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God wants the best for mankind
pastor corner

As Jesus was concluding what has become known as the “Sermon on the Mount,” he said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof ” (Matt. 6:33, 34).

In this we are told to put God first in our lives and not to concentrate all our being on the physical things of this life. God’s word is full of ways for man to have a better life, yet sadly many fail to heed divine advice. Yet we often see people putting money and belongings before God.

On the other side of this coin, we can also see those who just sit and wait for God to provide everything for them. This is a misunderstanding of the sayings of Jesus. God means for man to provide for his family (I Tim. 5:8).

God is not opposed to men having money, but he does warn against money being the idol of our lives (I Tim. 6:10).

So what is the answer? We need to believe God. Put him first in all we do, care for our families and providefor them, but do not let the physical things get in the way of our service and devotion to God.

We need to believe God when it comes to our salvation. There are some hard things to understand in the Bible, but how to be saved is not one of them. God has told us in his word how to be saved.

We find that those who followed Jesus had to believe that he was the Son of God, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

In another passage the Holy Scriptures tell again of the importance of faith. But without faith it is impossible to please him: “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb. 11:6).

Some would stop here, but God’s word tells that there is more to be done. God commands that we repent of our sins. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Why is it so hard to believe God? We are to have faith in Jesus as the Son of God, repent of our sins, and then we are to confess the name of Christ as the Son of God. “…And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 8:38).

The next thing we see through God’s word is that we are to be baptized for the remission of our sins. “Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, (Acts 2:38).

If that passage is not plain enough, Peter makes it even plainer, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:21).

We all need to trust in God for the blessings of this life and the blessing of salvation given to man by God.


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