“THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS BENEATH ONE’S FEET”

June 3, 2014

“THE JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS BENEATH ONE’S FEET”

“Even the longest journey must begin where you stand” along with the issues you hold dear to your heart and the master you chose to follow, for “no man, or woman can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other;……” Matt. 6:24 (KJV)

So my friends God has placed each of us on a JOURNEY but our Salvation is not dependent on when we start but our PASSION FOR THE JOURNEY and the end result. God has chosen each of us for a purpose, we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

Today let’s first focus on the words THAT YOU MAY DECLARE THE PRAISES OF HIM. This JOURNEY also has another component to it. John 15:16 (NIV) tells us “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might GO AND BEAR FRUIT, fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”

The words, GO AND BEAR FRUIT is where I also need you to focus on today because the question was asked Christ over 2000 years ago “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” and Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)

Consistent with this, we show our Love for God when we serve Him and DECLARE OUR PRAISES TO HIM  but it must become a PASSION that drives us to follow the good Sheppard in whatever direction he may lead us for God chooses our Journey, but it is our responsibility to follow and while on this journey He has placed us on we will also BEAR FRUIT.

The Journey is not about us it is all about PRAISING GOD and BEARING FRUIT along the way. These are the greatest of God’s precepts with LOVE as the foundation for “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15 (NKJV)

“Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christ is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within–when the sunshine of heaven fill the heart and is revealed in the countenance.” (E. G. White COL pp 384)

My friends The Journey is long and tough But we must continue. “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17 (NIV) but you must believe in God’s promises for Christ tells us “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. John 6:47 (NIV)

The god of this world will make sure the journey is not easy and the closer we get to Christ second coming that road will begin to get narrower, Satan will begin to put more problems that he creates in our life, money problems, health problems, marital problems, children problems, sexual problems and the list goes on.

Matt.7:13-14 (NIV) tells us to “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” But the story does not end there.

This my friends is how it all ends for God has prepared a place that “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Cor. 2:19 (NIV) But only for His Children “that shall ENDURE THIS JOURNEY until the end,”  then “we shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13 (KJV) and receive life eternal. THE END!!!!!!!!!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY