DN Responding to Christ's Invitation 3/21/2006
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 01:32:44 -0500
DRAWING NEAR
March 21
Responding to Christ's Invitation
"Thy kingdom come" (Matt. 6:10).
Many people who think they're kingdom citizens will someday be
shocked to discover they aren't. In Matthew 7:21 Jesus says, "Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of
heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven." Some
people think highly of the kingdom but never receive the King. They
call Jesus "Lord" but don't do His will. Lip service won't do. You
must receive the King and His kingdom (John 1:12).
You must also value the kingdom. In Matthew 13:44 Jesus says, "The
kingdom of heaven is like a treasure." In verses 45-46 He compares it
to a pearl that was so valuable, a merchant sold all he had to
purchase it. That's the value of the kingdom. It's worth any
sacrifice you have to make.
Finally, you must continually pursue the kingdom. In Matthew 6:33
Jesus says, "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all
these things shall be added to you." In context He was discussing the
basic necessities of life such as food and clothing, reminding His
disciples that their Heavenly Father knew their needs and would
supply them if they simply maintained the proper priorities.
Unbelievers characteristically worry about meeting their own needs
(v. 32), but believers are to be characterized by trusting in God and
pursuing His kingdom.
Christ offers His kingdom to everyone (Matt. 28:19). The only
acceptable response is to receive it, value it, and pursue it. Is
that your response? Have you received the kingdom? Is it precious to
you? I trust it is. If so, rejoice and serve your King well today.
Make His kingdom your top priority. If not, turn from your sin and
submit your life to Christ, who loves you and longs to receive you
into His eternal kingdom.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Thank God for the heavenly citizenship you hold (Phil. 3:20-21).
Ask Him to help you keep His priorities uppermost in your life.
For Further Study:
Read Revelation 21 and 22. As you do, think of what eternity with
Christ will be like. What aspects of eternity do you especially look
forward to?
Drawing Near, Copyright c 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
John 1:12 (NKJV)
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name
Matthew 28:19
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait
for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His
glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to
subdue all things to Himself.
Revelation 21 and 22
21:1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven
and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the
tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they
shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be
no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain,
for the former things have passed away."
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things
new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and
faithful."
6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of
life freely to him who thirsts.
7 "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God
and he shall be My son.
8 "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in
the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death."
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with
the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come,
I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife."
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high
mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God,
11 having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious
stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
12 Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve
angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names
of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:
13 three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on
the south, and three gates on the west.
14 Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were
the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city,
its gates, and its wall.
16 The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its
breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand
furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.
17 Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits,
according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.
18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure
gold, like clear glass.
19 The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all
kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second
sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald,
20 the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite,
the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the
eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of
one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent
glass.
22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb
are its temple.
23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it,
for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light,
and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.
25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no
night there).
26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into
it.
27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or
causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life.
22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as
crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was
the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its
fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the
nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the
Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the
sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever
and ever.
6 Then he said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the
Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the
things which must shortly take place.
7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of
the prophecy of this book."
8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw,
I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me
these things.
9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your
fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who
keep the words of this book. Worship God."
10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this
book, for the time is at hand.
11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let
him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still;
he who is holy, let him be holy still."
12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to
give to every one according to his work.
13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the
First and the Last."
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the
right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the
city.
15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in
the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright
and Morning Star."
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears
say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him
take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of
this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the
plagues that are written in this book;
19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from
the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming
quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
~~~
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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