There are a lot of fake people in the world we live in. This includes Christians as well. They may say that they are something in church but really they are entirely different during the week. These same people act one way around Christians, but another around other non-believers. They may say that they believe in the Bible, but for them it only means reading a verse here and a verse there on occasion. They may say that they pray, but it only consists of a quick prayer over food and that’s primarily it. There is no real meaning to their time with God in prayer. They may say that they believe in Jesus, but there is no love for Him, for His commandments are not obeyed. They may say that He is their Savior, but instead they live a very sinful life and keep secrets from people they love. This is not a saved life. They may even where a cross, but that cross means nothing to them. For they live their own lives out, which is contrary to Jesus. He has not saved them, for they continue to live in their lusts of their flesh. In the mix of such people are those people that would rather find what is quick to read, then to read a devotion with a few paragraphs, a prayer, and a Bible chapter attached to it. A five minute read is too long for them. What I have noticed is that people’s attention spans to God and His Word, along with His messengers and their teachings from Him are very limited. That is why they focus their time on the quick fix to supply their needs, instead of something that will make a real difference for their lives. No wonder why Facebook and Instagram are so popular. It is because the majority of people that are on these social platforms only want to read something quick, or look at a picture, and scroll down to the next ones. They have no time for a real message, of which contains a link to an external source. This would disrupt what they are used to doing.
In response to what I just said above, people may say that they are not classified as fake. Just because they like to read what is short doesn’t mean they don’t believe in God or like reading the Bible. I’ve heard this one before several times. To this, they simply say that they may that they don’t like reading devotionals or have time for them. They’d rather just read the Bible. My response to such people is, so do you go to church? And why do you look at commentaries to verses in the Bible? Tell me how this is any different than a devotion that covers that same chapter. If a person were to write down what a pastor speaking, you would get a very long drawn out devotional on paper. However, you’ve already read this message by listening to Him speak. If it was from God, then it was by way of the Holy Spirit, like devotionals are. So a devotion is inspired by God, if it written by way of the Spirit. For the devotions on this site, God is sought after before any devotional is written. And the Spirit of God is then utilized to write every word. Lastly, I wish to focus on you, the reader of this message. Praise God, if you have gotten this far. This means that you do enjoy a good read and are one of the few that do now-a-days. Know that God put this topic on my heart today, for the world is getting more and more wicked as days go by. Soon, it will be harder to find people even seeking Godly things on social media or other outlets. However, this will not stop me from continuing to write daily. I love the Lord God with all my heart and to tell others of His great love is what I have been called to do. I pray that you will continue to focus on Jesus also and not rush through things, but be willing to sit back and read a good message. And don’t skim through the message either. There is much to learn and I am grateful to be sent from God to share it with you.
If there was one important thing to learn from this message, it is that only Jesus can help you be someone real for Him. You will no longer be fake, but a true follower of Him, by abiding in His love. This entails seeking Him often in prayer and reading the Bible daily. And don’t try to know what the Bible says on your own, but by the Spirit. Your theology can get in real trouble by doing this. This is why God has set apart pastors and teachers in His church. We go to church, in order to learn more of God’s Word, through His chosen messengers. This can also be said with reading devotions during the week. This will greatly improve your walk with Christ. Lastly, learn what Jesus said, when he taught, 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:1-11)
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people will desire to be used by You and seek You out with their whole hearts. Help them to have a greater attention span to Your words of wisdom. No matter the length of the message, may the Spirit lead them to finish reading Your words, that they may grow in the faith. I see to many people on social media passing by the real meat of your messages for something simple to read, and this is very sad. These same people are missing out, Lord, on what You have put in our hearts to share with people. For every Christian that has real faith in You, it is impossible to summarize a real God given message to somebody in a few sentences. It is because the Spirit is leading us to write, as long as it takes to get the premise out there, we will write more. I don’t want anything to be missing, especially if You are telling me to go onward in my writing. I also wish that You would supply those people that will read the devotions that are written. It is one thing to write what You have put in my heart, but another to see someone read the message and be blessed by it. This is truly hard to come by in our day, Lord. To many people have narrowed their focus on what is short and sweet, instead of what is longer and manifested in You. Because their hearts are set on being gratified by what they see instantly, they miss out on the best stuff that You have to offer them. This includes all of Your words in the Bible. A few verses here and there is nothing like doing a real study on different chapters at hand. It is this reason that I love to write on the Bible. Your words are a lamp unto my feet and I pray that it will also become this way to others in the faith also. Your ways are too good to be kept to myself. I love You Lord. You are the light that guides me. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1John 15 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.