Effie Darlene Barba

            Sometimes we consider ourselves worth a lot.  Our feelings, desires, hopes, and innate value we consider to be high above all else.  But what if I told you, your value magnifies when you lay aside yourself and you follow Jesus.  You see, true eternal value is found in Him.  All this self-made, or self-exalting value is worthless compared to eternity.  Whatever wealth or fame gained here on earth quickly fades into obscurity either before or after our own death.  Even those who have made such great impact on our society, such as Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, or George Washington reside in infamy until someone decides to pick out their worst and trash their best traits and achievements.  Our best can never fully erase our worst moments, and we do not get to choose what others remember us for.  Our humanity dooms us to mediocracy at best.

But God has promised value to all who follow Jesus Christ, those who find their identity in Him.  He exchanges our worst and provides us His best.  Precisely, He takes our sin and covers us in His righteousness.  So, let us take a moment to look at who we are (Our Value and identity) as only can be found in Christ Jesus.  Then with awe, wonder, hope and anticipation let us follow Jesus to wherever He might lead us, knowing He loves us and desires our best.  He gives us value beyond anything we could hope for or imagine.

Ephesians 1:

Valued in Spiritual Blessings

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Think of this!  He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  What are spiritual blessings?  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.  Contrast that with the nature of humanity:  strife, discord, impatience, self-centeredness, anger, frustration, greed, and bitterness.  By nature, we see ourselves as King of our little world and want all to bow to our wants.  Doubt that?  Just spend 10 minutes with any toddler.  It only intensifies in adults (although sometimes more subtle and hidden, but the same agenda).  Wonder why so many divorces? Or failed relationships at work, home, and politically? 

Yet it does not have to be that way.  We are given freely every spiritual blessing.  The Holy Spirit indwells the heart of each believer and all we need do is yield to Him. 

Value as Chosen Children

⁴ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, (Before the world was ever made, He chose us.  He knew we would be His.  Willing to suffer all the pains, suffering and even the cross that we might be His.

 that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,  (We are made holy in Him.  Cloaked in the righteousness of Christ, we no longer have any shame or blame.  How?  Love.  God’s love for us who willingly would endure all that He hates, just to accomplished what He absolutely loves—to shower us in His love, His joy and His Glory.  He did not need us to be complete; but He desired to have a creature on whom He could lavish everything, thus He created us in His image. 

⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (Why would He do such a thing?  It was the GOOD PLEASURE of His will-He delights in us, His children.  We are adopted into His family.  An adopted child is chosen, special, and particularly showered in His affection.

Furthermore, He did it

⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He ^[a]made us accepted in the Beloved.

That all the Universe might know the GLORY of His Grace.  Grace is one attribute of His Glory, His being, the essence of all that He IS.  Thus, He provided the means of our salvation through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Value in Redemption

⁷ In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (Because of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed, washed clean of all our guilt and sin.  The chains of sin no longer hold us). 

Furthermore, our hope of redemption is made know to us.

⁸ which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and ^[b]prudence, ⁹ having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, ¹⁰ that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, ^[c]both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (He has made His truth known to us!  It is His Grace that shows us the depth of His love and gives us the faith to believe.  It was His Good Pleasure to save us, He purposed this Himself since before creation.  One day, every knee shall bow before Jesus. 

Value in our Inheritance

¹¹ In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ¹² that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.   (He is Sovereign and we who know Him can rest assured He will accomplish all that He desires in our lives.  We will look like Him.  Through us He will shine forth His glory.  Whatever it takes, He does not abandon the work He began in us.)

Value in Security

¹³ In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who^[d] is the ^[e]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Wow, for all who have trusted in Him, through accepting the truth of His word, the gospel message which leads to Salvation, we are sealed.  Note this.  Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.  Guaranteed we will be fully redeemed.  One Day we will look like Him!  One day my heart will be perfected as His!  To the praise of His Glory, for only He can transform a regenerate broken heart into one that overflows with Godly love.

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom to KNOW Your Value

¹⁵ Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your ^[f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power ²⁰ which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all principality^[g] and ^[h]power and ^[i]might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Therefore, with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, He wants to raise you from spiritual death into life.  So, knowing your Value as can only be found in Him, will you follow Jesus?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

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When You See His Power, Will You Follow Jesus?

Knowing God Is Love; Yet Feeling So Desperately Sad. Why?

Knowing God Is Love; Yet Feeling So Desperately Sad. Why?

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

            Usually when we consider Jesus, we talk about His humility, His Grace, and His gentle spirit.  These certainly do show.  Yet, how often do we think about His Magnificent boldness and His Power shining forth.  He displayed the perfect dichotomy in all aspects.  So, for a moment let us consider His Power on display in Luke 4 and 5.  Then let us ask, when you see His power, will you follow Jesus?  Then let us consider what that means for us.  If we are to truly follow Jesus, we will become more like Him each day. 

It is for this that Paul prayed as recorded in Ephesians 3 (NKJV)

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father ^[f]of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus said, ^“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore, be wise as serpents and harmlessas doves.  Matthew 10: 16 (NKJV).

Seeing His Power

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority Luke 4: 31:32 NKJV

Jesus spoke with authority.  He did not say, “well, I want you to consider, maybe if you want to”.  Instead, His power was displayed with His directness, boldness, and knowledge.  No fancy feel good additional words.  Very directly, He taught the scripture and presented the truth found therein.  God IS. There is no other.  No room for humanity to determine truth by their feelings.  God speaks ! His power created the Universe. Only His power provided a means of salvation despite humanity chasing after everything that destroys life. 

Knowing His Power

Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴ saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ^[n]“Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. ³⁶ Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.  Luke 4: 33-37 NKJV

Satan and all his lackeys know who Jesus is and His power.

One day He will return as judge and King-the lion of Judah; but first He came as the Sacrificial Lamb so that all who believed in Him might be saved. Many may know of Him, know of His power and seek Him.  Yet, never bow before Him and surrender to His will for their life. Knowing of Him and surrendering to Him are two very different things..  The demons knew Him, seeing His power; but did not surrender and follow Jesus. Many may profess to know Him, but the question is:  Do you see His Power, believing that He is the Son of God who died for your sins?  Will you bow before Him, repentant of your sins, accepting His gift of Salvation, believing that He is the only way, the truth and the life?  Will you follow Jesus, no matter what the cost here and now?  

His Power over illness

 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was ^[o]sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.   So He stood over her , rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she arose and served them. .When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.  Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are ^[p]the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. Luke 4: 38-41 (NKJV)

Jesus has the power over sickness, illness; yet, did not want the followers to follow Him because of the gifts.  We are to follow Jesus because of who He IS.  Falling in love with Him, His Glory, His majesty; we follow Jesus because we love Him, every aspect.  Even if He gave me nothing.  If heaven and hell were not on the line, I would follow Jesus because He is worthy of all my devotion and my heart.  Just to see Him.  But beyond that is all the rest.  The fact that He loves me is almost more than I can comprehend.  Wow, with overflowing joy I follow Jesus wherever He may lead?  What about you?

Follow Jesus—hearing His call

LUKE 5 (nkjv) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ² and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. ³ Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

⁴ When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵ But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. ⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” ¹¹ So when they had brought their boats to land, they ^[a]FORSOOK ALL and followed Him.

Forsaking all to Follow Him

They forsook all and followed Jesus.  What about you and me?  Are you willing to forsake all and follow Jesus?  Seeing His Power and knowing it is within you, are you willing to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel unashamedly to a world in need of Jesus, whatever the cost? 

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

Previous

Knowing God Is Love; Yet Feeling So Desperately Sad. Why?

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

            Yes, beyond any shadow of doubt, I know that God is Love.  Furthermore, I know that He reigns supreme overall.  These for me are indisputable facts shown forth in scripture, history, and in my own life.  Were I to proceed to tell you all the reasons why I know these truths are evident, alive and irrefutable, I would be writing well into eternity listing all the evidence!  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.  Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?  (Psalm 139:6-7).  You will show me the path of life.  In Your presence is fullness of joy.  (Psalm 16:11) He is my joy, my hope, my greatest treasure, then why as I look around me today, I feel so desperately sad? 

As I watch all that is happening in this nation, my heart is broken, my eyes filled with tears.   Understanding the truth burdens my heart with grief as I watch a nation so filled with blindness.  You see, I know that God is Love.  But for His love to be perfect, He must be just.  He cannot love the evil perpetrated against His children.  How He longs that all would come to Him, seeking His gift of salvation.  However, true love cannot demand our devotion.  For true love to exist it must allow for choice.  Still, justice cannot allow humanity to run continuously in contrary to God’s perfect plan, believing themselves the creators of their own destiny. 

So, as I see so many blinded by their own self ambition with their hearts hardened against the very one who willingly paid the price of their sin, so they could be justified and held as His beloved children; then, I feel so desperately sad. 

Feeling So Desperately Sad

Since God is my joy, is it wrong to feel so desperately sad?  Were that to remain the central core of my existence, perhaps.  But it is not.  Instead, as I pondered that question, I turned to look at Daniel.

Daniel knew God intimately.  He had experienced the miraculous providential care and witnessed the supremacy of God over all nations.  Having seen the hand of God intervene and care so lovingly for His people (the remnant of faithful believers), even though that did require such harsh punishment and wrath to be poured out on those who failed to heed the warnings.  So, patiently God had advised, warned, and foretold in detail what would happen.  Yet, the people and leaders had stiffened their necks and hardened their hearts against God.  Daniel witnessed Emperors rise and emperors fall, knowing the providential hand of God ordained it all. He fully understood how God allowed what He hates to accomplish what He loves at times.  Furthermore, he saw the pagan Nebuchadnezzar come to acknowledge God as the one and only true God, a miracle itself. 

God blessed Daniel with such knowledge, the future of all of humanity through great prophecies.  He has sent Gabriel on multiple occasions to speak with Daniel; yet Daniel mourned bitterly for his nation at one point late in his life. He was so desperately sad that he could not eat nor even bathe.

Daniel 10:

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message and had understanding of the vision. ² In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks.  ³ I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Daniel, knowing that God is Love, was desperately sad.  He knew and understood all what God had prophesied.   The victory would be the Lords, but how long must humanity persist in their sin and devastation?  How many would fall into judgement, never turning to acknowledge God as King of their lives?  For this he wept and mourned with a heart totally broken. 

God is Love, He sends a Messenger

⁴ Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, ⁵ I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! ⁶ His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

⁷ And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. ⁸ Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. ⁹ Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

This is much bigger than you and me

¹⁰ Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. ¹¹ And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

¹² Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴ Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

¹⁵ When he had spoken such words to me, I  turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. ¹⁶ And suddenly, one having the likeness of the  sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have  overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷ For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord?  As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

There is a battle taking place in the spiritual realm. 

DO NOT WORRY

¹⁸ Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. ¹⁹ And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not!  Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

²⁰ Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. ²¹ But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

Knowing God Is Love; Yet Feeling So Desperately Sad. 

Recently, my own eyes have been opened to see the utter depth of evil that is surrounding us.  I weep for the masses so blinded to the truth of God.  Yes, I know they have chosen; but have we who know the truth done enough to hold fast to the truth?  Or have we allowed God’s truth to be watered down.  Ignoring all, we have held fast to comfort and prosperity, never realizing the consequences.

As I see the end times looming before us, I feel so desperately sad for all those who are lost.  Their eternity lies before them and if they do not turn, repentant for their sin and accept Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord and Master of their life; they will perish.  Yet, a little while and judgement comes. 

Their foot shall slip in due time;
For the day of their calamity is at hand,
And the things to come hasten upon them.’  Deuteronomy 32:35.

And so, I must begin a fast today.  For how long, I do not know.  But I know God is love and if I feel so desperately sad, then He is calling me to action and I must heed His call whatever lies before me.  Oh, call to action is one of ministry, teaching and spreading His word.  Never is it a call to violence, read His words. 

Psalm 61 A Prayer today

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

Previous

Do You Really Love Jesus as Your Greatest Treasure?

How to Hate Evil and Still Love All People

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

            It was a similar political scene as now when Jesus came to earth to provide the way of salvation as the ultimate and final sacrifice for our sins.  He came as the light, the truth, the word of God made flesh.  Perfect righteousness requires justice to be enacted on all the rebelliousness and evil within each human heart.  Otherwise, love remains imperfect, fragmented, dismal and dark.  Within each human heart remains a glimpse or desire for justice; mistakenly believed by the humanists as evidence of humanity’s innate goodness.  Ironically, the knowledge of good and evil, as thwarted as it may be, proves God IS.  Yet, to find our way out of the darkness, we must know absolute truth, perfect love as only found in Jesus.  For blinded eyes to open to light, you must know and really love Jesus as your greatest treasure. 

            The story has been the same since the beginning.  “⁴ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  ⁵ And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (JOHN 1 NKJV) ^“16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ^…He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

Your Greatest Treasure

            After Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Holy Spirit where he was tempted by Satan.  He has fasted and prayed for 40 days.  In His human state, He knew hunger and thirst.  A human body left weak, frail; yet the spirit of God indwelling Him to strengthen Him.  Satan tempted Him first by saying, turn these stones into bread.  Surely God did not want His Son to starve! Besides, if Jesus would just show Himself as the one who could feed all the hungry by this act, then all would worship Him for the bread He could provide.  Then Jesus answered, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” (Luke 4:4).

Jesus knew that if one follows Him only for the gifts He might give, then they truly are not following Him.  Also, in His humanity, He understood how easy it might be for us to do just that. Indeed, we see in Luke 4, the crowd doing just that—rejecting Him because not all would be fed or healed.   They did not understand that He is Your Greatest Treasure, not the miracles.  He is the light, the truth, and the way.  Oh, that we would really love Jesus with all our hearts, minds, strength, and soul, desiring Him above all else.  Instead, too often we seek only the gift.   Let us look at what these in Nazareth did. 

Luke 4;

¹⁶ So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷ And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me ^[i]to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are ^[j]oppressed;
¹⁹ To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

²⁰ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹ And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” ²² So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

They Wanted the Gifts They Heard of, not the Giver

Luke 4: ²³ He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum,^[k] do also here in Your country.’ ”  (We heard you did miracles for the people, give us the same!)

Luke 4: ²⁴ Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. ²⁵ But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; ²⁶ but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. ²⁷ And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”

God does not always give us the miracle we asked for; because He knows that in our hearts we are seeking Him.  Rather we are seeking His gifts only.

Luke 4: ²⁸ So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, ²⁹ and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. ³⁰ Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Really Love Jesus as Your Greatest Treasure

Recently, in these highly political times in the United States, many believe that God failed to respond when they called to Him.  But did He fail?  Or does He know that deep within our hearts we are seeking the gift rather than the giver of the gifts. Do you really love Jesus as your greatest treasure?  If so, then all that surrounds us fades into the shadows compared to Him.  When we recognize Him as our greatest treasure, then we can face any trial, any mountain, and any sorrow trusting Him to show us the way. 

If you really love Jesus as Your greatest treasure, then your heart would be ablaze with the gospel message, desiring to share Him with everyone you meet today.  Yet, a little while and He

will return.  Judgement will come upon the earth. All who do not know Him as Lord and Savior will Perish eternally unless they come to accept Him as Lord and Savior.  Yet, in your heart, mind, and hands you hold the greatest treasure—the gift of eternal life—Jesus Christ.   Who do you need to tell today?

Concluding Thoughts

John Bunyan chose prison over denouncing his call to evangelize.  Paul the apostle, remained in prison rather than to stop preaching the gospel.  And from prison wrote the gospel message to spread around the world until the day he was beheaded for his stance for Jesus.  Peter also died because he would not denounce Christ.  They were not lukewarm and merely content with their own salvation.  Neither should we be.  We are called to evangelize from wherever we are. 

“It is impossible to be truly evangelical in the biblical sense and not believe in evangelism.  If a man is truly evangelical in this sense, he believes in hell.  He believes that man is doomed and dying and needs Christ.  He believes man’s only escape is in Christ and it is man’s responsibility to receive Christ.  An infidel lecturer once said, “If I believed what you Christians believe I would never rest day or night in my desire to tell men about it.” [1]

So, once more the question is:  Do you really love Jesus as Your greatest Treasure?  If so, what are you going to do about it?  And if not, why not?  Do you really know Him as Lord and Savior of your life?  He is standing at the door of your heart knocking.  Will you let Him in?

---

[1] Theodore H. Epp;  Practical Studies in Revelations Vol 1; The Good News Broadcasting Association, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1969,  page 185

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

Previous

How to Hate Evil and Still Love All People

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

            With all the rhetoric, the words of hate dividing our nation.  How can we heal? Is the idea to silence the thoughts, dreams, and aspirations of half our nation—either half because they disagree with our current view?  Should we not be able to debate civilly and present facts to either prove or disprove truths by lovingly presenting the case?  Are we to merely embrace evil, becoming a part of the problem? All this anger and outright hatred is evil!  Should we grow silent, never speaking out against atrocities nor question hypocrisy, lawlessness, and the perils of sin, pride, selfishness, or those who hunger only after power at all cost?  Proverbs 8: ¹³ The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.  But how do we hate evil and still love all people?

            Yet, once more the Bible provides light into our darkness.  Light that penetrates deep within my own heart to see those smudges of darkness yet to be revealed and handed over to Christ for cleansing.  For you see Jesus admonishes us “²⁷ “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you…³⁵ But love your enemies, do good, and lend, ^[h]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. ³⁶ Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6).

We must remember that though we may hate the evil works we see around us; we cannot hate the evildoers.  They are as we were and even are at times.

God’s Grace

It is God Grace alone that reached out to save me   Therefore, I must be light shining into darkness.  That is what Jesus teaches us to do and the example He, himself presented for us.  I do confess that is extremely hard at times. Yet, it is what He commands and if I genuinely love Him, I will obey.  He said,

⁴⁶ “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was ^[j]founded on the rock. ⁴⁹ But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it ^[k]fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”  Luke 6

We are to dig deep in His word.  Spend time in prayer.  Repenting of our own failures. Then, turning over the control of our emotions, fears, anxieties, anger, and desire for self-control over to Him.  We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to control all these things within us. 

Hate Evil and Still Love

One of the most beautiful of all Psalms is that of Psalms 139. 

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
² You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
³ You ^[a]comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
⁴ For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
⁵ You have ^[b]hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in ^[c]hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall ^[d]fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
¹² Indeed, the darkness ^[e]shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You….

¹⁷ How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

Hate Evil because God Hates Evil-Psalm 139 Cont’d

David has praised God for His Mercy and Grace toward him.  The more we see of God’s magnificence, Glorious Righteousness; the more our hearts hate evil deeds.  We see them for their offense against God Himself.  Thus David proclaims:

¹⁹ Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God!
Depart from me, therefore, you ^[i]bloodthirsty men.
²⁰ For they speak against You wickedly;
^[j]Your enemies take Your name in vain.
²¹ Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
²² I hate them with ^[k]perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.

Almost immediately David goes on to proclaim

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
²⁴ And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

In other words, Lord we denounce evil!  But let that denouncement of evil begin in my own heart Lord.  Rip out of my heart and mind every evil thought, that only your light remains.

How to hate evil and still love all people

We must take on the heart of Jesus and remember who we are in Christ.  Peter tells us:

I Peter 2

⁷ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who ^[b]are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

⁸ and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; ¹⁰ who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

I Peter 3

⁸ Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be ^[b]courteous; ⁹ not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him ^[c]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹ Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Suffering for Right and Wrong

¹³ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” ¹⁵ But ^[d]sanctify ^[e]the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; ¹⁶ having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring ^[f]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, ¹⁹ by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who formerly were disobedient, ^[g]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ²¹ There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. I Peter 3

We are to mimic Christ.

Matthew 10 ²⁴ “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.

Matthew 10: ¹⁶ “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless^[a] as doves. ¹⁷ But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

²¹ “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.

Jesus Teaches the Fear of God Not of Men

Matthew 10 ²⁷ “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ²⁸ And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[h]hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a ^[i]copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear; therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.  ³² “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. ³³ But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

How then are we to act if we hate evil and love people?

James 3: ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and ^[h]self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

¹⁶ These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:¹⁷ And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord. Zechariah 8

¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.   John 3:

7 Steps to Hate Evil and still love all people

1.  Remember who you are—a redeemed child of God who by grace alone has been saved through the precious blood of the lamb who gave His life as a ransom for you.  You too were a slave to sin and evil desires.  Only His grace has set you free.
2. Never forget that this entire life is but a split second in time compared to eternity.  Only what you do for Christ really matters
3. We are called to be light and salt to the world.  The only way to do that is to boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel with humility grace and love.  Willing to pay whatever sacrifice is needed.
4. Always be with a heart of repentance and surrounding to the Holy Spirit within you.
5. Never forget that God has given you everything you need to shine forth victorious in the end.  You may stumble along the way; but He holds your hand in His righteous hand so that you will not utterly be cast down.
6. Even if you are ridiculed, imprisoned or threatened for your faith; count it all joy for you are in great company of your Master and Lord Jesus Christ. 
7. Keep your eyes on Him.  March forward with gentleness, love and kindness to even those who do such evil against you.  Who knows, perhaps it is their soul whom God saves next and uses your testimony to do so. 

Hebrews 12 

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ¹² Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

¹⁴ Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any fornicator or ^[f]profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

Previous

How to Stand Strong by Faith in A Darkening World!

The Light of the World is Jesus Christ Alone

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.