OUR DAILY BREAD : DON'T DELAY

[cimi]

MONDAY AUGUST 31


DON'T DELAY

READ:
John 3:16
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For God so loved
the world that
He gave His only
begotten Son, that
whoever believes
in Him should not
perish but have
everlasting life.
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For many years I spoke to my distant cousin about our need of a Savior. When he visited me recently and I once again urged him to receive Christ, his immediate response was: "I would like to accept Jesus and join the church, but not yet. I live among people of other faiths. Unless I relocate, I will not be able to practice my faith well." He cited persecution, ridicule, and pressure from his peers as excuses to postpone his decision.

His fears were legitimate, but I assured him that whatever happened, God would not abandon him. I encouraged my cousin not to delay but to trust God for care and protection. He gave up his defenses, acknowledged his need of Christ's forgiveness, and trusted him as his personal Savior.

When Jesus invited people to follow Him, they two offered excuses__all about being busy with the cares of this world (LUKE 9:59-62). The Lord's answer to them (vv.60-62) urges us not to let the excuse deprive us of the most important thing in life: the salvation of our souls.

Do you hear God calling you to commit your life to Him? Do not delay. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 COR. 6.2). _____Lawrence Darmani

**Come to the Savior, make no delay__
here in His Word He's shown us the way;
here in our midst He's standing today,
tenderly saying, "Come!"
George F. Root
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Today is the day of salvation

*****************************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 9:57-62******************************
57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that
someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever
You go.


58 And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds
of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay
his head.

59 Then He said to another, "Follow Me.

But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father.


60 Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but
you go and preach the kingdom of God.


61 And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me
first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.


62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the
plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Although large crowds followed Jesus wherever
he went (LUKE 5:15; 8:42; 14:25), Jesus knew that not all who
followed Him were genuine disciples (JOHN 6:66). Jesus taught often
of the radical commitment needed if we want to follow Him. We
are to love Him above all else, even our own life (MARK 10:17-22; :LUKE
9:23-27). In today's passage, Jesus warns that following Him may
not be easy and comfortable. It requires precedence over all other
relationships, a single-minded focus, wholehearted pursuit, and
an undivided commitment (vv.59-62). God in His great mercy has
given every believer the Holy Spirit to help us live a life that is
pleasing to Him. ____Sim Kay Tee