Chapter 12 contains the parable of the rich fool.
The lesson found here can be of great benefit to us today.
In the hustle and bustle of today’s society, men are much
more concerned about themselves and their possessions than
they are about God. There are people who worry about food,
clothing, and other material things, while God is asking us
to consider the lilies of the fields and how they grow.
They toil not, yet God cares for them.

Verse 31 says, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of
God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” If God
cares for the lilies, the grass, and the ravens, how much
more He must care for us! If every Christian would learn to
really trust God with his entire life, then God could make
something wonderful of that life. But all too often we try
to take control and direct our own steps, rather than
letting God have His way. To have a successful Christian
life, we must submit ourselves to the leadership of the
Holy Spirit; we must, by faith, seek first the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness. Then we can rest assured that
all our needs will be supplied.

Chapter 13:3,5 contains God’s prerequisite for
salvation. These verses tell us that unless we repent we
shall all perish. Repentance is a definite part of
salvation. In Acts 20:21 we read of the Apostle Paul
testifying to both the Jews and Greeks that they should
repent and have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus
put so much emphasis upon repentance that we must realize
its necessity for salvation. Many people today have
repentance confused with confession. Confession is the act
of admitting to being wrong. Repentance goes a step
further. Not only is wrongdoing admitted to God, but
repentance means turning away from that wrong, turning to
God, and asking for forgiveness. Jesus says that sin must
not only be confessed; but a person must turn away from
that sin and turn to God, asking His forgiveness, in order
to receive salvation.

Many people whom I have met have said of the many
times they have confessed their sin to the Lord. They did
not realize they could not get peace in their hearts,
because they did not know they must go a step further than
confession in order to be forgiven of their sins.

After repentance we must place our faith and trust
in Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour. What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In
other words, Bible faith is believing what God has said
concerning His Son, and trusting Him for salvation. Christ
died on the cross that we might not be condemned. When we
are willing to come to Him, in faith believing, He will
give us everlasting life. Jesus says in John 6:37, “…and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” We must
have faith in this promise; we must believe it in order for
it to be applied to our lives.

The world today is searching for peace in many
different ways. The only way to real peace and happiness is
through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Salvation is a gift. It is my prayer that you have received
Christ as your personal Saviour. If you have not, won’t you
believe His Word and trust in Him today? Won’t you, just
now, acknowledge your sins to God; turn away from those
sins, and turn to Him for forgiveness and trust in the
finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for your
salvation? This is the way to happiness! This is the way to
everlasting joy and peace! Jesus says, “I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by
me.” Do you have peace in your heart? If not, my prayer for
you is that you will ask Christ to come into your life.

MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY:
Man now can be:
Justified.
Acts 13:39
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses.