Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Aug 20th, 2023 Thank You! … by Wesley Clayton

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 23 – 25 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 16 – 18; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Micah 6:8

Read the “0820 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.” (Jeremiah 25:3-4)

Jeremiah had a tough ministry. 23 years and no one turned to God, but he kept preaching. I have been blessed to have had many men and women of God in my life who have influenced me through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and I just want to say thanks. From the bus worker/driver that was faithful to drive 15 minutes out of their way to come pick me up all those years; to the many Sunday school teachers who spent countless hours praying and preparing on how to keep my attention; to the youth pastors and pastors, evangelist, and missionaries that followed God by faith to get to where I was; and finally to all the godly laymen and women that simply showed the loved of God to me and kept me coming back: THANK YOU. Without them I don’t know where I would be or where I would be headed.

And, in regards to chapter 24, I don’t know what basket I would be in. So why don’t we all purpose in our heart to go to someone who made a godly difference in our lives and simply tell them thanks for having a Jeremiah-like faithfulness during the hard times and not quitting. Because, without them, there is a possibility things could be very different in your life and mine. 

Aug 19th, 2023 He That Has An Ear Let Him Hear – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 18 – 22 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 13 – 15; Psalms 91 – 95; Proverbs 19)

Read the “0819 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word, And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates: Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people. But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.” (Jeremiah 22:1-5)

“Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed. I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.” (Jeremiah 22:20-21)

“O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 22:29)

Good morning. Have you heard God’s Word lately? No, I mean, have you really heard God’s Word lately? If you really, truly heard what God is saying in His Word, why have you not obeyed? Obedience is the best way to show that you heard God’s Word. The Word of God should be one of the most important things in our lives. The Word of God will get us saved…

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And…

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

But if you don’t hear the Word of the LORD, and then obey the Word of the LORD by receiving Jesus as your Saviour, how else can you get saved? You can’t: no Word, no faith. Once you get saved, though, the Word of the LORD takes on a whole new life. God’s Word gives life…

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

The Word of God will help keep you out of trouble…

“BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” (Psalm 119:9-16)

Already gotten yourself into financial trouble? Hear the Word of the LORD…

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:8-12)

I am a witness to Him supplying my every need: I will not stop tithing or giving. God has proved Himself to me many times: God is true to His Word. But you have a choice to make: are you going to hear the Word of God and do it? Will you believe God and take Him at His Word? Will you be like Peter?…

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33)

Jesus didn’t let Peter drown, why should He let you sink for being faithful to His Word?

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (James 1:17-25)

“O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.” (Jeremiah 22:29)

Peace.

Aug 18th, 2023 The Dearth

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 14 – 17 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 10 – 12; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 40:31

Read the “0818 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.” (Jeremiah 14:1)

“Dearth” – now that’s a word that has almost gone completely out of use. When is the last time that you heard somebody talking about a “dearth.” What does it mean? In a physical sense, it refers to a drought, similar to the one pictured above from the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s that decimated much of the Great Plains. The same Hebrew word for “dearth” (בַּצֹּרֶת – baṣṣōreṯ) is translated “drought” in Jeremiah 17:8. That is certainly the case here in Jeremiah 14:

“And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads. Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.” (Jeremiah 14:3-6)

Symbolically, it can refer to a time of great economic depression where jobs and resources are very scarce. Spiritually, it speaks of a time when God’s people forsake the Lord, resulting in God’s judgment, which in the case of the nation of Judah during the time of Jeremiah meant that they would be oppressed and eventually conquered by the Babylonians. God’s judgment in this case included all three, however, physical consequences and economic consequences were included in addition to the invading army.

God had warned His people many times in the past and had even sent smaller judgments to try to get their attention and get them to repent and turn back to Him. However, they had ignored all of God’s warnings, and now it was too late. God even tells Jeremiah to stop praying for the people’s “good.” In other words, God is telling Jeremiah that “good” will not get the people to return to Him. If they were going to repent, it would require God’s judgment:

“Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.” (Jeremiah 14:11-12)

Notice also that God uses “pestilence,” or disease to get His people’s attention.

Jeremiah stated that God was a stranger (v. 8) in His own land. Complicating matters was the fact that there were “prophets” among the people who were telling them that everything was good, there would be no judgment from God. These were false prophets, the kind that tell people what they want to hear instead of what God said. They are like the ones that Paul warns us against in 2 Timothy 4:3:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3)

Though the story we have here is about Jerusalem and Judah way back to almost 600 BC, I think we can make the leap and see how this could apply to America today. As a nation, we have almost altogether forsaken the Lord, and we are completely ignoring God’s warnings. It may in fact be too late for us as a nation, but it is never too late for you (or I) to confess our sins to the Lord and turn back to Him in repentance, faith, and obedience to His word. Though there may be dearth all around you, you can still have the tremendous blessing of the Lord on your life.

Aug 12th, 2023 Who Turned Out The Lights? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 58 – 62 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – John 17 – 18; Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)

Read the “0812 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

(Isaiah 60:1-3)”Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Good morning. Arise and shine. You are representing the Lord today. You will reflect His light and those around you should see this light. What’s that? You say you haven’t had your coffee yet, and your light’s a little dim? Folgers, Dunkin’, Starbucks, and yes, even Wawa coffee will not fill you with the Light. What? You didn’t even have breakfast yet? Dr. Bob Bowen, one of my teachers at Texas Baptist College, would say, “You’re sitting at your desk, your Bible is open, you have a hot cup of coffee, and a glass full of ice and apple juice. Later, the coffee is cold. The ice is melted. You’re there with the Word of God: it was a good breakfast.”

(Matthew 5:14-16) “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

What can you do to change things. How do you brighten a dimmed light? You can fall in love with Jesus again. After all, He did for us. He has given us eternal life, supplied all our needs, and gave us His Holy Spirit. We should love Him because He first loved us.

(Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

(1John 4:16-21) “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (17) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (18) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (19) We love him, because he first loved us. (20) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (21) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

(John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

And what had the Lord commanded? He commanded you to be a soul winner.

(Matthew 28:18-20) “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

(Mark 16:15) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

(Luke 24:46-48) “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things.

(John 20:21-23) “Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. (22) And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (23) Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

The Father sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to seek and to save that which was lost. That’s what He commands us to do. Remember what Jesus said?

(1John 4:20-21) “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (20) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.”

If you love your brother, you don’t want him to die and go to Hell. And we are brothers to the lost also: all our ancestors could be traced back to Noah. And the only way to find out if a person is saved is to ask them. You need to start sharing the Gospel. Our job is to give out the Gospel. God’s job is to convict their hearts so they will receive Jesus as their Saviour…

(1Corinthians 3:4-15) “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (5) Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? (6) I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (7) So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. (8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. (9) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. (10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; (13) Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (14) If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (15) If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Another gem I learned from Dr. Bowen is that it takes 23 days to create a habit. If for the next 23 days, you tell someone about Jesus, or hand them a tract, it will become a habit. I’m not sure if Dr. Bowen said this one also, but if you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. I would like to have a crown to cast at the Saviour’s feet. Do you? Find the light switch and turn it on.

Peace.

Aug 9th, 2023 The True God or a god of Your Own Creation?

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 44 – 47 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – John 11 – 12; Psalms 41 – 45; Proverbs 9)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 55:17

Read the “0809 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this reading passage – “Custom Design“ and “He’s the One and Only”

I noticed two recurring themes in the reading today. God states several times through the prophet Isaiah, that He is the only God, there is none beside Him. In fact, I thought it funny when He said “I know not any” (Isaiah 44:8). Consider again these verses from today’s reading:

“Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. … Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.” (Isaiah 44:6, 8)

“I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. … For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. … Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:5-6, 18, 21-22)

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,” (Isaiah 46:9)

The other thought that is repeated throughout the passage today is that men are determined to keep making idols, little statues of metal and wood, and they pray to them and worship them, but these hunks of junk can’t do anything for them. Again, let’s look at the verses from today’s passage that demonstrate this:

“They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?” (Isaiah 44:9-10 – also vs. 12 – 20)

In Isaiah 44:12 – 20, God speaks about the folly of a man who plants a tree, then cuts it down to warm his home and bake his bread, and then takes the residue of it to fashion it into a god, an idol.

“Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.” (Isaiah 45:20)

“They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship. They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.” (Isaiah 46:6-7)

Israel had the real God, the only God, yet they continuously chose to forsake Him and create gods of their own, little hunks of wood and metal. Now to be sure, there was real spiritual power behind all of these idols. Satan and his devils were the powers behind these false gods. However, when a man was bowing down and worshipping an idol, the devil was not physically present receiving the worship. He is not omnipresent as our God is. We sometimes make the mistake of assigning Satan and his demons the same attributes that rightly belong to God. Satan is powerful, certainly more powerful than a man, but he is minuscule compared to an omnipotent God. Most of the time, these idol worshippers of old were just speaking into the air, and the only One that really heard them as they were praising and praying to their idols was the true God whom they had forsaken, and He was not at all pleased that they had rejected Him and replaced Him with a hunk of wood.

Israel kept forsaking the Great God, the all powerful God, and replacing Him with these idols. Crazy! But don’t we do the same thing today? Oh, to be sure there are probably not many of us that have little statues around our homes that we bow before and worship, but we sure have a lot of idols. We replace God with all kinds of things that we worship: our money, toys, hobbies, careers, and even sometimes, our families – these are all good things given by God sometimes but they can eventually become more important to us than the God who gave them. We also sometimes dabble in sinful pleasures like immoral sexual activity, alcohol, drugs, etc. Like the idols of old, we thought we could manipulate and control them for our pleasure but eventually they enslave us and ruin our lives. When are we going to learn?

Let’s keep God – the Lord Jesus Christ – at the very center of our worship; not just on Sundays, but every day and in every aspect of our lives. Worshipping Him means that our lives are centered in Him. He is in control of everything we do. Let’s stop chasing the vanity of the idols of this world and pursue after God.

Aug 5th, 2023 He Made Me Not – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 29 – 32 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – John 3 – 4; Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)

Read the “0805 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

(Isaiah 29:8-16) “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. (9) Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. (10) For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (11) And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: (12) And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. (13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (14) Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. (15) Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? (16) Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”

Good morning. Is it? What if you woke up this morning after dreaming about Heaven, and found out that while you slept, laws were changed: you could not read your Bible and you could not pray in public. When you went to go see your pastor, he wasn’t at home. The church had been boarded up, and your pastor was nowhere to be found. It could happen if the church is not awake and on it’s watch. Remember when you could freely witness, show people from the Bible how to be saved from an everlasting Hell? Considered a hate crime, you would be arrested on the spot. And just think: it all started with evolution: there is no God, you evolved from an ape. Even Bible scholars (?) jumped on the band wagon with the “Gap Theory.”

So between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 there was a gap of time, billions of years, in which evolution took place. Wrong. On the first day God created earth and light. On the second day God created the earth’s atmosphere, separating the waters. On the third day God created the dry land and the plants. On the fourth day God created the sun, moon, and stars. On the fifth day God created the water creatures, and the birds. On the sixth day God created the animals, man, and woman. On the seventh day all creation was complete, so God rested (stopped creating). Fast forward to the future, and man cries out: He made me not. And the world we have now is shown in Romans chapter 1…

(Romans 1:18-32) “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (19) Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. (20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (26) For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Rather than teach Creation along with Evolution as the law allows, teachers cram evolution down the throats of our children. They come out brainwashed saying, “There is no God, He made me not.”

Because there is no God, there is no law. Because there is no law, I am free to do whatever I want: free (to sin) to fulfill whatever I lust after: there is no eternal punishment in Hell. Why even today, if you’re a man who thinks your a woman; or a woman who thinks you’re a man, you can change your God given sex…

(Isaiah 29:16b) “…or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”

Here is some understanding…

1) (Proverbs 14:34) “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

2) (Ezekiel 18:4) “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

3) (Romans 3:10) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” AND (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

4) (2Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

5) (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

6) (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

7) (Ephesians 2:8-9)”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

8) (Romans 10:13) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

9) (John 6:37-40) “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (40) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

10) (1John 5:12) “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

He made me not?

(Ephesians 2:10) “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

He made me!

Pray that God would convict the hearts of the homosexual and will be ashamed of their sin. And also pray that God would convict your heart of the abominations that you have committed. For all have sinned.

Peace.

Aug 4th, 2023 Milk or Meat

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 24 – 28 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – John 1 – 2; Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34:1 – 4

Read the “0804 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? [them that are] weaned from the milk, [and] drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: … 13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” (Isaiah 28:9-10, 13)

“2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able.”(1 Corinthians 3:2)

“12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” (Hebrews 5:12-13)

Here in Isaiah 28, the illustration of milk is used to describe someone who is immature in his spiritual understanding. Isaiah explains that spiritual growth can only come to those who have been “weaned from the milk.” Notice also the references in 1 Corinthians 3 and Hebrews 5 above. Both passages affirm that spiritual growth must take place if we are to be able to discern the deeper spiritual truths. The bottom line is that just as a child needs to move past milk and baby food if he is going to mature physically, the new believer must also continue developing his spiritual tastes and diet so that he will be able to comprehend and put into practice the more spiritually demanding passages and principles from the Bible. As our spiritual diet grows, so also will our discernment and usefulness for the Lord’s work. Spiritual growth is dependent upon our understanding of Bible doctrine.

Now it important for us to remember that milk is very important for those who are new believers in Christ. Just as it is silly to feed a baby a steak, it is also unwise to expect a new believer to grasp biblical principles that are difficult even for those of us who have been saved and growing for decades. Spiritual babes need milk. They need to know the basics. A good discipleship program would be very helpful at this stage of their spiritual growth. 

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2:2)

Newborn believers must be taught the basic, foundational principles of Christianity; but if spiritual growth and maturity are going to come, there will need to be a moving past those foundational truths to a more “meaty” doctrinal diet. 

“1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.” (Hebrews 6:1-3)

“18 But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Jul 29th, 2023 Mistaken Identity – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Song of Solomon 5 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 13 – 14; Psalms 136 – 140; Proverbs 29)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1

Read the “0729 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.” (Song Of Solomon 5:4-7)

Good morning. Have you ever been mistaken for somebody else? When I had my last pair of glasses, people would say I looked like Drew Carey. I should send him a picture of myself and say this is what you will look like at 69. Wouldn’t that be a shock? My friend Bo, from Texas, posted a picture of himself on Facebook that made him look like Huntz Hall from the Bowery Boys, and the East Side Kids. Now +I’m really dating myself: Google it. Getting back to our passage here; one of Solomon’s 1000 loves went looking for him late in the evening. The watchmen mistakenly took her to be a prostitute and beat her. She did have her face covered with a veil…

“Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.” (Genesis 38:11-15)

And Judah had her, not knowing it was his daughter-in-law…

“And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.” (Genesis 38:24-26)

Tamar was in her right mind when she did what she did, but what about being mistaken for a drunkard?

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.” (1Samuel 1:10-17)

There is one more example of mistaken identity in the Bible, and it has to do with you and me…

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (1John 3:1-3)

When others look at you, do they see you or do they see Jesus? What do you have to do to show Jesus to the world?

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:17-32)

If the world acted more like Christ, or even if Christians acted more like Christ, the world would not be in the sad shape that it is in today. All you have to do is avoid the works of the flesh, and allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in you.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:16-25)

I would rather be mistaken for Jesus than Drew Carey any day. Who will you be mistaken for? I hope you purpose in your heart to make it Jesus.

Peace.

Jul 23rd, 2023 A Letter to a Teenager by Pastor Matthew Swiatkowski

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 25 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 1 – 2; Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)

Read the “0723 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “A True Friend”

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Recently, I received a letter from a dear couple whom I have known since before their wedding. This letter contained a unique request that I had not received before. They asked me to write an encouraging letter to their oldest child who is soon turning 13 years old, as he is entering his teenage years. As I sat in front of my computer, staring at a blank page, I asked the Lord for guidance on what to write. He laid it on my heart to write something that I would have needed at 13, as these principles would work for both boys and girls. After I sent off the letter, I began to reflect on what I wrote. I had several more thoughts cross my mind so I added them here. Those extra thoughts will be in italics. 

Dear ___________

I want to extend my warmest wishes to you on your 13th birthday. You’ve officially entered your teenage years, and I’m sure you’ve been eagerly anticipating this milestone. Remember, your teenage years are what you make of them. Make the most of it and enjoy this exciting new chapter in your life. I sincerely urge you to cherish and embrace your teenage years rather than rush to reach your 20s. Life is a precious blessing bestowed upon us by our Heavenly Father, and every phase of it has its unique charm. As we move on to a new chapter, we leave behind some experiences that can never be relived. Therefore, I encourage you to make the most of your teenage years and treasure every moment, for they will never come again. 

I have vivid memories of my teenage years, but unfortunately, most of them were spent serving the world instead of my Lord. I want you to know how fortunate you are to have been blessed with two wonderful Christian parents. However, I understand that your youth may present challenges, so I want to offer some words of encouragement. 

First, It’s important to cherish the time you spend with your family, whether it’s sharing meals, enjoying family time, or going on vacations together. If you and your brothers are sharing a room, know that as you grow older, you’ll look back with fondness on the memories you created together. Even the arguments and disagreements will become a source of laughter and joy in retrospect. I speak from experience, having been the youngest of four brothers. I have countless happy memories of us talking and joking around in our beds at night. Having brothers is a true blessing.

Second, as the eldest in the family, you hold a great responsibility to set a positive example for your younger siblings. Even if you don’t feel like a leader, they will look up to you and follow your actions. It’s important to remember that your words and behavior have a significant impact on them. My brother Edward was the oldest in our family, but he passed away in 1985 and I miss him greatly. He set the tone for us and we followed him because he was our big brother. Embrace this role with wisdom and make choices that are beneficial to all.

Third, As you venture into your teenage years, you will face new challenges and emotions. It may be difficult to fully appreciate now, but having godly parents is a blessing that you will come to understand as you grow older. Seeking counsel from your father and mother is the wisest thing you can do. Drawing from my own experiences, I recall sitting with my mother at the kitchen table for hours, discussing everything from our ancestors to current events. She was a delight to talk to. My relationship with my father was more challenging, as he was not a Christian man. However, both your parents have valuable life experience and a deep understanding of the world. They are aware of its dangers and pitfalls, and they want to help you avoid making the same mistakes they may have made.

Fourth, every young man wants friends and be careful of the ones that you make. Psalm 1 gives some wonderful advice in this department. Avoid any young man or any young lady who will try to take you away from the Lord or obedience to your parents. They are not your friends. Forming friendships with individuals who do not have love for the Lord or a desire to serve him will not be advantageous for you, and will only bring harm.

Fifth, it’s important to prioritize your relationship with God. Seek His guidance through prayer before making any decisions, and make sure everything you do aligns with His teachings. Though it may not be easy, being a Christian is more fulfilling than anything else this world can offer. I’m grateful that God touched my heart at 18 and transformed my life for the better. Those who serve Jesus Christ never regret their life’s journey. Attend church regularly, study the scriptures, heed your pastor’s teachings, and respect your parents in the Lord. Sadly I have seen too many young people ignore this advice and have watched them go off the rails.

Sixth, As you appreciate your current age, it’s crucial to consider the future. Every decision you make will guide you toward a particular destination. Your future is determined by the decisions you make in the present. Bad decisions can lead to negative consequences, while good decisions can bring positive outcomes. Remember to always make wise choices to create a better future for yourself. It is a fundamental truth in the Bible that decisions made without considering the Lord will inevitably lead to unfavorable outcomes.

Seventh, Do not sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the temporary. Some things in life are very precious and they should not be thrown away or treated lightly. Your purity and virtue are gifts and they should not be wasted on a fleeting moment. Follow what God teaches and you will have no regrets.

Dear friend, I hope these seven points of wisdom I shared with you are helpful. As you continue to grow, always remember to appreciate life for what it truly is – a beautiful gift from the almighty God, filled with wonder, excitement, and many blessings. Even though there may be moments of sorrow and heartache, these experiences only serve to help us cherish and appreciate the wonderful things that God in Heaven has provided for us. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

God Bless 

Matthew B. Swiatkowski Sr.   

Pastor Matthew Swiatkowski is the pastor of Gospel Light Baptist Church in Kearny, NJ

Jul 22nd, 2023 Jealous? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 22 – 24 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 15 – 16; Psalms 106 – 110)

Read the “0722 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

(Proverbs 23:17-18) “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. (18) For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”

Good morning. Did you ever watch any of those TV shows about flipping houses? They by a house in really bad shape for $100,000. Then they invest another $100,000 to make it like new. Then they sell it for half a million dollars: and profit $300,000. Did you ever take a good look at the people who are buying them? Where are these people getting all that money from?

Jealous?

Did you ever wonder about Jack LaLane, or Richard Simmons, or even Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser? How can they get their metabolism up to burn extra calories and I can’t?

Jealous?

How about those who seem to ‘get away with murder’, as the saying goes?

(Proverbs 24:1-2) “Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. (2) For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.”

Now, granted, some of those people are paying $500,000 for a house with money that was honestly earned. And there are some who are not. Surely there is an end. Bob and Jillian, and most of us, are just one step away from disaster. If something happens and they are laid up in a hospital for a year, they may not be able to get back into the same shape they are now. And the evil man is not getting away with anything. One day, just like all of us, he will have to stand before the Lord and give account. Surely there is an end and your expectation may or may not be cut short. And surely there is an end, and that end is either Heaven or Hell for eternity. If you receive Jesus as your Saviour, Heaven, your expectation, will not be cut short. If you reject Jesus as your Saviour, your expectation is cut short, and your dreams of Heaven are turned into Hell.

(Romans 14:11-12) “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (12) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

The apostle Paul said…

(Philippians 4:11-13) “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

And the apostle Paul went through a lot…

(2Corinthians 11:23-27) “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

And yet Paul was content. God allows us to have what He allows us to have. Some people think they can serve God better if He gives them a million dollars. Do you have a million dollars? God knows it would corrupt you: it would not be good for you to have all that money. Many times when I hear people complain about this thing or that thing, I always think about a passage at the end of John…

(John 21:14-22) “This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. (15) So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (16) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (17) He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (18) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (19) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (20) Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? (21) Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? (22) Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Still jealous? Maybe we should be like Paul and be content; and like Peter, and follow Jesus.

Peace.