Into the Baptismal Pool

Haggai 1:7  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

You might find this a strange verse, from the book of the old Prophet Haggai. There is really nothing strange about it, except the fact that the Lord is telling us to consider our own ways. He is not telling us to consider the ways of our neighbors, friends, enemies, or even spouses. The only time that we are to consider, those around us, is when we are to help them, in various ways. 

As Christian folks, if we can stick to the plan, as laid out in the Bible for us, it would make our lives a lot easier. Have you even considered how sweet it would be, if we all lived the Christian life?   I am talking about the way that we treat others, and the way, that we are treated. However, that is not part of the deal. We are to consider our ways.

I know how hard that really can be at times. Most of us have a person in our lives somewhere, which is energized by Satan personally. They have no goodness about them, and are the happiest, when everyone around them is miserable. They might even be a part of our families. It is certain that they are a part of somebodies family. The truth is the same Jesus, which died for the penalty of our sins, died for theirs also. 

I would image that all of us knows, or has known somebody, when we compare our sin level to theirs; it makes ours look less, than it really is.     Who do you think that the vilest sinner ever was?     King Herod?   Adolf Hitler?     Jeffery Dalmer?    Joseph Stalin?         The sad part is that these and all of mankind had their sins paid for on the cross of Calvary. All they had to do was accept Jesus Christ shedding His blood, for their sin, and the finished work, of the cross.

Then we get back to the consideration, of our ways.  Much of the Word of God is aimed, toward those who are already saved. Father is doing, all that He can, just to keep us, on the narrow path. There is only one way that leads us in the right direction. 

Matthew 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There is something that a lot of folks don’t understand after they accept the work of the cross, as their solution to their sin situation. Once we accept what Jesus has done for us, that was the end of the free ride. Now from that point on, if we are going to live a victorious Christian life it will not be by accident. It will be because we have decided that we want to live a Godly life. We simply don’t fall into the baptismal pool, and come forth being made whole.

It would be super nice, if it worked out that way, but it doesn’t. It truly takes following Jesus closely, and learning from Him, every move, that we will need to defeat the devil.  You might ask, “How close do I need to follow Jesus to have success?”

In the book of Matthew, Jesus gave us the solution, or the formula, in where we can successfully walk with Him. Jesus says to take His yoke upon us.   Do you understand what a yoke is?  A yoke was a piece of equipment, which went around the neck, of two farm animals. It was used to keep the animals together, to share the burden of the workload. Often, it was used as a source of training, a much younger and wilder animal, when attached with a more seasoned beast, to teach the young animal, the proper way to perform, the task at hand.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus never intended for us to go it alone. He knew that we couldn’t make it without His help. Here we find an invitation to walk side by side with Jesus, while He is teaching us the proper way, to live a successful, victorious, Christian life.  Who other than Jesus, is qualified to teach us these things?    Who would know more about living the life, which Father intends for us to live?

Let’s take a few minutes to realize how great our Father is, and how much, that He really loves us.  Father knew that we could not have fellowship with Him, because of our sin. Father is Holy, and cannot even look upon sin, and we are full of sin. Father sent His only Son, to pay the price for our sin debt. It was a debt that we could not pay, because the price was a sin free, and willing sacrifice of death. 

Jesus fulfilled all the requirements to save all those that were willing to be saved. He also taught us a better way, in which we should be living. The way of love, and the way of sacrifice, to lead others, in the right direction. When Jesus left the earth, He promised not to leave us alone, because He realized that we still needed help. Jesus promised to send a comforter, a guide, to lead us into all truth.

John 16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

What a gift of love!!    Now all we have to do is simply pay close attention to what the Spirit says to us, and He will guide us into “ALL” truth. That doesn’t say a little truth, or some truth, or even toward truth. It says into all truth!!      Ain’t God good?

           ….Much Love