This is a photo of one of the two existing slabs of stone that were used as warning markers in Herod's temple in 1st-century Jerusalem. The inscription on them is engraved in Latin and Greek, warning foreign visitors not to go beyond the court of the Gentiles into the inner temple areas.
The inscription reads: "No alien may enter within the balustrade around the sanctuary and the enclosure. Whoever is caught, on himself shall be put blame for the death which will ensue.”
Those who qualified to travel past these markers, deeper into the Jewish temple, could proceed into a forecourt area, up 14 stairs, into the Court of Women. Only males could travel further, through the Nicanor Gate into a special court where the men could bring their sacrifices to the priests. The priests were separated from those bringing sacrifices by a short flight of steps. Beyond that was a thick, heavy veil hiding the most exclusive room of all. Only one specially selected person from the tribe of Levi qualified to enter the Holy of Holies.
Jesus would have seen these same markers and all of the separation...and yet the Son of God gave everybody access to Himself. The Holy of Holies was now walking among Jews and Gentiles, men and women, young and old, rich and poor. He was not hidden from any of them. They could see Him with their own eyes. It is no accident that the veil covering the Holy of Holies was torn in two, from top to bottom, on the afternoon when Jesus died.
In the days in which we live, there is still so much division and separation. However, Jesus is still here to heal those divisions... "there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ." (Galatians 3:28). May we be Christ's ambassadors and help bring peace to our divided world. (2 Corinthians 5:18).

DAY 221 of 365 Reasons in 365 Days Why You Should try Jesus

Because You Need Wisdom to Recognize What Is Truly Valuable

Bible Verse — Proverbs 16:16 (KJV)
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver

“A person can be rich in money and poor in the wisdom needed to enjoy life.”

Quote:
“Gold can make you comfortable; wisdom can keep you from destroying yourself.”

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, give me wisdom to recognize what truly matters and courage to pursue it in Jesus name. Amen. #jesus #everyone #highlight #friends #savedbygrace #salvation #christiancontent #christianreels #fry

Let the weak say, I am strong
Let the poor say, I am rich
Let the blind say, I can see
It's what the Lord has done in me

PROVERB OF THE DAY

(Proverbs 19)

1. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool

2. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3. The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.

4. Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

5. A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6. Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

7. All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

8. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

9. A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10. Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

11. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12. The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13. A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

14. Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15. Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

16. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of his ways will die.

17. He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.

18. Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.

19. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20. Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

21. There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

22. What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

23. The fear of the LORD leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

24. A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26. He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27. Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28. A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29. Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.

THE HARD TRUTH ABOUT DISCIPLESHIP

“So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.” —Luke 14:33

It has been said, “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.”

This statement reminds me of the account in Matthew 19 of the rich young man who came to Jesus seeking answers. Here was a man who, of all men, should have been content and fulfilled. He had great influence and affluence. Yet despite all his accomplishments, there was something missing in his life. He asked, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (verse 16 NLT).

“‘Why ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments’” (verse 17 NLT). Jesus was not implying that by keeping the Ten Commandments, a person would be saved. Rather, Jesus held the Ten Commandments up as a mirror to show this man his sin.

“‘I’ve obeyed all these commandments,’ the young man replied. ‘What else must I do?’” (verse 20 NLT).

I think Jesus probably smiled at this. He saw what this man was really all about. So, He took it up a notch and said, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (verse 21 NLT).

Verse 22 says, “But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (NLT).

Jesus knew the problem with this young man was that possessions had possessed his soul. But Jesus just as easily could have said something completely different to someone else. What is really holding someone back from Christ and from further spiritual progress can vary from person to person.

Jesus revealed the hard truth about discipleship in Luke 14:33: “So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own” (NLT). Nothing should be more valuable, more precious, or more important to us than our relationship with Christ.

Jesus drives this point home further in Luke 14:26–27. “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple” (NLT). Nothing should ever be more important to us than our walk with Christ.

That’s why it’s a good idea to regularly come before Jesus and ask, “Lord, is there anything in my life that is getting in the way of my relationship with You?” We must be willing to do what the rich young man would not and sacrifice anything that gets in the way of our spiritual growth.

God bless you!

Love is not feeling some emotional force its deliberate choice


Truth is, love is not a feeling over which we have no control, that is driven without thought by waves of emotion. (I think that might be a definition of infatuation.)

Real love is deliberate and thoughtful.
The essence of love is the deliberate choose to be love.
Our emotions are impacted by stress, whether or not we are sick, under pressure, distracted or just plain tired. Therefore, how we feel emotionally is often a very poor guide for how we should show love.
In contrast, consider how God loves us. John declares that God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is the foundation, the essence and the best descriptor of His character, as well as the motivation for everything He does.

With great care God so loved the world that He was willing to allow His Son to come to earth and die so that our sins could be forgiven (John 3:16).

IT'S A DELIBERATE CHOICE AND SACRIFICE YOU MAKE EVERYDAY...CHRIST LOVE THE BRIDE(CHURCH)
THAT HE GAVE HIMSELF TO DIE FOR HER
EVERYDAY YOU GIVEN A CHOICE TO LOVE...that CHOICE IS SACRIFICE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SELF DENIAL FOR OTHERS

When Ministry Becomes Celebrity

I believe we need to be careful when Christian ministry begins to look more like celebrity culture than the ministry we see in the New Testament.

A preacher is a servant, not a celebrity. The sheep are people to shepherd, not customers. The Gospel is good news to be proclaimed, not a product to be sold.

Jesus welcomed the poor, the sick, the rejected, and the ordinary. He did not create VIP access to Himself.

Paul said:

«“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed.”
— 1 Corinthians 3:5»

And:

«“We are not... peddlers of God’s word.”
— 2 Corinthians 2:17»

This does not mean ministers cannot receive financial support. Scripture teaches that those who preach the Gospel may be supported (1 Corinthians 9:14).

The concern is when money becomes the doorway to greater access, status, or privilege around a spiritual leader.

When ministry becomes about branding over truth, profit over people, merchandise over mission, and celebrity over Christ, we should stop and examine ourselves.

The call is simple:

Back to Christ.
Back to Scripture.
Back to servant leadership.
Back to the simplicity of the Gospel.

There is only one true center of the church:

Jesus Christ.

Everyone else is a servant.

“The one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” — 1 Corinthians 1:31

PROVERB OF THE DAY

(Proverbs 19)

1. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool

2. Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3. The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.

4. Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.

5. A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6. Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

7. All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.

8. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

9. A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10. Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.

11. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12. The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13. A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

14. Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15. Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.

16. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of his ways will die.

17. He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.

18. Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.

19. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20. Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

21. There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

22. What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

23. The fear of the LORD leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

24. A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26. He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27. Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28. A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29. Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.

***The Mark of the Beast***

This is what I see the Bible says of the mark of the beast:

Revelation 13:16-18 KJV
And *he (the beast of Revelation 13:11) causeth all*, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, *to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads*: [17] And *that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name*. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding *count the number of the beast*: for *it is the number of a man*; and his number is *Six hundred threescore and six.*

Here the beast of Rev 13:11 causes all but those whose names are written on the Lambs book of Life to receive a mark on their hands and their foreheads.

Revelation 13:8 KJV
And *all that dwell upon the earth shall worship* him, *whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world*.

Now where else in the Bible does it speak of receiving a mark on the forheads or in the arms? If this mark is spoken of in the Bible, then the Bible must provide the answer as to what this mark is.

When we examine the scriptures it points us to these scriptures:

Job 10:14 KJV
*If I sin, then thou markest me*, and *thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity*.

Hebrews 10:26-27 KJV
For *if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins*, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

We find that Job says that if a man sins, God will mark him and shall not aquit him of his iniquities. Paul later says that if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for our sins.

Does the Bible give evidence of someone who sinned wilfullyagainst the Lord and received a mark?

Yes, it does.

Genesis 4:5-16 KJV
But* unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect*. And *Cain was very wroth*, and his countenance fell. [6] *And the LORD said* unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? [7] *If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door*. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. [8] And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that *Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him*. [9] And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? [10] And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. [11] And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; [12] When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. [13] And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. [14] Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; *and from thy face shall I be hid*; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. [15] And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And *the LORD set a mark upon Cain*, lest any finding him should kill him. [16] *And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD*, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

God warned Cain and told him that if he doeth well, he would be accepted and if he did not do well, sin lies at the door. Cain did not take heed to God but rose up against his brother, who had the better sacrifice, and slew him. He sinned willfully after he had received the knowledge of the truth. And God put a mark upon Cain. And after Cain received that mark, it says that Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and that He was hid from the face of the Lord. In other words, the Lord had turned His face from dealing with Cain.

Now, here is an interesting fact, the number of the beast is 666.

There is only one Scripture in the Bible with the number 666:

John 6:66 KJV
_From that time *many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him*._

It speaks of those disciples of Jesus who, having come face to face with the Truth, chose to walk away from Him and to disbelieve Him. Like Cain, they went out from the Presence of the Lord and were hid from the face of the Lord. I do not think it a coincidence that the verse that speaks of this occurrence is the verse that bears the number of the beast. I believe this is God vindicating what the mark of the beast really is.