THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
A man and his wife were vacationing at an old town.
They were walking along the beach of a large lake, and noticed a fishing guide preparing his tackle.
He tied a bait on the end of the line, then took his razor sharp knife and cut half-way through the line just above the bait.
The couple asked him why he did that.
He said, "Well, I about to take a new visitor out for some fishing. He'll likely snag a fair-sized fish right off. When he tried to bring him into the boat, the line will break. That fisherman will go home and tell all his friends about 'the BIG ONE that got away!'"
"AND," the old guide said, "He'll be 'hooked' into coming back here EVERY summer!"
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________SCRIPTURE_____________________________________________________
Luke 7:33-35
33 ...John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.
KJV
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_______THOUGHT_________________________________________________________
Obviously, the old fishing guide in the story above, knew how to keep fishermen coming back!
After losing a fish, they would be "hooked!"
Jesus knew that people are fickle.
Most folk wanted to discredit John the Baptist because they didn't want to follow his teaching.
So, they called him "possessed" with an evil spirit.
Folk also wanted to discredit Jesus, because they didn't want to follow His teaching.
So, they called him a "winebibber" and a man who associated with sinners.
But Jesus also knew that those who surrender to His Lordship, and become "born again," will REMAIN in faith!
Those who are truly surrendered to Jesus are "regenerated."
They are made "new" by the entrance of God's Holy Spirit into their lives.
From that time on, God's Holy Spirit continually causes:
CONVICTION upon sinful action;
REPENTANCE due to that conviction;
COMPELLING to study the Bible;
FAITHFULNESS in praying and attending church;
and, TELLING OTHERS that Christ is God and our only means of salvation.
After losing your life in Christ, are you "hooked?"
Love ya,
Bruce