Hot Iron!
Please be in prayer for folks affected by this pandemic. Some get it and they come out good, but others get it and it’s a tough deal. Life is precious. We need to do all we can. Pray and act responsibly.
Let’s talk about branding. Now, please understand, I’ve never branded myself. I understand that some folks get branded. There is a certain t.v. show that practically the whole bunkhouse has been branded. Yes, with a hot iron.
Branding is a way of marking cattle for identification. It could be used to show ownership, health, age, etc. One-time tested method involves roping calves and dragging them to the fire. When draggin’ calves, the one doin’ the brandin’ must take priority over the shots and castrating and such. You see, an iron doesn’t take long to cool off if it is held out of the fire for very long. And it takes too much time to have to go back and re-heat the iron. There are often two or three irons in the fire just to keep the calves from waiting on the brand.
As Christians, we sometimes talk about the “branded” reaching a lost world for Christ! Jesus calls believers to reach the lost herd and to disciple new believers!
Disclaimer time: Y’all please take note, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT LITERALLY BEING BRANDED WITH A HOT IRON! It’s called figuratively speaking, thanks!
Who are we to brand? Well, He’s instructed us to offer the brand to all folks. But not all will want to receive Him. Not all will want to follow Christ. We can’t force Jesus on anyone, but we must be relentless in our efforts to keep working.
We often only get one shot at deliverin’ a good hot brand for Christ. We need to brand while the iron is hot! We may not have the opportunity to go amongst the herd tomorrow. We never know.
Are we in the last days? There is no time to waste. Use a hot iron that’s been fully immersed in the Word of God.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (nasb): And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain — for He says,"AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU." Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION" —
PAUL was writing to the Christians there in Corinth… and the ones who thought they were Christians. S o m e had truly received God’s grace and were saved. But there were a few who had been deceived. They didn’t know that they didn’t have it. False teachers teach a false salvation.
Now is the acceptable time. The iron is hot! Let us be definite in the work we do.
Paul writes about receiving it in vain. That means what was received wasn’t salvation. It was false. It’s all about really giving your life to Christ and coming into a real relationship with Him, making Him Boss.
But some folks fill out a card and get wet and they think they’ve somehow bought “fire” insurance. And they think there is a certain ritual or something that is required. Like a certain incantation or verse to say. That’s just not how any of this works.
How do you know you know Jesus? Do you have a conviction of sin? Do you desire to live for Christ? Do you bear fruit? Love, Peace, Joy, Forgiveness…and especially seeing others come to Christ? So first things first, are you branded in Christ? Was the iron hot or was it just a surface commitment?
So be ready. Know how to hold the iron. Even practice it on a board if you need to. Be ready to share your faith! Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Rom 10:16)
Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! Pray for the rain! Amen.