Good morning and God bless you all! Today is the last Sunday of 2019 and we are just a few days away from a new year and the start of a new decade. As we approach 2020, the Lord is urging me in the Spirit to keep my eyes fixed on Him. I have been thinking about the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission and what that means for those of us who believe in Jesus. As we wrap up 2019 and keep moving forward into 2020, my prayer is that we would remember our first love and be faithful in fulfilling what He commanded us to do. Jesus Christ paid it all for us and we owe Him our very lives!
Let’s take a look at the Greatest Commandment and the Great Commission in God’s Word:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
No matter what gifts God gave you when you accepted Jesus, it is God’s will for all of us to love Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to make disciples of all nations. We must obey Him and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world! All believers have power in the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth! It’s not just those of us with the gift of evangelism. You may have a different gift, but you still have the Holy Spirit and we are to testify that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Time is running out on this world and we don’t know how much time we have left. May He fill us with love and compassion for the lost as He empowers us to preach the Gospel to the world!
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus speaking in Acts 1:8
The Gospel as preached by The Apostle Paul:
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
Do not be ashamed of Jesus! Stand up boldly in 2020 and preach the truth in love. Jesus will always be with us to the very end! There are sure to be more attacks on God, His Word, and those who love Him, and we must stand firm and keep moving forward. Stay in the Word, keep your armor on, and give the battles to the Lord! He is coming soon!
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
1 Peter 3:15
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Jesus preaching the Gospel in John 3:16
“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus speaking in Matthew 9:37-38
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
1 John 5:1-5
May our hearts and minds be fixed on Jesus and may we always love Him first and obey Him! He alone can save our souls and we must share that beautiful truth with the world! If you are a believer who has been sitting on the bench in 2019, it’s time to get in the game in 2020! May the Lord send more workers into the harvest field and spread revival through the world! May our hearts be strengthened and encouraged and may we always say, “Here I am Lord, send me!”
Grace and peace to you all!
Thanks for the Word, Ryan. God bless you.
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Thanks Eddy! God bless!
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Amen to focusing on Jesus and loving God and also showing his love 🙂
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Amen sir! God bless!
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God bless you my dear friend. 🙏
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Thank you! God bless you as well!
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You infermity has made the Word more real as one sees you living it. Praise the Lord. In prayer.
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Thank you Bonnie, glory to God! God bless you!
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Love in Christ.
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Beautiful! Thanks for reminding us what is important and I love the morning pictures
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Thank you Karla! God bless!
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Amen! Fixing my eyes on Him, the author and finisher of our faith! 🙌🏼
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Amen Renee! Blessings!
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Beautiful sunrise!
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Yeah, and it was about 9 degrees this morning when I stepped outside to take that shot. 🙂 God bless!
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Burrrrrr!!!!!!!!!! I’ve never lived in weather that cold! It’s 75 right now! Lovely weather!
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That is awesome weather! It was about 50 on Christmas, but then we got a cold front with some snow. It is a mild 28 degrees right now. I’ll take 75 any day!
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Yep.
Wow! Come on down anytime! It’s an awesome state!
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“Halleluiah”! Those moments of sharing Christ are cherished opportunities, and each one a dear gift! Amen, Ryan.
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Amen Mom! Love ya!
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Yes and amen to this!
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Amen sister! God bless!
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Ryan, thanks for the good exhortations!
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Thanks Tom! God bless…and hope you get a long rest after cleaning up all those leaves!😊
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Thanks, Ryan, and God bless you! It definitely takes some time to recover from that kind of marathon.
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God bless you Ryan! Keeping our eyes on Jesus, we can marvel at His ways!
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Thank you Barbara, amen! God bless!
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Blessings Ryan
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Thanks Sonrisa! God bless!
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Amen, Ryan! Thanks for sharing those beautiful morning pictures and blessings to you and your family!
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Thanks Alison! God bless!
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A great word, Ryan! God bless. 😊
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Thanks Dee! Blessings!
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Right back ‘atcha!
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Checking out the blog
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Good, it worked! Thanks Mom!
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Amen! It’s hard to believe that 2020 is upon us; in less than 13 hours’ time, for me.
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It is incredible how fast time goes. Happy New Year brother!
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I know! You too!
(2020 has long been for me what 2000 was to many of the older generation; for some reason, it’s often associated with futuristic/science fiction.)
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Yeah, like Buck Rogers!😂
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I thought he was in the 25th century?
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Yeah, it was. Just reminds me of that show.😊
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I haven’t seen Buck Rogers, but I HAVE seen the hilarious Looney Tunes parody.
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Yeah, that’s a classic. 🙂 I grew up with Looney Tunes.
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They’re a lot of fun… most of them.
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Amen! May our hearts and minds be fixed on Jesus indeed, His love is the only answer for this world! Happy new year!
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Amen sir! Happy New Year!
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