Not Tomorrow, but Today!

I am posting a second blog post this month that is a repeat of an old blog post. Why? Because the information that follows is just as necessary today as it was yesterday.

This post is not for tomorrow, but it is for today! It's very, very important!

"Behold, today is the day of salvation." You have no promise of tomorrow here in the land of the living on this earth. For you do know not when you will breathe your last breath and die. God breathed His life into us in the first place! He also gave the life of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ for us.

There is only 1 Savior! Jesus Christ is the 1 and only Savior who gave His life for you to receive forgiveness and for you to be saved. Saved from what? From Hell! From everlasting separation from our Creator.

Jesus Christ took on all the sins of everyone, and ultimately, He rose again to live. Who other savior is there? Do you know of any other who has risen from the dead? What religion or spirituality offers a confidence of salvation? There is none. There is no religion that can save you. There is only a relationship with the true Savior, Jesus Christ, and the Father God.
 
Why wait? Do you not understand that It may be too late if you do not choose now! For today, and right now, at this moment, is the day of salvation! Behold, as the scripture begins with this word that is defined to mean: "to be able to perceive through apprehension."

You may not believe today, but if you die tomorrow, it will be too late! Choose now to believe and live in the newness of this life and through death into everlasting life. It will ultimately be either an everlasting eternal and wonderful life with God in Heaven or it will be an everlasting eternal death in terror with Satan. But it's your choice! I pray you won't reject God!

God won't force anyone to accept Him because He gave us all free will! Yet, He loves us all so very much, more than you'll ever really know. God will never force anyone to love Him back! He gives us the choice. This is true, unconditional love!

As we are given in The Bible: "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) — "... Indeed, the 'right time' is now. Today is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)

If you have not received Him into your heart, I pray that today — now — you will accept His love for you! Then you may realize that there is purpose in this life, and it's all worth it in the end!

I'll take the risk that you may reject this message. Instead, I hope you'll embrace it if you haven't already done so. I am praying for you and sending you my love, in Christ, Patty

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God's Word for Today: "And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation." (Psalm 35:9)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set it italics.

The 10 Commandments +2

I was describing an important Biblical concept in a discussion with my cousin this week about loving everyone, and he referred to this as “The 11^th Commandment.” I never quite thought of it that way before.

In fact, I had thought of it more like this: I believe there are actually 12 Commandments (the original 10 Commandments and the additional 2 that Jesus taught in the following scripture where they are stated exactly that way (as commandments).

“Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees — religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. ...” (Mark 12:18) [There was a response from Jesus about that and then]: “One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, ‘Of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

Now, if you know the first 10 Commandments, you know that we must believe that the Lord our God is our only God! There are no other gods. In addition, we must realize that the “11th and 12th Commandments” are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.

When Jesus replied to the Jewish religious leader, he said that the second of these 2 equally important commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Before I continue with the idea of the 11th and 12th Commandments, please allow me to say that if you don’t know the 10 Commandments, please get familiar with them. It’s important to know them and do our best to follow them.

The Bible refers to these additional 2 commandments many times in many verses:

“Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:19)

“Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39)

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18)

“For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9)

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Galatians 5:14)

“Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (James 2:8)

“One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: ‘Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied, ‘What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?’ The man answered, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘Right!’ Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!’ ” (Luke 10:25-28)

Now after reading all those scriptures, how would you say you’re doing on loving your neighbor, which can also be referred to as your fellow man. Good, bad, or in between? It isn’t always so easy to love others, to love strangers, most especially those who may want to harm you or kill you. Yet, God tells us to do just that and to forgive them for their ill actions or ill will against us. Why? Because we are all God’s creation and He loves all of us, even those who do wrong.

No one said it was going to be easy, just much better. Not only is it better to live in peace here on earth, but it’s better to know you will be with God in Heaven when you pass on.

Try loving others. Try leading them to God. Try being nice no matter how you’re treated in return.

Love. Remember, God is love.

I pray that each one of us can follow all the commandments. All 10 Commandments and also the so-called “11th and 12th Commandments” because as “God’s Word for Today” indicates below, all of the commandments are summed in this one: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.

God’s Word for Today: “For the commandments say, ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.’ These — and other such commandments — are summed up in this one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Romans 3:9) (Jesus' words in red.)

Copyright © 2016 by Patricia Shehan

All scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word) and is set it italics.