"While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud covered
them, and the voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son,
whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'"
Matthew 17:5
Such were the words from the lips of the Almighty...
them, and the voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son,
whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!'"
Matthew 17:5
Such were the words from the lips of the Almighty...
"I want you to listen to my Son." Surely God's Son Jesus must have something of importance to say to mankind for the Creator of the universe to tell us to listen to Him. So the question is, "Am I going to listen to what Jesus has to say?" I would think my answer would be yes. After all, it's God the Father who's telling me to do this. He's not just anybody. He's God.
This is one of the messages the Lord gave me while I was in my room in the prison's Infirmary. "David, I want you to listen to Jesus." So if the Son of God is talking, I'd better listen!
In my interactions with fellow prisoners, I'd sometimes be asked how one can know that God is real? Or what interest does Jesus have in me? My answer to both questions is, "Read the Bible." In the Scriptures, one will discover that the Lord has much to say about this. If we want to know Jesus, we have to listen to Him. How do we listen to Him? He speaks to us through His recorded words that are contained in the holy Bible.
The Bible is not a lucky charm, as some think it to be. Lots of prisoners have a Bible in their cell, but they'll admit to never reading it. Sadly, they're missing the point. The holy Bible is not just another book. It contains God's words to us. It also contains the words of Messiah Jesus, as well. And we know from the verse I opened this journal entry with (Matthew 17:5) that God wants us to listen to His Son.
But it's not enough just to listen to Jesus, we need to do what He says. If Jesus said that we should repent of our sins and place our faith in Him for the forgiveness of those sins, then that's what we must do (additional comments are in brackets):
"For God loved the world so much that 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).
"And you will perish, too, unless you repent [to change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction], of your sins and turn to God" (Luke 13:3b NLT).
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved (Romans 10:9-10 NLT).
And I am certain that God, Who began the good work within you [once we repent and put our faith in Jesus], will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6 NLT).*
Listen to Jesus, and do what He says. It's really that simple.
D.B.
*What does it mean that God began a good work in you?
This is one of the messages the Lord gave me while I was in my room in the prison's Infirmary. "David, I want you to listen to Jesus." So if the Son of God is talking, I'd better listen!
In my interactions with fellow prisoners, I'd sometimes be asked how one can know that God is real? Or what interest does Jesus have in me? My answer to both questions is, "Read the Bible." In the Scriptures, one will discover that the Lord has much to say about this. If we want to know Jesus, we have to listen to Him. How do we listen to Him? He speaks to us through His recorded words that are contained in the holy Bible.
The Bible is not a lucky charm, as some think it to be. Lots of prisoners have a Bible in their cell, but they'll admit to never reading it. Sadly, they're missing the point. The holy Bible is not just another book. It contains God's words to us. It also contains the words of Messiah Jesus, as well. And we know from the verse I opened this journal entry with (Matthew 17:5) that God wants us to listen to His Son.
But it's not enough just to listen to Jesus, we need to do what He says. If Jesus said that we should repent of our sins and place our faith in Him for the forgiveness of those sins, then that's what we must do (additional comments are in brackets):
"For God loved the world so much that 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).
"And you will perish, too, unless you repent [to change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction], of your sins and turn to God" (Luke 13:3b NLT).
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved (Romans 10:9-10 NLT).
And I am certain that God, Who began the good work within you [once we repent and put our faith in Jesus], will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6 NLT).*
Listen to Jesus, and do what He says. It's really that simple.
D.B.
*What does it mean that God began a good work in you?
