IN THE WORD DAILY

with Brother Rick

Luke 24: 18, 19

  And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering, said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast thou not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

V- 19 And he said unto them, what things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

On the first day of the week, which is Sunday, Jesus had already risen from the grave, left the tomb, shed the grave clothes, left death and hell at the doorstep, and made his way out to find his disciples. Not that he really needed to find them, he knew exactly where they were. As he was walking, he ran into two witnesses of the events which took place at Jerusalem concerning the death of Jesus. The men gave testimony of the legacy that Jesus left behind. It is God's will that you and I leave behind the same legacy. Romans 8: 29 says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” God's children should do what their heavenly Father does. Jesus did as his Father did. John 5: 19 says, “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” We need to learn how to follow the lead of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. We have no problem following god the golf star, god the movie star, god the TV star, god the NASCAR champion, god the bass fisherman, god the deer hunter, and the list goes on and on. Who's lead are you following?

Our text gives us two things that will dictate the effectiveness of our ministry here on earth and will mold our legacy long after we are gone. First, we see in the text that Jesus was mighty in deed and word. His deeds matched his words. He was not just a talker. I know many who talk the talk. They know all the right words in a spiritual conversation. They know the verses backwards and forwards. They know all the best preachers names, ranks and serial numbers. They know about all the local revivals, and who will be singing, but when it comes to knocking on doors, visiting the sick, participating in the nursing home ministry, serving others around the church, they can't be found by the FBI. James 2: 26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.” A faith that will save you is a faith that will work you. A faith that will get you to heaven is a faith that will motivate service. Jesus was mighty in deed and word. This is the legacy of a true Christian.

Secondly, we see in the text that Jesus was not only mighty in deed and word before God, the text says he was mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. So the attitude that we are only worried about doing good before God is not correct. The effectiveness of our ministry here on earth depends on our ability to follow God and keep a good report before all men. Matthew 5: 16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Jesus left a legacy of a man who stood his ground and defended God's word and God's will, and he also left a legacy of a man who healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, raised the dead, preached the gospel to the poor, caused the lame to walk and the blind to see. Jesus cared about people, as he lived in the will of God the Father. Its a mighty tall task, living the true Christian life, but that's the example we are called to follow. How's that working our for YOU?

You and I will leave behind a legacy. It will be something like this; “Rick read his Bible, and was faithful to the church, but his old lifestyle got the best of him in the end.” Oh, what a tragedy. Or, it might go like this, “ Rick knew how to talk the talk, but he was never faithful to his family, he lived two separate lives.” God help me never to stray from God and his word. You will leave a legacy, and may it be one like Jesus. “He was mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.” I think we need to get to work on this one, how about you?

Have A Blessed Day!!!