Come To Jesus Day 15: Ye Who Are Young

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 15: “Ye Who Are Young, Come!   Thoughts prompted from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

One of the most frustrating things in the Lutheran Church is the practice of confirmation. It is typically a three year period of instruction for 6^th through 8^th graders in the basics of Christian teachings.

 

The teaching is solid….biblical, but once confirmed in the faith, the majority are never seen in the pews again.

Listen young people! There is a special promise for you in the Word of God!

 

“Those that seek Me early shall find me.’ (Pr 8:17)

 

But perhaps you think, “I am too young to be a Christian, let me enjoy the ways of the world. I have my whole life in front of me.”

 

But you are not too young to sin, nor too young to pay the wage of sin! Pay attention to what is written in Rom 6:23, and remember its sweet promise of escape! Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

May you not become quite careless and resistant to God’s gift of repentance. The habits of the godless world will become like chains to your soul, ever growing stronger as Satan works to tear you away from Christ and anything godly!

 

Satan is busy binding you, and with every unconfessed sin, another knot is added.  Every denial of the Holy Spirit’s calling, every hour you delay ties still another knot.

 

Oh then, Remember now thy Creator in the days of  thy youth. (Eccl 12:1)

 

Come at once to Jesus, if you wish to come at all. He will be your guide amongst the many snares that will surely come your way. Let him be your guide and stay!

 

Remember the prodigal son, who threw away the grace of God and ended up eating pig slop until he “came to his senses.” At which time he returned to the welcoming arms of his father.

 

The Father waits for you too, but don’t delay, it is a tragic fact of life that not all prodigals make it home.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Election Come To Jesus ay 14

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 14: “But I Fear I Am Not One of the Elect!  Thoughts prompted from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

As you delve deeper and deeper into the Word of God (and I pray you will do this as you seek to ever grow in your knowledge of God), inevitably you will come across the matter of election.

 

 

It’s a deep and often divisive theological issue, and as Neuman gives heading to this chapter, it often causes one to say, “I fear I am not one of the elect!”

 

This is what Neuman has to say about it and I pray it will help you in your struggles.

 

You have no cause for this fear but your own fancy. Has God, or an angel, or the Bible told you so? Election, whatever it means is God’s work, not yours. Do not perplex yourself with His secret counsels, but attend to your own plain  duties.

 

De 29:29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

This verse tells us that we must leave the secret things and attend to the revealed. Our duty is to do according to God’s Law. And this Law is most clear.

 

You are nowhere told you are not  the elect, but you are told that Jesus died for you and you are invited to come to Him. Vex your mind then no longer about such difficult subjects as election, but promptly obey what God commands.

Repent and believe the gospel. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened. Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out.

 

Do what God says and your salvation will be sure.

 

Suppose that you were very poor, and a rich man were to announce that he would give a pound to a hundred persons whose names no one knew but himself but at the same time promised that he would give it to everyone who applied for it, would you say, “I am afraid I am not among the favored number, therefore I will not ask for the money?” No; you would rather say, “whether I am among the hundred or not, everyone is invited, and therefore I will go.’ Do the same respecting eternal life. Do not sit still teasing yourself with useless inquiries whether your name is in God’s book.

 

Are you a sinner? “Oh yes!” Well then, you are invited for it is a faithful saying, and worthy to be accepted by ALL, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS, of whom I am CHIEF.”

 

The invitation is universal. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Jesus said not, “Come unto Me ye whose names are in the Book of Life”, but, “Come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden.” Come to Jesus and your salvation is certain. Come to Jesus and then you may be sure you will be found in the Book of Life. Come to Jesus and you will be received among the elect, but if you stay away you will perish.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Day 13 But I Am Not Worthy

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 13: “But I Am Not worthy and Cannot Come Aright!  Thoughts prompted from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

Remember, salvation is a gift, not a reward. Think about it. The Apostle Paul, a murderer and persecutor, Peter, the denier, and John the prestige coveter, none of these beloved apostles were worthy, yet Jesus called.

 

Jesus knows of the filthy rags that cover you and I, but on account of these very things He beckons you and I to come.  How unreasonable for us to say we are unworthy to come. That’s like saying one is too hungry to eat! Your very unworthiness is perhaps your best qualification to come because Jesus did not come for the righteous, but for the sinner!

 

Oh, you say, but I do not repent enough! That is most certainly true for all of us. We never will “repent enough” for penitence, like all other GRACES is ever growing in the child of God and no one’s penitence can ever equal his sins.

 

But we are not saved because we repent enough, we are saved because Jesus died for us!

 

You say, but I don’t love enough, you never will until you get to heaven, but we aren’t saved by the strength of our love, rather we are saved by the strength of His love for us!  

 

But I have not enough faith, again this is true, and so we pray, I believe, help my unbelief, knowing that He will not snuff out a smoldering wick of God-given faith.

 

None of us have a full measure of godly sorrow over our sin, none of us are perfect in our love of God and others, none of us have a cup filled with faith. But this is all the more reason to come to Jesus, and humbly ask Him to fill our cup with these heavenly blessings. Faith, love, and repentance.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 12 Come By Prayer

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Come To Jesus day 12: Come By Prayer! Thoughts prompted from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

God invites, no, even commands us to pray to Him! “Call upon Me in the day of trouble,” “watch and pray,” “pray without ceasing.” And many other such passages in Scripture make that clear.

 

Prayer requires no fine, flowery, well-arranged sentences, sprinkled with these and thous! It does not require perfect grammar and stellar oratory skills. Prayer begins with the understanding that you are approaching a holy God! “And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; (Lev 10:3)

 

He is holy! But you can come to Him through the blood of His holy Son, Jesus. He is all powerful and able to do something about your situation. Let your heart speak through your mind and your lips. Can’t find the words? The Holy Spirit is here to help.

 

As Moses was concerned about his oratory skills, God gave him a helper in his brother Aaron to supply the words. He will do the same for you.

 

God hears prayers whether uttered in a temple or in an alley. You may think you are too vile a sinner to pray, pray anyway. The simple prayer of the tax collector goes a long way. “Have mercy on me a sinner.”

 

Make prayer a regular habit rather than a sporadic plea only uttered when trouble strikes. Rise before the work of the day begins that you may have time to pray. Lay open your heart before God!

 

Confess your sins and cry out for pardon. Read the Bible (it is God speaking to you!) Ask God for the holiness which is commanded there.  Say, Lord, I am ignorant, teach me! My heart is hard, cause it to be softened. Help me to come to Jesus for all the help I need today!  

 

Pray pilgrim, call on Jesus whenever He might call upon you today as life (providence) happens. Help me to believe, love, and obey Him through it all!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 11 Where Is Jesus?

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Come To Jesus day 11: Where Is Jesus? From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

Art thou anxious to know where to find Jesus? He is only a whispered prayer away. Seated on the throne of mercy, where the prayers of sinners and saints reach His ears the moment they are uttered.

 

Even now as you view or read this devotion, He is right there beside you. He stands close by your side and bids you to “come to Him!” He is at thy heart’s door knocking for entrance.

 

He is so near that He will notice thy first faint effort to come to Him and will stretch out His hand to help thee! He is so near that He will notice that first tear of penitence, and catch thy first sigh for pardon.

 

Sinner, wherever you are, there is Jesus waiting to save you, so that in all countries, under all circumstances, by day and by night, at home and abroad, you may come to Jesus.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 10 He Alone Can Save

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Come To Jesus day 10: He Alone Can Save! From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

“There is one Mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus! Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved.”

 

Look then to no one else Trust only in Jesus. He invites all poor sinners to come to Him. He alone has pardon to give! Why then pray to fellow sinners, or even angels, when none of them can help you but Jesus?

 

The beggar, the prince, the black man and the white, the ignorant and the learned, those clothed in rags and those clothed in silk, laymen and priests are all equally welcome, even as they are equally needy. All are invited and you sin by looking anywhere else for help.

 

He says, “Look unto Me and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.” Look away from men. Look away from yourself, look only unto Jesus and be saved.

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 9 God and Man

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Come To Jesus day 9: Jesus: Both God and Man!  From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

Jesus, though equal with God took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man, and was found in fashion as a man.

 

He became man in order to obey the law that we had broken and to suffer the punishment that we had merited.

 

He lived among us as a man, that from His spirit and conduct, we might have a clearer idea of what God is. “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.”

 

Yonder is a funeral.  A widow weeps for the loss of her only son. Who is the man that sees her afar off, pities her, and restores life to the young man? It is Jesus!

 

Who is the man that stand s amongst a crowd of little children and beckons them to come to Him so He may bless them? It is Jesus.

 

Who is the mourner weeping at the grave of His friend Lazarus….it is Jesus!

Who is it that all the sick, and the poor and the sorrowful run after, and who heals and comforts them all? It is Jesus.

 

He is still the same, loving, tender, and compassionate, you need not be afraid of Him, He is your brother1 And HE beckons you to come to him!

 

Oh treat not with indifference so loving a friend!

 

Listen to Him, let your heart be touched with His tenderness.

 

Come to Him, rely on Him as your Savior and your King

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 8 Heaven

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

Come To Jesus day 8: That You May Enter Heaven….Come! From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

It has been said (and I think rightly) that for the unbeliever, this life is the only heaven he or she will ever experience. Hell is an eternal environment where any shred of goodness is forever absent.

 

In today’s edition of Come To Jesus, Neuman zeroes in on the myriad bliss and joys of heaven: “How delightful is the description that the Bible gives of heaven!

 

We are told that sickness, sorrow, and death never enter there; that cares, fears, and anxieties are never felt there; that poverty, privation, unkindness and disappointment are never known there.

 

The glorified, incorruptible body will never experience pain, weariness, or decay. Old age will never enfeeble, for there will be perpetual youth; and death will never snatch away those we love.

 

Hearts will be full of perfect love of God and one another. All the good men and women of faith in the former ages will be there; the martyrs, the prophets, the apostles. And very likely, those who had a part in leading you to Christ!

In heaven, “they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” “In His presence is fullness of joy, and at His righthand are pleasures forevermore!”

 

Reader, listener, this heaven may be thine! Jesus keeps the door, but He has opened it wide for all sinners to enter! He is the door! He is the ONLY Door, but He invites you to come!

 

However guilty and vile you are and have been, heaven may and certainly be yours if you but come.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 7

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

This one is a little lengthy but I encourage you to let his words sink in because we often forget the privileges we have as children of God!

 

Come To Jesus day 7: For the Privileges and Joys of Adoption…..Come! From the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet “Come To Jesus”  published in 1848!

 

All of our earthly fathers are imperfect, (some more than others) but when you Come To Jesus you are adopted by the Perfect Father!

 

“Ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord God Almighty!”

“We have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.”

 We are permitted in prayer to address God as “Our Father, which art in heaven.”

 

As Father, He teaches, watches over, comforts, feeds and protects. Sorrows are His kind chastisements, intended for our benefit. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons: for whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth.”

 

In all our trials, He consoles us. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.”

 

As one who his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.”

Sickness, poverty, all our troubles, are overruled for our advantage. “All things work together for good to them that love God.”

 

“They shall not want any good thing.”

 

“No weapon formed against them shall prosper”

 

In every difficulty and danger their Father is at their side. “Fear not for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. When thou passeth through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. I will never leave nor forsake .

 

 

 

We may tell our Father all our wants. “In everything make your requests known to God.”

 

As a father, He provides us with an incorruptible inheritance. …undefiled, which fadeth not away.”

 

Oh what happiness  to be a child of God! He loves you! He pities you! Pardons and keeps you! I am safe from all evil!

 

“God is my refuge, ever near, and He never slumbers, never is weary, never forgets.

 

He says, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.

 

What earthly greatness can equal these things? Would you be a child of God? You may if you “come to Jesus.” For as many as received Him. To them gave He power to become the sons of God.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 6

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 6: For A New Heart… Come! More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848! He writes:

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God! (Jn 3:5)

 

Unconverted sinner, there is no place of happiness and bliss for you in the next life. Hell is eternal torture and while you are unconverted, the things of the kingdom (heaven)  are not appealing to you.

 

But heaven is nou just sitting on a cloud and playing a harp! Heaven is all sabbaths, (perfect peace)  all worship, all holiness, (no sin)  its inhabitants all righteous, (no sinners) and their talk and actions all have reference to God. (In whose image we were meant to be)  Heaven is happy because it is holy and because God is there. Hell on the other hand is a total lack of goodness, because He’s not!

 

Holiness, and eternal happiness only matter to those who have a new heart, those who have been “born again.”

You cannot change your heart but the Holy Spirit can! And God sincerely desires to give you the life changing gift of the Holy Spirit!

 

“If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.” (Luke 11:13)

 

There is still time for you to experience the new birth! You who have despised baptism. Come to Jesus and pray with David, “Create in me a clean heart O God  and renew a right spirit within me.”

 

Come to Jesus and live!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 5

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 5: For Peace of Conscience, Come! More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848! He writes:

 

Isa 48:22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." Some sinners seem to be at peace, but it is only by refusing to think. But such thoughtlessness is not worthy to be called peace.

 

Sinner, you are evading the issue. You cannot have true peace unless you have assurance of full pardon for your sins.

Such pardon is only available when we come to Jesus. In Jesus, all our sins are forgiven. We still think of them with sorrow, but we need no more think of them with terror.

 

God says to us: “Your sins will I remember no more.” He casts them behind His back into the depths of the sea. They will not be mentioned on Judgement Day. He will abundantly pardon.

Instead of hiding from Him as Adam did, we hide in Him as David did saying, “Thou art my hiding place.”

 

Oh what a happy change!

 

Whatever dreadful things my conscience tells me, Jesus says, They sins are forgiven thee go in peace!”

 

Poor sinner, you and peace have long been strangers. Worldly pleasure is not peace and nothing can give you true peace while your sins hang heavily on your soul.

 

Come then to Jesus. He both makes peace and gives it. Come to Jesus and you will know firsthand, “The peace of God which passeth all understanding.

.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

 

Come To Jesus Part 4

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 4: Hell Awaits You! Come To Be Saved! More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848! He writes:

 

It is appointed for all men to die ONCE and after death, the judgement. God will judge the secrets of men. All sinners who have not obtained pardon by coming to Jesus will be told to depart from the presence of God forever.

”Depart ye cursed into everlasting fire!”

 

Who can tell the torments of that place!

 The rich man can take none of his wealth, the gay man none of his amusements. The world and sin will cease to charm. The pleasant light of day, the cheerful voice of friends, the quiet comforts of home will be no more!

 

Opportunities for escape will be gone forever. Oh for one more Sabbath, Oh for one more hour to pray for mercy!

 

Every unforgiven sinner is on their way to this place for eternity. Yes you, who may be viewing this vlog, or reading the hard copy, if you are not pardoned, you are on your way! And every hour brings you closer!

 

Yet there remains a way to escape for you! Flee to Jesus! He came to save you from hell.

 

Nothing can save you, if you will not come to Jesus, and nothing can prevent your salvation if you do come to Him. Come to Jesus for He has promised in Jn 10:28, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Come To Jesus Part 3

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

 

Come To Jesus day 3: God is angry! Come, to be reconciled!2: More thoughts from the Neuman Hall Devotional booklet published in 1848!

 

Wow! Facebook blocked my last post, I wonder what they will do with this one! Hall takes the gloves off in this one as he points out God’s anger at sin and yet God’s gracious invitation to be reconciled through the appeasement (propitiation) offered freely by Him through faith in His Son Jesus.

 

This entire devotion of Hall’s is reminiscent of the classic Jonathan Edwards sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” delivered in 1741 during the “Great Awakening.”

 

It’s a warning shot fired by the anointing of the Holy Spirit to remind us that God is indeed love, BUT He is also just and unrepentant lawbreakers rouse His anger.

 

Fasten your seat belts. Here we go. Hall writes:

 

The Bible says God is angry with the wicked everyday. Ps 7:11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

And has not God much cause to be angry with thee sinner? He gave and preserves your life and faculties, and bestows all your comforts. Yet you forget Him!

 

He gave you His commands which are meant for your good, but you ignore them and you live your lives as if He didn’t exist. He is a loving Father and you have rejected Him!

 

Isa 1:2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth! For the LORD has spoken: "I have nourished and brought up children, And they have rebelled against Me;

 

As long as you live without repenting of sin His anger must ever be hot against you sinner and you cannot escape nor hide from Him.

 

Wherever you are, He is there and He is ANGRY! He compasses your path and your lying down and He is ANGRY!

It depends on Him whether you draw your next breath and He is ANGRY!

 

How dreadful to feel  when going to bed, God is ANGRY! To awake and know that God is ANGRY!

 

And oh to die knowing that God is ANGRY and to stand before His judgement seat, and see that He is ANGRY!

 

But sinner, HE is only ANGRY while you make Him so. He is willing to be your friend. He sent His Son with this message, “Be ye reconciled to God.” If you will trust in that Messenger and turn from your sins, all this anger will cease!

 

You will no longer need to be afraid of your Maker, but will rejoice in the love  He has always wished to show you

Oh then come to Jesus! Be no longer God’s enemy but receive the offer to be His friend.

I read this devotion from Hall and I wish all, (including myself) could visit Calvary on Good Friday for just a minute (if we could stand it) and observe the ANGER of God poured out against sin. I wonder how deeply it would affect my view of God’s love for the world, God’s love for me, if I truly realized what is my just due.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word