Unto Christ, Not Unto Men

 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

Pastor Gary Patterson 

UNTO CHRIST, NOT UNTO MEN 

 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) 

 Walk-Line: One of the things we forget as Christians is that Jesus Christ is to be Lord of our lives. Not just Savior, but Lord. In all aspects of our lives, the Lord Jesus is to honored and obeyed. In our relationships with others, we are to treat people as the Lord would have us to. We are not be slothful, or apathetic in our work, and in our dealings with people. But we are to "work at it with all your heart." And with those we have a problem with, we are to show love, and concern, when the tendency is to fight, and get back at those who hurt us in some way. Remember, our inheritance, our reward is from the Lord, and not from men. 

 Remember As God's people, 

 That we are called to be. 

 In whatever we do, we are to do it heartily. 

 It is "unto Christ", and "not unto men", 

 that we receive our reward. 

 An inheritance kept for us in heaven, 

a promise from God above! 

 ___g/Patterson 

 Photo: StartupStockPhotos - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www. pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

2024 All Rights Reserved.

A Formula For Prayer

 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

Pastor Gary Patterson 

A FORMULA FOR PRAYER 

 "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and thr glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13) 

Walk-Line: Yesterday, our associate pastor gave an excellent message on prayer. 

He presented an acronym on the word PRAY, that outlined from the Lord's Prayer, a formula for how we should pray. 

1. P - Praise (vv.9-10) 

2. R - Repent (v.12) 

3. A - Ask (v.11) 

4. Y - Yield (v.13) 

 He brought out concerning the importance of our communication with God. How will we know what God's will is for our lives, if we fail to communicate with Him. Let us not be like the husband who was criticized by his wife for never listening to her. His response was: "What did you say?" 

Prayer is vital for a relationship with God. 

It keeps us in tune with His will for us. 

We will not drift away in the ways of the world, 

When we constantly pray, and in His Word, we trust. 

 ___g/Patterson 

 Photo: waldryano - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www.pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Greater Works

 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

Pastor Gary Patterson 

GREATER WORKS 

 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:12-18) 

Walk-Line: When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5) Jesus said these words to the man who was lowered from the roof to be healed by Him. He didn't say right away, "because of your faith, you will be healed." Jesus said: "Son, your sins are forgiven." The greatest miracle is that of restoration from sin. And the greatest work of our Savior, and of the church, is the work of restoring man-kind from the destruction and destiny of sin, which is spiritual death. As Christians, we are to join Jesus is His great work of "Seeking and saving those who are lost." (Luke 19:10) 

Greater works we will do, 

as Jesus has gone to the Father. 

He will help us to reach the lost. 

And bring them to Him, and no other. ___g/Patterson 

 Photo: Stine86Engel - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License - www.pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 2024 All Rights Reserved.

A Focus On The Good

 

"What Is Good "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9) 

Walk-Line: How can we stop from looking at, thinking of, and acting on the wrong things in life? How can we we keep from being distracted, and pre-occupied with the things of the world? It is a Christian discipline to focus on the things that Paul mentions here in our text. The key word that he uses to accomplish this steadfact focus, is the word "practice." Whatever you have learned or received from me, or seen in me--put into practice." As they say" "Practice makes perfect." And this practice will lead to a consistent peace. GP 

The things of this world allure us every day. 

They tempt and try us, 

until they have us in their sway. 

But the practice of the good things, 

that God has for us to enjoy, 

Will bring to us a peace with God, 

and a peace in within ourselves, 

that will not go away. ___g/Patterson 

 Photo: PublicDomain Pictures - Free for use under the Pixabay Content License. www.pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Easter Thankfulness

 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

Pastor Gary Patterson 

EASTER THANKFULNESS 

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 5:20) 

Walk-Line: Yesterday, we focused on the eternal hope we have, because of the resurrection of our Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have a great deal to be thankful for. And as our photo caption points out, "There is always , always, always something to give thanks for." We can give thanks for the burdens we face, as we journey through this life. Our Lord Jesus, is using them to help us to be stronger, and better. Through these trials, He is showing his power, to help us get through every storm we face. Yes, in this, and everything, we can give thanks! GP 

The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope. 

Not just in a future before us today. 

But in the burdens, and trials in the present, 

His power and strength are on display. 

g/Patterson 

Photo: Facebook - Created From The Hart - Rhonda Buryne 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Love's Display

 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

Pastor Gary Patterson 

LOVE'S DISPLAY 

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12) 

Walk-Line: Our first natural reaction to those who try to harm us with their words and actions, is to fight back. To get our revenge. But that is not the reaction that Jesus instructs us to have, in dealing with our enemies. The question comes: "How can we be exceedingly glad, when we are approached in these negative ways? It is love that sets us apart from the world. Our reward will be great in Heaven, because our life is committed to being like Jesus, and taking the opportunities to show His love to our enemies. Love is the greatest gift of the believer. (1 Cor.13:13), and the best way to resolve differences, and establish a solid unity. How glad we should be, 

When persecution comes our way. 

Instead of a fiery fight, 

Let it be, an opportunity for love 

To be on display. 

g/Patterson 

Photo: MerandaDevan - Pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 2024 All Rights Reserved.

Passion

 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 

Pastor Gary Patterson 

PASSION 

"Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." (John 13:1) 

Walk-Line: We are now journeying with Jesus through the "Passion Week." The Passion (from Latin patior, "to suffer, bear, endure") In our text, it says that Jesus loved His own who were in the world. He was willing to "suffer, and "bear the sins of world"(mine included) and "endure the suffering of the cross for our sake. A willingness to show a passion such as this stems from a deep love, that is beyond our comprehension. A love that we are commanded to show to one another. (John 13:34) 

Out of the Ivory Palaces 

Into a world of woe, 

Only his great eternal love 

Made my Savior go. 

Author: Henry Barraclough (1915) 

Photo: jeffjacobs1990 - Pixabay.com 

The Christian Journeyman Walk-Line 2024 All Rights Reserved.