Thursday, April 25, 2013

“SIH’s Think On These Things: Mark 9:41-50 (5)”


Mark 9:41-50 (KJV)

43) And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

44) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

45) And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

46) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

47) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

48) Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

 

For this series we will use this very simple outline:

1.  vs 41-42 – Evidences of genuine salvation

2.  vs 43-48 – Importance of genuine salvation

3.  vs 49-50 – Absolute necessity of genuine salvation

 

In the devotion for today we will be looking at the second division of our text which helps us to understand the importance of possessing God-given faith in Christ… 

 

Col 1:12-15 (KJV)  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:  In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

It is only through a God-given faith in Jesus Christ that we can be forgiven of our sins, have our sins paid for through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and therefore, can be saved from the eternal wrath of God.

 

It is this eternal wrath of God that is emphasized in our text for this devotion.  The basic principle of our text is very easy for us to grasp… We are to do whatever is necessary to avoid facing the wrath of God which is meted out as an eternity in the Lake of Fire.  This text uses the loss of an hand, leg or eye to illustrate the great lengths to which we should be willing to go to escape the horrible punishment of God.

 

Keeping in mind the great importance of escaping the eternal judgment of God, let’s think on two questions to close our devotion for today…

 

1.  Do we take the need for a God-given faith seriously?  If so, we will go to great lengths to make certain that the Lord has intervened in our lives and made us a new creature in Him…

2Pet 1:10-11 (KJV) - Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

2.  If we have made our salvation sure, doesn’t our understanding of God’s wrath compel us to take the gospel to those around us?  Whether by our voice or actions we must be presenting Christ to others on a daily basis.

2Cor 5:11 (KJV) - Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

May the Lord bless us as we “Think On These Things”.

 





 

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