“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:24
“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.” Proverbs 15:16-17
The fear of the Lord and the presence of love.
This is wealth.
"The sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord." 1 Samuel 2:12-13
They were priests!
Do not assume that those who make their living by religion know God.
Christ-like love (I John 3:16-19) requires that we enter into real relationships with the people of God. It starts with individual relationships within a local body, and then, works its way outward to believers and believing communities throughout the world.
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” —Psalm 146:1–2
Every heaven-bound breath the Christian believer takes was bought by the blood of Jesus.
"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) -- every breath till death. Then endless life.
Love for one’s neighbor is not a new word, but an old command (I John 2:7-10). It is not a novel invention of the New Covenant or a newfound pathway of piety, but it is an ancient road running throughout the entirety of the Old Testament.
“"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation."”
Isaiah 12:2
Jesus: "Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33
A sincere eye-to eye affirmation from the heart to Jesus that he is more to be desired than anything.
"Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled." Luke 14:23
Say it to as many as you can, and is persuasively as you can: Come with me to the happy house of God, forever.