia of magnificent splendor and wonderous glory! Our God and our bridegroom lover all rolled up into one, coming for us and coming to rule over "His" Kingdom.
Know this, "The Lord is not going to throw some young/weak Christian who is not ready into a lions den." He will prepare us in
the forge of faith and love first, and once prepared we will be able to (with Him) face anything! Phil 4:13 "I can do all things through
Christ which strengtheneth me."
Matt 16:24-26
Remember too, that many are called but few are chosen!
In His love,
Biff
Doing so means that "self" still rules such a heart and sits on the throne meant for God!
Meaning, He isn't their "Lord", because they are not doing what "He" says (thus He is not their God)! So, until "self" dies, takes up its
cross and follows Jesus, the door that separates us from God is shut...
He will supply or re-furbish our needs. This has nothing to do with persecution and tribulation for our faith. All that is to be
expected!
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Let us run this race as if we are called and chosen... to win it... "His Way"!
