The Baby Leopard
A baby leopard was washing himself over and over again. The mother leopard seen the baby leopard washing itself over and over again, using its tongue, front legs and paws. So she asked, why is it that you keep on washing yourself over and over again. The baby leopard replied by saying: am trying to wash off all of these spots from my fur. (haha)
Well that may sound funny about the baby leopard, but there are alot of people who are trying to wash themselves from all of the spots of sins that covers them. Many may think if they try to be good, and do good works, or be baptized, or by joining a church, or praying ten times a day, or etc..., that their sins could be washed away, and their sins be forgiven. But let me tell you something; just as it's impossible for a leopard to wash the spots off it's fur. It's just as impossible for a person to be able to cleanse themselves from their sins. Well you may be asking yourself; how then can I have all my sins washed away? Here is a short answer to your question ---Nothing but the blood of Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Romans 3:22-26 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
A smile and a kind word -- can make someone's day.
Colossians 3:12-14 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
A word you don't hear to much about these days is the word "Fornication".
Even know it's happening all around us, from young kids up to the elderly. For some reason these days people don't seem to have a problem with having a Sexual relationship with one another, being not married to each other. (Fornication: Sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married to each other).
Many people may think it's alright to live in that type of lifestyle. But just because the world approves of it, and promotes it, as being alright; through tv, radio, magazines, at some schools, and etc... By no means make it right. Let God be true, and every man a liar. Other words if God's word says it's not good and that it's a sin, that is what it is. It doesn't matter who may think it's alright to commit such a thing as fornication, because we should obey God, and not what this world may say is alright to do, and not to do.
I guess I can see how a lost person can commit fornication, and it really not bother him or her that is doing such a thing. For a lost person, it's their sinful nature, that leads them to do such things as that. And at the same time they don't have God's Holy Spirit within them constantly convicting them, that it's not good to be living in that type of lifestyle.
But if there is one going around confessing to be a Christian, and is committing fornication, that is not good. Because God warns Christians that they shouldn't do such a thing.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
1 Corinthians 6:17-20 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
So if one is claiming to be a Christian and is committing fornication; and if they don't feel God is disciplining them, or if they don't feel God's Holy Spirit within them constantly convicting them. Maybe they should examine themselves to be sure they are truly saved.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?