What Would Jesus Do?
Author; Pat Aman
June 1, 2019

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matthew 5:7

Tonight I want to give memory and honor to where it is due.

My brother-in-law, J.B. was, and my sister, Ruby is one of the best-hearted people I know. It did not matter when friends, family, church, community, town or parish called them they were there, as soon as possible, no questions asked, and they never maked anyone feel like they were a bother. They were just that way.

They were hard workers, who worked a big farm.

But, one thing I remember is J.B. did not just plant a garden for them, but big enough for the community.

I have personally seen their living room floor covered with peas, butter beans, corn and anything else that could be put in their and others freezers for the winter months. And sitting around that living room would be neighbors shelling peas, or putting up corn.

At the end of the day or week, people’s freezers were full.

They would even let people pick on halves. In other words, you go to field and pick, and however much you pick you just bring half by the house for Ruby to put up in her freezer.

I was visiting one fall, when three grown men’s came to visit Ruby. J.B. has already made his heavenly journey home. These men came by to visit Ruby and thank her and J.B. for planting and sharing those vegetables with them and their mother.

They told Ruby, when they were young boys, they were not honest with her. And they wanted to apologize for not giving her what was agreed on. They said, we left some in the field and picked them up after we settled with you.

Ruby said, “I already knew you were doing that, but, I just let it go.

J.B. and Ruby even furnished nice houses for their farm workers. And Ruby cooked every meal at lunch for them. They would come from the field, and sit at their table and eat. Even their wives and children came and ate.

Now because of Ruby’s health she is in a Senior Care Facility. She cannot walk, but she just turned, 87 on May 28th. But, even though she cannot walk on her own, she has a Hot Rod Lincoln wheelchair. And daily she goes up and down the halls, checking on all the residents, and praying for them.

One individual who could not make it to the facility in time, told her daughters that Ruby did not let her mother died alone. Ruby was holding her hand as she took her last breath.

So, again I can say, Ruby knows what Jesus would do.🥰

Listen, I am bragging a little, but, I can honestly say, “ J.B. and Ruby knew the meaning to What Would Jesus Do!”

They did not judge people. They did not belittle people. They did not lie about people. They had a servants heart.

Tonight, I watched the movie once again, “What Would Jesus Do?”

A small town falling apart because of slander and greed.

But, a homeless man, came into the town, and with just a few words touched the hearts of the people.

Each person started thinking, is my decision going to make a difference? They started saying, “What would Jesus Do?”

I can tell you that J.B. And Ruby listened to God’s voice when it prompted them to do something for someone. They have been known to go against the better judgment of others around them and help people in need. They always gave the person a chance.

They have helped people in their community who needed help, in physical sickness, and financial problems, not asking for anything in return.

They were Good Samaritans….

Again, they knew, “What Would Jesus Do?”

In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus talks about another person who was stranded on a lonely stretch of road between Jerusalem and Jericho. Some thieves had stripped him of his clothes, wounded him, and left him half-dead. Can you imagine how demoralized he must have been? We don’t know how long he had been lying there, but after a period of time, a priest happened to walk by. I can just imagine that if the poor man had enough presence of mind to be coherent and see the priest, hope must have risen in his heart. A priest! Surely he would stop and help him and minister to his needs. But, do you know the priest did just the opposite of what you and I would assume he would do? When he saw the wounded man, he crossed over and walked on the other side of the road! Did he pretend it wasn’t happening? Did he feel a twinge of conscience as he left the man lying there? Did he think if he moved to the other side of the road where his cries for help weren’t so easy to hear, he would be excused of his moral obligation? Whatever his line of reasoning, he failed the poor man miserably.

Later, a Levite happened to pass by. Ah! Surely this time help had arrived! Levites were of the strictest religious order! They knew the law inside and out and followed it to the tee. So, that part about loving your neighbor as yourself, surely they knew it by heart, right? But, do you know what the Levite did? The Bible says, “when he (the Levite) was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.” He looked on him! He saw his condition! And he made the choice to walk away. How could he know the law so thoroughly and yet feel that he was justified in not carrying it out in everyday life? Did he happen to look over his shoulder and feel any remorse? Did the wounded man’s eyes plead with him for mercy and send a sting of guilt into his hardened heart? Whatever transpired, he kept walking, and the man kept suffering.

Then along came another person. I can just imagine the wounded man hearing footsteps coming nearer…and nearer…and with each sound of a step, his hope must have increased! But, what disappointment as the traveler drew near enough to see his face! A Samaritan! Hope was gone, he would never stop. Everyone knew Samaritans and Jews didn’t speak to each other. They didn’t interact; they avoided one another at all costs. There had been generations-long feuding between Jews and Samaritans, so why would this one be any different? But, wait! He was slowing down his pace. He was looking at him! What would he do? Would he finish him off and leave him all the way dead? Would he laugh when he saw his helpless plight? Or would he see the seriousness of his condition, then cross to the other side of the road like all of the others? Maybe the wounded man didn’t even want the Samaritan’s help, maybe he recoiled to think of him even touching him, so fierce was the hatred between the two races.

Whatever the thoughts in the two men’s minds, the Bible says, “…and when he (the Samaritan) saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow, when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.” This man went over and beyond the call of duty. He couldn’t ignore the injured man’s cries. He could not walk away and pretend it wasn’t happening. He couldn’t let their differences stop him from doing what was right.

Jesus went on to ask, “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among thieves?” The correct answer was, “he that shewed mercy unto him”. Jesus replied, “Go, and do thou likewise.”

Sometimes, our neighbor is our enemy. Sometimes, our neighbor is different from us. Sometimes, our neighbor is one who has hurt us in the past and caused us pain. Sometimes, our neighbor is a stranger. Whoever it is, Jesus wants us to show mercy. It is much easier to turn away than to get involved in messy situations. But, did Jesus do that? Do you ever read of someone undesirable coming to Jesus and Him looking at them, then turning and going as far away from them as possible? Did He ever hold back His mercy just because the person was different or unfavorable? Has He ever been merciful to you, my friend? “Go, and do thou likewise”.

Maybe, we need to make a mental note in our hearts and mine, and start saying, “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?”

Song
What Would Jesus Do?
Adam Gregory

They stopped saying prayers in school yesterday
And there’s a boarded up
Run down church
Down on third and main
The Mission’s overflowing
And the crime rate just keeps growing
And I’m not sure where it’s gonna stop.
But man, this world is all we got.
What would Jesus do in time like these?
Would He walk among the sinners,
Fall to His knees?
Heal the sick,
Save lost souls the way He used to?
Would he threw up his hands and just walk away?
Cry a tear for a world that’s gone astray.
I’m not sure, but God, Iwish I knew,
What would Jesus do?
What if He appeared right where you stand?
Could you look Him in the eye,
Reach out and take His hand?
Show Him how we are changing this place
Day by day with his amazing grace?
It doesn’t look like heaven on earth
So I have to ask,
Are we doing right?
What would Jesus do in time like these?
Would He walk among the sinners,
Fall to His knees?
Heal the sick,
Save lost souls the way He used to?
Would he threw up his hands and just walk away?
Cry a tear for a world that’s gone astray.
I’m not sure, but God, Iwish I knew,
What would Jesus do?
Would he threw up his hands just walk away?
Cry a tear for a world that’s gone astray.
I’m not sure, but God, I wish I knew,
What would Jesus do?
What would Jesus do?

This devotional is a ©1996/2019
Coffee With Pat Miniseries & Christian Faith Publishers & Respected Authors

God’s Got The Other End!
Author: Pat Aman

Sometimes just living a Christian life is hard. And it should not be.

They feel like they are holding on to a frayed rope. And the rope is slowly slipping away.

A lot of times it takes a person hitting bottom, before they reach up to Father God.

Then when people hit bottom they get serious about situations in their lives. They not only pray but they realize it is time to fast.

I know I have ask for myself, Why? Yes, when wondering why bad things happen to good people.

I guess is it just human nature to ask why?

I wonder why my colon had to rupture and because of it, I had to go through seven major surgeries since it happen.

But see God sees the big picture, where I only see the present.

Just living a Christian life is not always easy. Sometimes it is just down right hard, and I feel that being in the ministry is double hard lately, because as I try my best to lift others up, I sometimes need lifting up myself.

I know that being in the ministry I have suffer all kinds of things. And I have prayed Lord, why must I suffer these things.

I have also told God that I didn’t particularly care to suffer these things. And He told me that He didn’t care for me to suffer that stuff either. Boy, does God’s answers blow your mind.

But God then told me, yes, things should have been different, people should have treated you better, your circumstances could of been better, but He then said, remember I will hold them accountable for it, as I hold you accountable for things when you do not listen to me.

You just preach the Word of God, and I’ll take care of you and your circumstances, and I’ll take care of ones who may cause you harm.

And He will too. God remembers all the sacrifices you and I have to make for Him in life. He’s keeping track of the way people treat you and me, and things we may go through that we cannot understand. And, He’s going to reward you and me for bearing it.

The Bible says, ” God keeps every one of your tears in a bottle.” (Psalm 56:8)

So if God can keep track of all our tears, don’t you think He sees all the little things we do through?
He certainly does, and one day He will reward us openly for our sacrifices.

But as we do go through, not so good things in our life, we need to study God’s word and seek direction. We need to not only pray, but then we need to tarry at the alter long enough to listen to His answer for us.

And sometimes we even need to fast and pray.

In (Daniel 1:8 and 17) Daniel did a 3 weeks fast. This fast was to show that God would take care of Daniel and his friends and make them healthier, more knowledgeable and skilled in learning, wisdom and understanding of all visions and things.

And in (Daniel 10) Daniel fasted for 3 weeks and God gave him understanding of things to come.

(Daniel 1: 8, 12 and 17) says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank, there he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Prove they servant, I beseech thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse ( In Hebrew pulse means something sown, vegetable) to eat, and water to drink. And for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding i all visions and dreams.”

(Daniel 10:2-3) says, “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, (In Hebrew pleasant was a root, and bread is grain)neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”

We know that Jesus fasted 40 days and nights in the wilderness to get ready for His ministry. And there are times that we need to set our face before God, with our mouths shut, so that we can receive wisdom, knowledge and understanding and direction.
If today, your facing life’s challenges and you feel that you are just holding on. Grab hold of that Rope tie a knot in the end and just hold on. Because God is holding on to the other end of the rope and He is not planning to let go.

Blessings, Love and Prayers,
Pastor Pat Aman

This devotional is a ©1996/2019
Coffee With Pat Miniseries & Christian Faith Publishers

Are you Ready To Meet Jesus?
Author: Pat Aman – June 4, 2019

Please do not get left behind. Jesus is returning in the blink of the eye. Are you ready?

I watched, “Left Behind” again tonight.

People knew the Word Of God, but they were too busy living their own lives. They did not have time for God. They were even attending church.

I started thinking are people ready for Jesus to return to get His bride, the church? Are people ready to meet Jesus if they would take their last breathe tonight?

I hear so many say, “I got baptized.”
But, did they get saved?

Baptism is just an outer sign of an inward change.

Baptism is letting the world know you have accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

I see individuals who are attending church, but, I see no change in them. I do not see in fruit bearing.
‭‭
John‬ ‭15:1-8‬ ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
‭‭
Let’s look at the church at Laodicean. The church has nothing to commend it. Jesus begins the message with condemnation: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17). Jesus emphasizes their “lukewarm,” apathetic nature three times. As a result of their ambivalence to spiritual things, Jesus would have nothing to do with them. He would “spit them out,” as the people of Laodicea would spit out the tepid water that flowed from the underground aqueducts to their city. With their apathy came a spiritual blindness; they claimed to be rich, blessed and self-sufficient. Perhaps they were rich in material things. But, spiritually, the Laodiceans were in a wretched, pitiful condition, made all the worse in that they could not see their need. This was a church filled with self-deceived hypocrites.

I have had more than just a few asked me, “Pastor Pat, I don’t know if I’m ready to die.”

What gives the person such uncertainty that they’re not sure they are ready to die? Well it’s the thing that’s behind dying. It’s the sin and the guilt that they know of from their own life and it terrorizes consciences and hearts, bodies, flesh that knows that it’s dying. It terrorizes your body and your mind too.

Even when it’s someone else that you love, it’s a pain and a struggle because you know that the same sin that is doing that to their own body has you in its crosshairs too.

How would one know that they are ready to die?

The forgiveness of sins. The taking away of the power behind death, of the body, that’s what makes a person ready.

When the aged Simeon in the temple, right after the baby Jesus was born, held Jesus in his hands Simeon knew he was ready to die. He said “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, …For my eyes have seen Your salvation.” (Luke 2:29-30)

Simeon held baby Jesus in his hands and he knew he was ready, at that moment or any moment to come, to go away in death but in peace. He had the forgiveness of sins in that little child.

When the Christian leaves the altar, the altar, they have received into themselves the body and blood of that same child, that grew into a man and took all our sins upon himself. He was the sinless Son of God.

Salvation is a gift that is made available to those who repent, believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He died and rose from the dead to save us all (Acts 16:31; Romans 10:9-10).
This gift cannot be earned through good deeds or by simply being “good” (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Timothy 1:9). It is a matter of faith (acting out on what you believe according to God’s Word concerning salvation).

Please pray this prayer, if you want to be saved.

Father God,
I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21). I am calling on You. I pray and ask Jesus to come into my heart and be Lord over my life according to Romans 10:9, 10. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” I do that in this very moment. I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and I believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead. In Jesus Name Amen”

1 Thessalonians 5:2 2for you know very well that the day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night.

Revelation 16:15 15″Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

1 Thessalonians 5:4-5 4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

1 Corinthians 15:51.Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- 52. in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.

I Wish We’d All Been Ready
Jordin Sparks with “I Wish We’d All Been Ready” is a ballad from the soundtrack of the movie “Left Behind”. In the lyrics of “I Wish We’d All Been Ready”, Jordin laments that not everyone was ready to “leave” this world as they still had things to do and conflicts to resolve. The song was written and previously released by artist and writer, Larry Norman in 1969

I Wish We’d All Been Ready

Life was filled with guns and war
and everyone got trampled on the floor, I wish we’d all been ready

Children died the days grew cold
a piece of bread could buy a bag of gold, I wish we’d all been ready

There’s no time to change your mind the son has come and you’ve been left behind a man and wife asleep in bed she hears a noise and turns her head he’s gone I wish we’d all been ready

Two men walking up a hill
one disappears and one’s left standing still I wish we’d all been ready

There’s no time to change your mind the son has come and you’ve been left behind life was filled with guns and war and everyone got trampled on the floor, I wish we’d all been ready

Children died the days grew cold
a piece of bread could buy a bag of gold I wish we’d all been ready

There’s no time to change your mind how could you have been so blind the father spoke the demons dined the son has come and you’ve been left behind

You’ve been left behind
You’ve been left behind

Remember! Are You Ready?
THE A.B.C.’s Of Salvation …

ADMIT
You have Sinned…
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. – Romans 3:23
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. – James 2:10
As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; – Romans 3:10
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:23
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9

BELIEVE
On Jesus Christ
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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”- John 3:16-17
…The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. – Mark 1:15
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” – Acts 19:4 NKJV
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” – Acts 16:31
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. – 1 John 3:23
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

CONFESS
Christ Publicly
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. – Romans 10:9-10
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. – Romans 1:16

This devotional is a ©1996/2019
Coffee With Pat Miniseries & Christian Faith Publishers & Respected Authors
http://coffeewithpat.org