Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Jesus showed His concern about the issue of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. All four gospels give us this account. This shows me that His words about this topic really impressed the apostles (Matthew 12:31-32; Mark 3: 28-30; Luke 12:10; John 20:19-24). The great concern over blaspheming the Holy Spirit is that it is the only unpardonable sin (Mark 3:29).

In the context of this verse, Jesus just healed a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. The Pharisees doubted his ability as a human being to do such a thing (Matthew 12:22-23). They knew that Jesus possessed power they did not hold, and they were jealous of His anointing. Therefore, wanting to take the focus off Christ, they accused Him of using Satan's power to heal the man.

This ludicrous comment proved their inconsistent spiritual philosophy. Why would Satan cast out his own demon? Then, Jesus made it clear that giving Satan credit for the work of God's Spirit is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28). This has always been true (Matthew 12:32). The apostate is turned over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28; 1 Timothy 4:1).

Some people have tasted the things of God and then decide to reject Christ; but some go one step further and blaspheme His name and discount His deity and attribute his works to Satan. They dedicate their life to harsh criticism of the Christian world and Biblical beliefs; therefore, sadly, they will spend their eternity in perpetual damnation for rejecting Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 3:18).

Prayer:

Father God, Your love, wisdom, power, authority, righteousness and justice are above reproach; yet, the humanistic mind rejects You and Your Word. They accuse the Biblical writers of being male chauvinists, and they say the Bible is an archaic book of fairytales. Your Word is true, powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). There is life in every word. Thank You for working out circumstances in our life so that we accepted rather than rejected the work of Christ in our life.

Thought for the Day:

Those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit are apostates, and do not get another chance to repent, because after death comes the judgment. - Hebrews 9:27

Our True Inheritance

Read: Luke 15:11-32

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God's angels when even one sinner repents." - Luke 15:10

The parable of the prodigal son is really a message about our Heavenly Father who watches for our homecoming to Him. He rejoices every time a sinner turns his/her heart to Him and repents (Luke 15:10).

We all know this story. One son rebels against his father’s rules and despised the need to work for his living. In his selfish state of mind, he demanded and squandered his inheritance before his father even died. Yet, upon his repentant return home, he received a party, a ring of authority (like a credit card) and a new robe and shoes from his father.

Now, the second son faithfully served his father with respect and deference, never causing him any heartache or distress. Then, when his errant brother returns home, we detect jealousy and resentfulness in this young man because of his father’s mercy and grace toward his brother. He said, "All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat" (Luke 15:29).

This dear son walked in obedience and service to his father for his whole life. He felt slapped in the face by his father’s apparent disregard for his wayward brother’s reckless behavior. We do this too. We see other people who have more material blessings than we do, and we accuse God of loving them more than He cares for us. The faithful son focused on the meager offering the father gave his rebellious son and forgot the immense treasure that lay in wait for him. We forget too. These people are receiving their meager blessings now, but our immense treasure awaits us in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:7).

The father had to remind his faithful son, "‘My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours’" (Luke 15:31). Everything our Heavenly Father has belongs to us as well. No matter how much or how little of their life a person squanders, when they come to Christ they receive His equal inheritance (Luke 23: 32-43). If this bothers us, we have to go to our Father for an attitude adjustment, just like the jealous son did.

We are joint heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17) and all that is His belongs to us as well. He freely shares his treasure with those in His Body. We too should freely share our treasure – physical, spiritual and emotional – with all of those God places in our life. We reach out to everyone in order to win those that Jesus is calling to Himself.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, only in You do we find the true riches of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17). You gave us the opportunity to follow You all the days of our life and to reap the benefits of righteous living and the inheritance we share with You from our Heavenly Father. Keep us on the narrow road of Truth. We submit our lives to You and resist the world, our flesh and the devil. Thank You that when we do, Satan must flee from us (James 4:7).

Thought for the Day:

Bitterness and gratefulness cannot coexist, because negative emotions blind us from seeing God’s true gifts in our life.




Thank you, Elisa Hall, for the use of your photo.

Unholy Gains

Read: Genesis 13:5-11

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16 (KJV)

Sometimes, God blesses us because of the company we keep. He did this for Lot when this young man accompanied his Uncle Abram to a land far away from their home. Lot reaped the blessings of his saintly uncle's relationship with God. Yet, even with the abundance God gave him, in his greed Lot wanted more. When given a choice, Lot chose the best land for himself, because it was pleasing to the eye. Unfortunately, it was also void of spirituality. In the end, he lost his friends, home, resources, land and even his wife.

The lust for material gain, the pride of worldly status and the pursuit of creature comforts all instigate many conflicts in our lives, and needlessly part friends and family members for the silliest of reasons. Haggling over an inheritance, jealousy over unearned advantages, miscommunication and misconceptions break up relationships. Pride always causes destruction and goes before the fall (Proverbs 16:18). How much better it is when brethren dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, teach us as you taught Paul, to learn to be content (Philippians 4:11). Help us to appreciate the multitude of blessings You bestow on us each and every day. Cause us to hear Your loving kindness in the morning and to put our trust in You (Psalm 143:8).

Thought for the Day:

If you are looking for contentment, turn to Jesus. – 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Blessing or Cursing

Read: Number 14:18-24

5 “For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” - Exodus 20:5-6, NKJV

When I first read Exodus 20:5, I was hurt to the core. I could not understand how a loving God would curse three or four future generations for the evil behavior of one person. I collapsed on the couch and cried out to God for understanding, trying not to feel too angry at the injustice I saw here.

In His sweet, loving way the Lord said, “Hey, Kathy…read the next verse.”

WOW…He shows mercy to 1,000s of generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. I love that ratio: one to a thousand as compared to one to four. As a just and holy God He must hold us accountable for our choices and behavior. The expected consequences of our actions would naturally affect future generations. Think about it. If a young father goes to jail, his children run the risk of feeling rejected, abandoned, hopeless and helpless, with the possibility of following in his footsteps.

Loving the Lord and keeping His commandments does not necessarily guarantee that our children will follow in His precepts as well; but the chances are much higher. The wonderful thing about this law of generations is that even if our children do not honor the Lord, they are still blessed, because of our decision to trust God with our life. Even our future progeny reap the advantageous blessings that God bestows on thousands of generations that come after us.

This caused me to realize the awesome responsibility that we carry as parents. Our behavior absolutely affects future generations. It is the law of reaping and sowing. I had to take stock of my thoughts, words and actions - to make sure they line up with God’s standards.

I find great comfort now in the fact that He shows mercy to many more generations than He holds accountable. We can assure the success of our children and their children’s children for generations to come by making Jesus our Lord and living according to His precepts (Mt 7:21). In this way, we pass down mercy and blessings, rather than cursing and suffering to our descendants.

PRAYER:

Thank You for Your mercy, Lord, in the face of Your justice. Mold me into Your image and give me both the desire and the power to walk in Your will (Philippians 2: 13).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

A God who is only merciful, presents just one side of the coin.