What happens when you die?  The Bible tells us that there will be a day of judgment for everyone.

Everyone must die once. Then they are judged.  (Hebrews 9:27 ERV)

…. Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. (Romans 14:10 & 12 NLT)

When you die there are only two possible outcomes.  Both outcomes will last for eternity.  One is heaven and one is hell.

Matthew 25
³¹ “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. ³² …. and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
⁴¹ “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. …. ⁴⁶ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

 Simply stated:

There are many who are dead and buried.  Some of them will wake up and live forever, but others will wake up to shame and disgrace forever. (Daniel 12:2 ERV)

Two outcomes.  Eternal punishment or eternal life.

 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 NLT)

Look for future posts discussing life and death.

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

You may want to read the post Heaven or Hell?

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+3

Are you feeling abandoned or discouraged?  Do you wonder if anyone cares?

There are times we all feel abandoned or discouraged.  Scripture has some very encouraging words for God’s people.  If you are a Christian, these words are for you.

First, remember that God says He loves His people with an everlasting love.  God will always love you.

Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.  (Jeremiah 31:3 NLT)

 God also tells you that He has a “good” plan and a purpose for your life.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

God promises you that He will never fail or abandon you.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”  (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

For the Lord loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.  (Psalm 37:28 NLT)

 The Lord will not reject his people;
he will not abandon his special possession.  (Psalm 94:14 NLT)

Jesus is your advocate, even when you mess up (sin).

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.  (1 John 2:1 NLT)

Remember:

• God will always love you.
• God has a “good” plan and a “good” purpose for your life.
• God will never fail or abandon you.
• Jesus is your advocate, even when you mess up (sin).

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
(1 Peter 5:7 NLT)

If you are not a Christian, or if you are uncertain about your relationship with the Lord, you may want to read “Whoever Believes ….” (click this hyperlink)

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+4

…. if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.  (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

Think what could happen if the Christians in America humbled themselves, and prayed and sought God’s face and turned from their wicked ways.

What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
(Psalm 33:12 NLT)

  Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+3

Helpful behaviors are frequently modeled in scripture.  Look at the following passage from the book of Acts.

Acts 17:10-14 (NLT)
¹⁰ That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. ¹² As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
¹³ But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. ¹⁴ The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind.

¹⁰ That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea.

• Listen to (consider) the council of others

 Plans go wrong for lack of advice;
many advisers bring success.  (Proverbs 15:22 NLT)

 When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica,

• Be open minded

Be willing to consider different ideas or opinions.

Be receptive to new and different ideas and be receptive to the opinions of others.

 and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message.

• Be a good listener

 They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. 

• Spend quality time in the Word on a daily basis.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  (2 Timothy 3:16 NLT)

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  (John 15:5 NLT)

¹² As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.  ¹³ But when some Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God in Berea, they went there and stirred up trouble. 

• Anticipate opposition

¹⁴ The believers acted at once, sending Paul on to the coast, while Silas and Timothy remained behind. 

• Be ready to take action

Six helpful behaviors:

• Listen to (consider) the council of others
• Be open minded
• Be a good listener
• Spend quality time in the Word on a daily basis
• Anticipate opposition
• Be ready to take action

 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. (Acts 17:11 NLT)

  Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+3

…. the Lord has told you what is good,
 and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.  (Micah 6:8 NLT)

• Do what is right

 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. … (Deuteronomy 6:18 NLT)

 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)

 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17 NLT)

•  Love mercy

 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. (Matthew 6:14 NLT)

•  Walk humbly with God

 “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45 NLT)

As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)

Do what is right

Love mercy

Walk humbly with God 

 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:10 NLT)

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+2

Epiphany: A moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way (merriam-webster.com)

Epiphany: A manifestation of a divine or supernatural being. (google.com)

Do you truly understand who Jesus is?  Have you experienced the ultimate epiphany?

If Jesus is your Lord and Savior you have a great deal to be thankful for. Christians around the world celebrate Epiphany (sometimes called The Twelfth Day of Christmas) on January 6. This celebration commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity was manifested.

The first event was when the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.

Visitors from the East

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ² “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”   …. the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! ¹¹ They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:1-11 (NLT)

 The second event was the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John….. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)

The deity of Jesus has been revealed.  You can experience and celebrate a personal relationship with Jesus that will last through all of eternity.

This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.  (Colossians 1:26 NLT)

If you have never experienced Jesus in a real, life changing way ask for an epiphany.  Ask God to reveal Himself to you in a very clear way.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me…  (John 6:44 NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done. 
(Psalm 105:1 NLT)

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+1

I believe that it is important for all of us to set goals for ourselves.  Without goals, we have nothing to shoot for.

Scripture gives us some good starting points for setting personal goals.  In scripture we read, ^“Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.” (Luke 2:52 NLT)

Scripture tells us that Jesus grew intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially.

• I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of our age, to continue to grow intellectually and to increase in wisdom.

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. (Philippians 1:9 NLT)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5 ESV)

• I believe that it is important for all of us, to the best of our ability, to work at keeping our bodies healthy.

 …do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?   (1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV)

• I believe that the number one priority for all of us should be continued growth in our relationship with God.

 Scripture tells us to “… love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind …” (Luke 10:27 ESV)

• I believe that it is extremely important for all of us to love “our neighbors”.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

 We should all have the desire to increase in wisdom
and in stature
and in favor with God
and man.

 As we think about goals for 2016 we need to:

• Set goals that will help us grow in our relationship with God.
• Set goals that will help us grow in our relationships with others.
• Set goals that will help us grow intellectually.
• Set goals that will help us stay healthy physically (as much as possible).

Without goals, you have nothing to shoot for.

 Happy New Year’s Day

 Best wishes as you reflect on your personal goals for the New Year.

  Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+1

Happy Birthday Jesus

+2

And going into the house they (the wise men) saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11 ESV)

I don’t know why the wise men chose to give these gifts to Jesus.  The Bible does not tell us why the wise men gave Jesus gold, frankincense and myrrh.

These gifts were certainly fit for a king.  Frequently, in Bible times, kings or persons of distinction were given similar types of gifts.

The wise men had traveled a long distance to worship and honor Jesus.  Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were valuable. When the wise men presented these gifts to Jesus they were being very generous.

This group of Gentile wise men gave gifts to Jesus because they recognized Him as “the king of the Jews”.

Gold and frankincense and myrrh can be viewed as gifts with significant symbolic meanings.

Gold

Gold was the usual gift given to kings by their subjects or by those wanting to pay their respect.  Great achievements are often rewarded with gold.  Gold is often associated with wisdom.  A large amount of gold was used in the construction of the temple.

• When you think about the wise men giving Jesus gold, be reminded that
  Jesus is “King of kings and Lord of lords”.

Frankincense

When burned, frankincense produces a pleasing aroma.  Incense was used in worship, where it was burned as an offering to God.  Burning incense symbolized prayers rising to the heavens.

… and when Aaron sets up the lamps at twilight, he shall burn it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. (Exodus 30:8 ESV)

Now while he (Zechariah) was serving as priest before God …, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense (on the altar of incense). And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. (Luke 1:8-10 ESV)

• When you think about the wise men giving Jesus frankincense, be reminded that
  Jesus deserves our worship.

Myrrh

In Bible times myrrh was used in embalming the dead

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.  So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:39-40 ESV)

Myrrh was also used during crucifixions. Myrrh was mixed with wine and offered to Jesus when he was dying on the cross.

And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. (Mark 15:23 ESV)

• When you think about the wise men giving Jesus myrrh, be reminded that
  Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
What gifts are you giving to Jesus this Christmas?

Merry Christmas

  Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

If you liked this post, share it with a friend.

+2