The Triumphal Entry

John 12:13 (NKJV)

12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!”
14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written:
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him.

La Entrada Triunfal

Juan 12:13 (NVI)

12 Al día siguiente muchos de los que habían ido a la fiesta se enteraron de que Jesús se dirigía a Jerusalén;
13 tomaron ramas de palma y salieron a recibirlo, diciendo a voz en grito: ―¡Hosanna! ―¡Bendito el que viene en el nombre del Señor! ―¡Bendito el Rey de Israel!
14 Jesús encontró un burrito y se montó en él, como dice la Escritura:
15 «No temas, oh hija de Sión; mira, que aquí viene tu rey, montado sobre un burrito».
16 Al principio, sus discípulos no entendieron lo que sucedía. Solo después de que Jesús fuera glorificado se dieron cuenta de que se había cumplido en él lo que de él ya estaba escrito.

For the Glory of God

1 Corinthians 10:23-24; 31-33 (NKJV)

23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being…. .

31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Por la Gloria de Dios

1 Corintios 10:23-24; 31-33 (NVI)

23 «Todo está permitido», pero no todo es provechoso. «Todo está permitido», pero no todo es constructivo.
24 Que nadie busque sus propios intereses, sino los del prójimo… .

31 En conclusión, ya sea que comáis o bebáis o hagáis cualquier otra cosa, hacedlo todo para la gloria de Dios.
32 No hagáis tropezar a nadie, ni a judíos, ni a gentiles ni a la iglesia de Dios.
33 Haced como yo, que procuro agradar a todos en todo. No busco mis propios intereses, sino los de los demás, para que sean salvos.

Points to Ponder – The Awesome Love of God

Here’s a bite-sized piece of encouragement from your Bible. Also included is a featured song that is sure to lift your spirit. May your heart and soul be blessed.      –G–

“Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So He spoke this parable to them, saying: ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost! I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.'” –Luke 15:1-7 NKJV

Continue reading “Points to Ponder – The Awesome Love of God”

Pride & Humility

James 4:1-17 (NKJV)

Pride Promotes Strife
1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility Cures Worldliness
7 Therefore submit to God. (Eph. 4:27; 6:11); 1 Pet. 5:8Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Job 17:9; Is. 1:16; 1 Tim. 2:8Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and Jer. 4:14; James 3:17; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:3purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Do Not Judge a Brother
11Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
12 There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Do Not Boast About Tomorrow
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;
14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Summary Statement
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Orgullo y Humildad

Santiago 4:1-17 (NVI)

El Orgullo Promueve El Conflicto
1 ¿De dónde vienen las guerras, y los pleitos entre vosotros? De aquí, es decir de vuestras concupiscencias, las cuales batallan en vuestros miembros.
2 Codiciáis, y no tenéis; matáis y tenéis envidia, y no podéis alcanzar; combatís y guerreáis, y no tenéis lo que deseáis, porque no pedís.
3 Pedís, y no recibís; porque pedís mal, para gastar en vuestros deleites.
4 Adúlteros, y adúlteras, ¿no sabéis que la amistad del mundo es enemistad con Dios? Cualquiera pues que quisiere ser amigo del mundo, se constituye en enemigo de Dios.
5 ¿Pensáis que la Escritura lo dice sin causa, el Espíritu que mora en vosotros codicia para envidia?
6 Mas él da mayor gracia. Por esto él dice: Dios resiste a los soberbios, y da la gracia a los humildes.

La Humildad Cura La Mundanalidad
7 Estad pues sujetos a Dios; resistid al diablo, y huirá de vosotros.
8 Allegaos a Dios, y él se allegará a vosotros. Pecadores, limpiad las manos; y vosotros los de doble ánimo, purificad los corazones.
9 Afligíos, y lamentad, y llorad. Vuestra risa se convierta en lloro, y vuestro gozo en tristeza.
10 Humillaos delante de la presencia del Señor, y él os ensalzará.

No Juzgues a Un Hermano
11 Hermanos, no murmuréis los unos de los otros; el que murmura del hermano, y juzga a su hermano, este tal murmura de la Ley, y juzga a la Ley; y si tú juzgas a la Ley, no eres guardador de la Ley, sino juez.
12 Uno es el dador de la Ley, que puede salvar y perder, ¿quién eres tú que juzgas a otro?

No Te Jactes de Mañana
13 Ea, ahora, los que decís: Vamos hoy y mañana a tal ciudad, y estaremos allá un año y compraremos mercadería, y ganaremos;
14 y no sabéis lo que será mañana. Porque ¿qué es vuestra vida? Ciertamente es un vapor que se aparece por un poco de tiempo, y después se desvanece.
15 En lugar de lo cual deberíais decir: Si el Señor quisiere, y si viviéremos, haremos esto, o aquello.
16 Mas ahora os gloriáis en vuestras soberbias. Toda gloria semejante es mala.

Declaración resumida
17 El pecado pues está todavía en aquel que sabe hacer lo bueno, y no lo hace.

Greatness Is Found In Serving Others

Matthew 20:20-28 (NKJV)
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.
21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.”
23 So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”
24 And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

La Grandeza Se Encuentra En Servir A Los Demás

Mateo 20:20-28 (NVI)
20 Entonces la madre de los hijos de Zebedeo, junto con ellos, se acercó a Jesús y, arrodillándose, le pidió un favor.
21 —¿Qué quieres? —preguntó Jesús. Ella le dijo: —Ordena que en tu reino uno de estos dos hijos míos se siente a tu derecha y el otro a tu izquierda.
22 —Ustedes no saben lo que están pidiendo —respondió Jesús—. ¿Pueden acaso beber el trago amargo de la copa que yo voy a beber? —Sí, podemos.
23 —Les aseguro que beberán de mi copa —dijo Jesús—, pero el sentarse a mi derecha o a mi izquierda no me corresponde concederlo. Eso ya lo ha decidido mi Padre.
24 Cuando lo oyeron los otros diez, se indignaron con los dos hermanos.
25 Jesús los llamó y dijo: —Como ustedes saben, los gobernantes de las naciones oprimen al pueblo y los altos oficiales abusan de su autoridad.
26 Pero entre ustedes no debe ser así. Al contrario, el que quiera hacerse grande entre ustedes deberá ser su servidor
27 y el que quiera ser el primero deberá ser esclavo de los demás,
28 así como el Hijo del hombre no vino para que le sirvan, sino para servir y para dar su vida en rescate por muchos.

To Save the World

John 3:10-17 (NKJV)
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.