Bible

[plugger]

Matthew 12: 43-45

When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, I will return to my house from which I came, and when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him 7 other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of the man is worse than the 1st. So shall it be with this wicked generation.

Our Bible reading group is cruising through the Gospel of Matthew..The above Scripture I have read numerous times and a few more times on top of that. Yesterday I did not want to read early in da morning, but took a second to explain my feeling to God and ask that just maybe I could get a bit of knowledge/wisdom I had not had before.....from the above I gain this and wanted to share.....maybe you have known it all along, what a blessing, maybe you are thick like me and just never caught the point, so, what a blessing, I am gonna give you some food for thought...I will use this in the tense of "ME"...

I decide one day that I am not real happy with my life and know I could be a better person, so I give up my bad habits and start attending church, get active in projects and so forth...I am really doing good, and looked up to by many....so I have kicked that evil spirit out of my house, and just chugg'n along....then one day these ole bad habits come calling on me and find that I have not replaced the evil with anything really good, except a few works, which are from "ME". He comes and finds inside me....empty, swept & in order....so he thinks, well it looks right comfortable in there, reckon I move back in and bring some of my real tacky buddies along, I allow them in and BINGO I am now in really deep stuff, my condition is many times more worse than before...........WHY? What Happened? I reformed, but I did not allow regeneration to take place to me. Regeneration literally means a new birth. All of the above was me attempting to make changes in my life. The "New Birth"....my Salvation does not come from me but from God....This change in my life is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. IT DOES NOT ORGINATE FROM MAN BUT FROM GOD.

if I may, go back up to the top...me being the house and found empty...why? Although I tried to do good, I failed to talk with God, I failed to read His book of instruction--da Bible...I failed to accept Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and I failed to learn to rely upon the Holy Spirit....Me--the House, was totally empty of any support system.

A pass'n thought, don't be sucked into thinking you can work your way into heaven, don't be sucked into thinking your money will get you into heaven....forget all you done or will ever do, forget all the bad & good stuff in your life...Accepting the free gift of God's grace, accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and learning to allow yourself to be led by the Holy Spirit, do this, then follow God's will for your acts of kindness. This and you will know that we will meet one day on the other side...take care & God bless