The Last Judgment

Matthew 25:31  

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and 

all the holy angels with him, then shall he 

sit upon the throne of his glory:"  

    There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of His Father, but in His own glory. The wicked and godly dwell here together, in the same cities, churches, families, and will not always be known one from the other.

    Jesus Christ is the great Shepherd; He will shortly distinguish between those that are His, and those that are not.  All other distinctions will be done away; but the great one between saints and sinners, holy and unholy, will remain for ever. The happiness the saints shall possess is very great. It is a kingdom; the most valuable possession on earth; yet this is but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in heaven. It is a kingdom prepared. The Father provided it for them in the greatness of his wisdom and power; the Son purchased it for them; and the blessed Spirit, in preparing them for the kingdom. 

    The wicked in this world were often called to come to Christ for life and rest, but they turned from His calls; and justly are those bid to depart from Christ, that would not come to Him. Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses. The punishment of the wicked will be an everlasting punishment; their state cannot be altered. Thus life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us, that we may choose our way, and as our way so shall our end be.  

   My Friends, This happiness is for believers, and they for it, for all eternity. They shall come and inherit it. What we inherit is not got by ourselves. It is God that makes heirs of heaven. We are not to believe that the amount of our bounty will entitle us to eternal happiness. Good works done for God's sake, through Jesus Christ, and we see here that the marking of the character of believers are made holy by the Spirit of Christ, and as the effects of grace bestowed on those who do them. 

Amen!

Reading:  Matt. 25:31-46

Ref:  HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Last Shall Be First

Mat 20:15-16

"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? 

Is thine eye evil, because I am good?  So the last 

shall be first, and the first last: for many 

be called, but few chosen." 

   This parable is related to Peter's question in Matthew 19:27 "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?  Jesus did explain to His disciples in the closing verses of Matt. chap 19. what they would receive, that have followed Him. The lesson that Jesus is teaching with this parable simply hinges upon the distinction between the laborers that were hired and the ones that were not.

   The first group was hired all day, for a penny a day (12 hour day).  Now there were a total of five groups of Laborers, The house holder, only hired the first group. The other groups were not hired, but called with a promise from the householder that he would reward them justly according to his own estimation of what would be right.  What the hired laborers didn't understand was, why, did everybody that started work in the field at different times during the day got the same pay as they got, 1 penny for a day's work. 

  My Friend's Those who agreed to work for twelve hours, set their own price and that is what they received. Our Lord wants us to follow the example of the other workers. Those who serve the Lord and leave the size of the reward up to Him, will always be given far more than if they insist on knowing how much they will receive before they begin.  "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first," (Matt. 19:30).  

Amen! 

Reading:  Matt.  20:1-16

Ref: HGSB  

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

Buried Treasure

Matthew 13:44

  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure 

hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he 

hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all 

that he hath, and buyeth that field." 

   Jesus told a story about finding buried treasure, However if you don't pay attention you might miss what Jesus was saying to the people and us as well.  It was the law in Jesus' day, that whoever found buried treasure in his land he had the right to keep it.  If he owned the land he owned what was under it.  Many poor farmers probably lived in hope that one day they would find, secret buried treasure. 

   Jesus' story, of buried treasure though it is short should never be overlooked.  His story is about a man who had found buried treasure in a field he did not own. This man done what anyone listening to Jesus would have done. He quickly covered up the treasure, and schemed how he could buy that field. He sold what he owned and one way or another he made a deal to buy that field.  As soon as the field was his, he quickly dug the treasure up and made it his own.  The Kingdom of Heaven is like that treasure, said Jesus.  The kingdom is worth all that a man may possess. Jesus asked His disciples, "Have you understood all this?"  The disciples said, "yes" 

   My Friends, This is a story about earthly things, with a Heavenly meaning. It is up to each follower of Jesus to discover for himself the meaning hidden in what Jesus said. The stories Jesus told, many were simple, but each one has a special meaning for the Kingdom of God. In this story Jesus is asking us, "Are You Looking For The Real Treasure?"

Amen!

Reading Matt. 13:34-44

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr. 

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Gift Of God

1 John 3:9  

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; 

for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot 

sin, because he is born of God."  

    All men are children of God in the sense, that we owe our lives to Him. We become His children only by an act of God's initiating grace and the response of our own hearts.  

Immediately the question arises: if we have that great honor when we become Christians, why are we so despised by the world?  The answer is that we are experiencing only what Jesus Christ has already experienced. When He came into the world, He was not recognized as the Son of God; the world preferred its own ideas and rejected His. The same will happen to any man who chooses the way of Jesus Christ.  Just remember; We are not merely called the children of God; We are the children of God.  It is by the "gift" of God that a man becomes a "child" of God.  By nature a man is the creature of God, but it is by grace that he becomes the child of God. 

   My Friends, When Christ appears, we shall see Him and be like Him.  The goal of all Believers has been and still is the vision of God. The end of all devotion is to see God. But that vision of God is not for the sake of individual satisfaction; it is in order that we may become like Him. Here is the Reality!  We cannot become like God unless we see Him; and we cannot see Him unless we are pure in heart, for only the pure in heart shall see God . In order to see God, we need the purity which only He can give.  "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8).   

Amen!

Reading: 1 John 3:1-10 

Ref: HGSB

Ma God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

 

 

Little But Powerful

James 3:5  
"Even so the tongue is a little member, and 
boasteth great things. Behold, how 
great a matter a little fire kindleth!"

   We have always heard say, "if" we put a bit into the mouth of a horse, knowing that "if" 
we can control its mouth, we can control its whole body. So what James is saying, is that if 
you can control the tongue, you can control your whole body; but if the tongue is uncontrolled, your whole life is set on the wrong path.  
   A man can change the course of a ship and direct it to safety.  "A rudder is small and it is attached to the very rear end of the ship, but it has such power that by this little rudder, and by the power of one man, and when that power is gently exerted,a great fleet of ships can be moved. 'The tongue also is small, yet it can direct the whole course of a man's life"
   My Friends, The tongue is like a fire, it is wild and wide-ranging. The tongue can damage at a distance.  Man's ingenuity has tamed every wild creature in the sense of controlling and making useful; However no man by his own unaided efforts has ever been able to tame the tongue.  A chance word dropped at one end of the country or the town can finish up by bringing grief and hurt at the other.  Life and death are in the power of the tongue.  I'm not pleading for a controled life where speech is forbidden.  I'm pleading for the control of the tongue.  I'm saying that silence is sometimes better than speech.
Amen! 

Reading:  James 3:1-6
Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

Tested And Triumphant

James 1:2-3  

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall 

into divers temptations; Knowing this, 

that the  trying of your faith 

worketh patience." 

    James never suggested to his readers that Christianity would be an easy way.  We must fully understand the meaning of the word Temptations, if we are to see the very essence of the Christian life. Temptation, is trial or testing directed towards an end, and the end is that he who is tested should emerge stronger and purer from the testing. 

    All kinds of experiences will come to us. There will be the test of the sorrows and the disappointments which seek to take our faith away. There will be the test of the seductions which seek to lure us from the right way. There will be the tests of the dangers, the sacrifices, the unpopularity which the Christian way must so often involve. But they are not meant to make us fall; they are meant to make us soar.  

    My Friends, Temptations, are not meant to defeat us; they are meant to be defeated. They are not meant to make us weaker; they are meant to make us stronger. Therefore we should not moan about them; we should rejoice in them. The Christian is like the athlete. The heavier the course of training he undergoes, the more he is glad, because he knows that it is fitting him all the better for victorious effort.  A rough step for every hard thing is another step on the upward way, to "The Crown Of Life." 

Amen!

Reading: James 1-1-18

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Sanctify Daily Life

 Hebrews 13:7- 8  

"Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto

you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of 

their conversation. Heb 13:8  Jesus Christ the same 

yesterday, and today, and forever."   

    Christ by giving Himself for us, (is), that He may purchase to Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works; and that is what makes true religion the strongest bond of friendship. Here are earnest exhortations to several  of our Christian duties, mainly  contentment.  Sin opposed to  grace and duty is, an over eager desire for the wealth of this world, with envy of those who have more than ourselves.  But Having treasures in heaven, we may be content with meaningless things here.  

    Adam was in paradise, yet not contented; some angels in heaven were not contented; but the apostle Paul, had learned in every situation, to be content. We have reason to be contented with our present situation as well. Because God's promise contains the substance of all His promises; "I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee." The true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and forever. Men can do nothing against God, and God can make all that men do against his people, to turn to their good. 

   Christ is the same in the Old Testament day, as in the gospel today, and will be so to His people for ever, equally merciful, powerful, and all sufficient. Still He fills the hungry, encourages the trembling, and welcomes repenting sinners. He rejects the proud and self righteous, and hates iniquity. Believers should seek to have their hearts established in simple dependence on free grace, by the Holy Spirit, which would comfort their hearts.

   My Friends,  Let's go forth from sin, from the world, and from ourselves.  Living by faith in Christ, let us willingly separate from this evil world.  By faith seek in Christ the rest and peace which this world cannot give us. The sacrifice of praise to God, we should offer always. In this are worship and prayer, as well as thanksgiving

Amen!

 Reading: Heb.  13:1-15

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr

The Cross Life Ministry

Exhortations To Follow Christ

 Hebrews 12:2-3  

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for 

the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the

shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

For consider him that endured such contradiction of 

sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds." 

  

   The obedience of faith in Christ, is the race set before us, we will enter with a crown of glory, or have everlasting misery for our reward.  By sin that so easily troubles us, and understand that the sin to which we are most prone, or to which we are most exposed, to from habit, age, or circumstances. This is a most important exhortation; because a man's favorite sin, be it what it is, if it remains unsubdued, it will hinder us from running the Christian race, as it takes from us every motive for running, and gives power to every discouragement.  

   When weary and faint in our minds, let us recollect that Jesus suffered, to save us from eternal misery. By steadfastly looking to Jesus, our thoughts will strengthen holy affections, and keep our mind on holy desires. Though our enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divine chastisements;Our Heavenly Father has His hand in all, and His wise end to answer by all. We must not make light of afflictions, and be without feeling under them, for they are the hand and rod of God, and are His rebukes for sin. 

   We must not faint and sink under trials, or fret and pine, but bear up with faith and patience. God may let others alone in their sins, but He will correct sin in His own children. In this His acts  becomes as a father. Our earthly parents sometimes may chasten us, to gratify their passion, rather than to reform our manners. But the Father of our souls never willingly grieves or afflicts His children. It is always for our profit. Our whole life here is a state of childhood, and imperfect as to spiritual things; therefore we must submit to the discipline of such a state. 

   My Friends,  When we come to a perfect state, we shall be fully reconciled to all God's chastisement of us now. God's correction is not condemnation; the chastening may be born with patience, and greatly promote holiness. Let us then learn to consider the afflictions brought on us by the malice of men, as corrections sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good.  

Amen!

Reading: Heb. 12:1-11

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

Passion Not Excuses

Hebrews 2:1  

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed 

to the things which we have heard, lest at 

any time we should let them slip"  

   What would you say was the greatest moment of your life? Your answer might be your wedding, birth of your child or a big promotion at work.  But for Believers, the best experience is when their eternal destiny was changed.  New Christians often are in a rush to share their faith. However, in time they find their hearts are drifting as they try to focus on their relationship with Christ. 

   Our Scripture today is telling us to pay closer attention to what we have heard, so we do not drift away from it. (Heb:2:1).  Salvation is God's amazing solution to man's sinful condition: it is the gift of eternal life, through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for the penalty of our transgressions.  No matter how good we may have seemed,we were spiritually dead and separated from God.  Receiving Christ's forgiveness breathed life back into our spirits so that we could go before God's Throne. 

   My Friends,  We have the opportunity to soothe the hurting hearts we come in contact with every day. But if we let excuses fill our minds before passion fills our hearts, people will never hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let us all take time today to praise God for our Salvation, that took us off that road of destruction and place us on the road to eternal Life in Heaven. Take time to talk to someone about Jesus today. 

Amen!

Reading: Heb. 2:1-3

                  Eph. 2:3

                  Matt. 28:19 

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

      

Hated, Mistreated, Bound

Hebrews 13:3  

"Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; 

and them which suffer adversity, as being 

yourselves also in the body"  

   Christians were condemned to work in the mines, or shut up in prisons for nothing but their love and to the cause of God's Church.  It often happened that the Christian landed in prison and worse. It might be for his faith; it might be for debt, because the Christians were poor; but mainly because they were believers in Christ.  However as hard as it was the Church went into action and continued to hold on to their faith. 

   Strangers and captives must never be forgotten, either in our prayers or our ministry. 

We may not like all the brethren, but there is something in each of them that Christ loves. Let us try to discover it, or love them for His sake. We can love people with our mind and think for them, or with our strength and serve them, even though the heart is somewhat reluctant.

   My Friends, We live in a world today where we may be free today and tomorrow we may not.  I know that each day gets harder for most Christians just to hang on to three of the most important facts of our faith: "Trusting, Believing, and Receiving what God's Promise is to you,  "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee," (Deut. 31:6).  

Amen!

Reading: Devotional Scripture 

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry

The Power Of Christ

Matthew 15:32  

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, "I have

compassion on the multitude, because they continue 

with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: 

and I will not send them away fasting, 

lest they faint in the way." 

   Whatever our case is, the only way to find ease and relief, is to lay it at Christ's feet, and to submit it to Him. Those who want to have spiritual healing from Christ, must surrender all authority to Christ for this healing. We know what sin can do! Here were such diseases that  the cause could not be guessed or the cure of, yet these were subject to the command of Christ. 

   The spiritual cures that Christ worked were and are still wonderful. When blind souls are made to see by faith, the dumb to speak in prayer, the maimed and the lame to walk in holy obedience, it is to be wondered at. 

   Christ power was also shown to the multitude, in the plentiful provision He made for them.  All did eat, and were filled. Those whom Christ feeds, He fills. With Christ, there  

is enough bread and supplies of grace for more than seek it, and for those that seek for more. Christ sent away the people. Though He had fed them twice, they must not look for miracles to find their daily bread. 

   My Friend's,  Let's go home to our callings and our own tables. Lord, increase our faith, and pardon our unbelief, teaching us to live upon thy fullness and bounty, for all things pertaining to this life, and that which is to come. 

Amen!

Reading: Matt: 15:29-39

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry 

The Separation

 Matthew 13:30 

"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest 

I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, 

and bind them in bundles to burn them: but

gather the wheat into my barn."  

   When the doors of the synagogues were closed to Jesus, He found another way.  It is one of the supreme tragedies that Jesus was banished from the Church of His day; but that would not stop Him from bringing his invitation to men. He took the "Gospel" to the open air, and taught men in the village streets, on the roads, on the lake sides and in their own homes. The man who has a real message to deliver, and a real desire to deliver it, will always find a way of giving it to men. 

   Jesus spoke in parables, because what he was saying was difficult for them to understand and for us as well.  Jesus' key motive for using parables were given to explain spiritual truths. Those who rejected Jesus, they did not have divinely enlightened minds with which to perceive God's truths.  No amount of explanation would make them understand, (1 Cor. 1:27; 2:14, cf. Rom. 7:13). 

   My Friends, Man has not changed. We watch and hear about Jesus Christ with our eyes and ears; However we are just like they were, not capable of understanding the truth, because with closed eyes, hearts and minds, this world is rejecting Christ more every day!  If you reject Christ and His Gospel, You will be rejected "By God." It's your choice, "do you want to be part of the tares that burn, or wheat that's in God's barn.

Amen!

Reading: Matt. 13:24-30

Ref: HGSB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry  

   

Faith Verses Unbelief

John 15:20  

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not 

greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they

 will also persecute you; if they have kept  my saying, 

they will keep yours also."   

    Our Divine Redeemer never was weary of His labor of love; and we should not be weary of well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we don't give up.  Where there is true faith,  there may be a mixture of unbelief. The remaining unbelief of good men may sometimes, in an hour of temptation, call in question the most important truths. But here I do not believe that John's faith failed in this matter, and that he only desired to have it strengthened and confirmed.      

    Jesus sent the disciples back to John with hope, and as they left, Jesus began to eulogize John. Christ reminds them, to what they heard and saw. Christ's Love and Compassions to the poor, show that it was He that should bring to the world the tender mercies of our God. Those things which men see and hear, if compared with the Scriptures, direct in what way salvation is to be found. 

    My Friends,  It is difficult to conquer prejudices, and dangerous not to conquer them; but those who believe in Christ, their faith will be found so much the more to praise, and honor, and glory. God Desires Believers To Continue In His Written Word By Faith. 

Amen!

Reading:  Matt. 11:1-19 

                   John 15:18-27

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry