He who endures to the end will be saved

Passage of the Day

5 Believe ye not in a companion, put not confidence in a familiar friend: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law: a man's enemies are the men of his own household. 7 But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the °God of my salvation: my °God will hear me.
Micah 7:5 – 7  JN Darby's Translation

21 “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 10:21 - 22  World English Bible

34 “Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37 He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
Matthew 10:34 - 37  World English Bible

The Prophet Micah of Moresheth-Gath prophesied that a perplexing time will come in future when people become so wicked that one cannot even trust his own family and friends. In fact, a man's enemies will come from his own household (Micah 7:6)

This words are echoed in the teachings of our Lord Iesus in Matthew chapter 10, when the Lord warned his disciples about the difficult times that will have to pass before his Second Coming.

In fact, our Lord told the disciples that it was his very ministry among the children of Israel at that time that would trigger such disturbing conflicts, setting children against parents to the extent that a man's foes will be those of his won household (Matthew 10:36).

In saying these words, our Lord revealed to his disciples that the fulfilment of the prophecy in Micah chapter 7 was already happening.

It is in this context — that of the fulfilment of Micah's prophecy — that our Lord told his disciples these solemn words in Matthew 10:37 :

He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me;
and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, we are living in difficult times. We are surrounded by wickedness. Many around us will hate us because of the Name of Iesus, even those of our own family. What shall we do? How shall we live through such times?

The prophet Micah has the answer, "But as for me, I will look unto Yehovah, I will wait for the God of my Salvation. My God will hear me" (Micah 7:7 JND).

Our Lord likewise told his disciples, " . . . he who endures to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22 WEB)

Let us continually look to Our Father in Heaven, the God of Salvation. He will hear us. Let us endure to the end. We will be saved.

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The following are links to several related blog posts on the Lord's teaching about loving our Lord more than our family, that I have written between the years 2010 and 2019 —

• The Course of Discipleship (Feb2010)
• The Course of Discipleship: a Summary (Feb2010)
• Trying Times (Sep2019)

Now is the Accepted time, Now is the Day of Salvation

Passage of the Day

1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:1  New King James Version

8 Thus says the Lord:
“In an acceptable time I have heard You,
And in the day of salvation I have helped You;
I will preserve You and give You
As a covenant to the people,
To restore the earth,
To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;
Isaiah 49:8  New King James Version

Today we are reminded from the writings of the Apostle to the believers in Corinth, quoting from the Prophet Isaiah, that our God has heard us and has helped us in an acceptable time.

When is this acceptable time?

The Apostle tells us, "Now is the accepted time, Now is the day of salvation". In saying this, he pleads with the Corithian brethren not to receive the grace of God in vain.

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, has any of us received the Grace of God in vain? Let us ask our Father in Heaven to search our hearts that we may live our lives in His Grace.

Let us offer a sacrifice of praise through our Lord Iesus

Passage of the Day

12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst confide in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Hosea 10:12 – 13  J.N.Darby's Translation

1 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah; say unto him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips.
Hosea 14:1 – 2  J.N.Darby's Translation

2 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God; for the people have fallen through your iniquities.
3 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord your God: speak to him, that you may not receive the reward of unrighteousness, but that you may receive good things: and we will render in return the fruit of our lips.
Osee 14:2 – 3  Septuagint British English 2012

The prophet Hosea ben Beeri prophesied to the children of Israel, particularly to the tribes of Ephraim and Judah in Hosea chapter 10, telling them to break up their fallow ground, to sow in righteusness instead of ploughing in wickedness; and to reap according to mercy instead of reaping iniquity.

In verse 12, Hosea tells them, "it is time to seek Yehovah"

Towards the end of the book in chapter 14, the prophet Hosea calls the children of Israel to return to the Lord (Adonai) their God, taking words with them, to render to God the fruit of their lips (ref Osee 14:3 LXX)

This call to offer the fruit of our lips to God is again given by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter 13, quoted below:

Through him (Iesus) then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. Hebrews 13:15  American Standard Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, let us likewise remind ourselves to break up fallow ground in our lives, to sow seeds of righteousness, that we may reap according to the mercy of God our Father in Heaven.

It is time to seek God, to return to Him with our words, offering a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips through Iesus our Lord.

The Son of Man was brought near to the Ancient of Days

Passages of the Day

13 I beheld in the night vision, and, lo, one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of days, and was brought near to him.
14 And to him was given the dominion, and the honor, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and languages, shall serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13 – 14  LXX Brenton Updated

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority
John 3:35  New English Translation

And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18  Bible in Basic English

He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
Ephesians 1:22  World English Bible

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, today let us remind ourselves that our Lord Iesus is given dominion and honour and the Kingdom by our God, the Ancient of Days. God has placed all things under the authority of our Lord Iesus, in heaven and on earth, and has made Iesus the head over all things in our Assembly.

Today, our Lord is seated at the right hand of God our Father in heaven. Angels and authorities and powers are being made subject to our Lord. Let us live under the authority and Lordship of Iesus the Son of God.

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The following are links to my observations about the Lord Iesus as the Son of God, posted on my devotional blog over a span of thirteen years:

• The Three Amens (May2009)
• Worship Him who sits on the Throne (Aug2014)
• Amen, Faithful, True Witness, Head of God's Creation (Nov2020)
• I will be their God, They shall be my people (May2022)