Daily Bread 3-25-17
Acts 1:20-22
20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, until the same day which he as taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
ref. - Ps 69:25 - Let their habitation be desolate, and let none dwell in their tents.
Heb 2:3 - How shall we escape, if we neglect so great of salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him.
Judas was caught up in a great transgression. He had been given all that a man could ask for as far as disciples go, but he was caught up in a fault and never found the right way out. Instead he first chose to go to the enemies of Christ and seek forgiveness, and then he chose to take his own life rather than going to the one who could truly forgive him. In this his calling was continued, but by another man who would witness of the teachings and life of Christ. Matthias was his name. We read this scripture today to help us to realize that what God has given us cannot be taken away by man, we will not take it with us if we leave his grace, nor will our gift just dissolve into nothing. If we are caught up in a fault or transgression we must follow the rule that has been put before us in the Gospel. We mustn't go to the world for our help nor must we try to just walk away. Our calling is a gift that Christ had to go to his Father for us to receive. It is not ours to possess forever unless we can remain obedient and bring it into fruition. Think of it as something we may use that belongs to God. But if we misuse it or walk away from it, it will be given to someone else speedily. You see, there will never be a time as long as the earth continues to exist, that there will not be men who are called to witness of the resurrection of Christ. These will be men that teach us that carnal death and the punishment of the world is not what we must worry about, it is the eternal condition of our souls. These men will also witness that the same resurrection that occurred in Christ, the defeating of death, will be given to us of we allow Christ into our hearts, souls, and minds. But if we have been called to be a disciple, make no bones about it, our loyalty and our hearts belong to Christ. We will not have any Godly followers if we are not Godly men. Sure, we may have our family members that live off of the things of the temple while serving the things of another. Or we may have a few puppets to follow us around because we tell them what they want to hear and not what they need to hear, but God will not allow true followers to be influenced by our words. We know it is the truth, we have heard the truth, so let us give the truth in Jesus Christ. And the truth is that no man, walking away from his calling when in times of trouble, and no man trying to resist or fight what authority he has been put under, and no man who goes to the world to try to receive the things that only God provides, will survive Spiritually. We will end up in the same ways of Judas, and there will be no example other than that of a bad one for people to remember. So, in essence, we will be forgotten and our graves will be walked over as if we are not even there. Today is a day to get right with God and stay right with God. Jesus Christ is the Son of God, hear ye Him!!! Have a great day!!!