DO WE GET IT? 

As Randy and I age, it is becoming somewhat irritating and comical at the same time as we try to communicate with each other with less than perfect hearing.  If you don’t laugh at yourself, aging will be a “bear” to navigate.  There is now a lot of , “I thought you said…”statements and actions that lead to miscommunication.  I’m sure you can relate.  Sometimes age has nothing to do with it. Right?

If we do not love unconditionally, marriage communication will become much harder.  If we do not stop to really listen to understand and not presume or assume what we think we heard, life will be much harder to live each day.  So, we have come to the agreement that we will stop to listen, look into each other’s eyes while seeking to truly understand the words trying to be communicated.  God’s Love, which began our relationship more than fifty years ago, will always be behind our eyes of compassion with a desire to hear not only with our less than perfect ears but with our hearts. 

SPEAKING OF LOVE…

People who know God know love, says John the beloved disciple of Jesus. (1 John 4:7-8). People who do not know God do not know love or how to express in ways that are understood and cherished.  Yes, it is cherishing and endearing to be lovingly understood!  The Kingdom of Heaven, teaches Jesus, does not have a place for those who do not know God.  Jesus has been explaining what Heaven is along with what God will accept as entrance to Life forever with Him.  He has also explained who God is in previous parables, using illustrations that related to the people really listening to learn.  His words are not that hard to figure out.  The final “net” will be thrown at judgement.  All the “fish” will be gathered by His angels.  Sorting will take place.  The wicked will die.  Those who believe, love and follow Jesus to the throne of God in a growing relationship with Him are saved in the sorting and live forever with Him.  Imagine being loved now and for eternity!

“Do you understand all these things?” This was asked of Jesus then and is asked of us now.  Do we really understand and live out loud what we believe?  Do you get it? Do I? Can we answer, without pause, “YES, we do.”?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 13:47-51, NLT

Parable of the Fishing Net

⁴⁷ “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. ⁴⁸ When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. ⁴⁹ That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, ⁵⁰ throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁵¹ Do you understand all these things?”

“Yes,” they said, “we do.”

LET THESE TRUTHS DWELL AND SIMMER WITHIN US…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16, NIV

Paul says, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). He says, “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” (Romans 10:9).

What salvation requires us to believe is, instead of working for this salvation, that he has done what needs to be done. We receive it. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Do we really believe what we say we believe about God really real?                Pause to pray.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Thank you for stopping us to consider the two choices.  These words are a matter of life and death for each one of us.  For me.  Do I really believe?  Do I understand what is at stake here?  Do I get it?  YES, I do.  I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.  I believe in the salvation you have given to me.  This believing state of mind desires even more of you each day I live.  I want to understand more and more, so I come to you with an open heart and mind with a soul that needs to be filled with all of you.  Wash away all that offends you that is worldly and unrighteous.  Transform me to be all you intended for to be. 

By your power working in me, in Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

There are only two choices.  Choose wisely.  Choose life.