WRONG WORSHIP

Read: Acts 19:23-41

     If you really want to get folks upset, threaten their economy.
     A bad economic picture gets politicians voted out of office, and the threat of a downturn nearly got the apostle Paul kicked out of Ephesus.
     Here's what happened. Paul came to town and started "reasoning and persuading concerning . . . the kingdom of God" (Acts 19:8). For more than two years he shared the gospel, and many began following Jesus.
     Because Paul was so successful in getting people to see that there is only one true God, many Ephesians stopped worshiping the goddess Diana. This was bad news for the local silversmiths, who made their living creating and selling Diana statuettes. If enough people stopped believing in her, business would dry up. A commotion and an uproar broke out when the craftsmen figured this out.
     This Ephesus incident can remind us to evaluate our reasons for worshiping God. The silversmiths wanted to protect their worship as a way of protecting their prosperity, but may that never be said of us. Don't ever let your worship of God become an avenue to good fortune. 
     We worship God because of His love for us and because of who He is, not because loving Him can help our bottom line. Let's worship God the right way.--Dave Branon
 

   
     
     

NOW IS THE TIME

Read: Luke 2:8-20

     During our church's Christmas celebration, I watched the choir members assemble in front of the congregation while the music director rifled through papers on a slim black stand. The instruments began, and the singers launched into a well-known song that started with these words: "Come, now is the time to worship."
     Although I expected to hear a time-honored Christmas carol, I smiled at the appropriate choice of music. Earlier that week I had been reading Luke's account of Jesus' birth, and I noticed that the first Christmas lacked our modern-day parties, gifts, and feasting--but it did include worship.
     After the angel announced Jesus' birth to some wide-eyed sheperds, a chorus of angels began "praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest!' " (Luke 2:13-14). The shepherds responded by running to Bethlehem where they found the newborn King lying in a barnyard bassinet. They returned to their fields "glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had seen and heard" (v. 20). Coming face to face with the Son inspired the shepherds to worship the Father.
     Today, consider your response to Jesus' arrival on earth. Is there room for worship in your heart on this day that celebrates his birth?--Jennifer Benson Schuldt

DEATH DESTROYED

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

     Medical researchers are working tirelessly to find a cure for cancer, a clue to the mystery of Alzheimer's, and ways to conquer a host of other debilitating diseases. But what if you awoke to headlines saying DEATH DESTROYED! Would you believe it? Could you believe it?
     The New Testament proclaims that for the believer in Christ, death has been destroyed--reduced to inactivity--rendered incapable of doing what it once did. "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory' " (1 Cor. 15:54). 
     This good news is for everyone who will receive it--just as the angel told the shepherds when Jesus was born, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).
     The birth of Jesus was the beginning of the end for death. "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:56-57).
     That is why we celebrate Christmas!--David McCasland

THE PURSUING GOD

Read: Galatians 4:1-7

     Pastor Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan rightly observes that Christianity is unique among all religions for it is about God's pursuit of us to draw us to Himself. In every other religious system, people pursue their god, hoping that through good behavior, keeping of rituals, good works, or other efforts they will be accepted by the god they pursue.
     The British poet Francis Thompson catches the profound nature of this reality when he writes of the relentless pursuit  of God in his life. In his work titled "The Hound of Heaven," he writes that as he fled from God he couldn't outrun "those strong feet that followed . . . with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace." But God's untiring pursuit of the wayward is not just Thompson's story. At the heart of the Christian message is the wonderful truth of God's pursuit of every one of us. As Paul affirms, "God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law"  (Gal. 4:4-5).
     And it's not just the Christmas story. It's the story of God's pursuit of Adam and Eve after the fall. His pursuit of me! His pursuit of you! Where would we be today if God weren't the "Hound of Heaven"?----Joe Stowell

HIDDEN TREASURE

Read: Colossians 1:27-2:3

     A British treasure hunter discovered a huge stash of Roman coins buried in a field in southwest England. Using a metal detector, Dave Crisp located a large pot holding 52,000 coins. These ancient silver and bronze coins, which date from the third century AD and weigh more than 350 pounds, are valued at $5 million.
     While Crisp's treasure may cause us to dream about somehow finding similar riches, we as Christians should be on a different kind of treasure hunt. What we seek does not not consist of silver and gold. Rather our quest is to gather the precious gems of of insight so that we might gain the "full assurance of understanding . . . , both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:2-3). The hidden treasure of knowing the Lord more completely is found in the Bible. The psalmist said, "I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure" (Ps. 119:162).
     If we read the Word of God hurriedly or carelessly, we will miss its deep insights. These truths must be sought earnestly with all the attention of someone seeking hidden treasure.
     Are you eager to find the treasures stored in Scripture? Start digging!---Dennis Fisher

In [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
---Colossians 2:3  

REJECTED LIGHT

READ: JOHN 12:35-46

     In the early hours of December 21, 2010, I witnessed an event that last occurred in 1638--a total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice. Slowly the shadow of the earth slipped across the bright full moon and made it appear a dark red. It was a remarkable and beautiful event. Yet it reminded me that while physical darkness is part of God's created design, spiritual darkness is not.
     Scottish pastor Alexander McLaren said: "Rejected light is the parent of the densest darkness, and the man who, having the light, does not trust it, piles around himself thick clouds of obscurity and gloom." Jesus described this self-imposed spiritual eclipse of heart and mind when He said, "If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matt. 6:23).
     The great invitation of Christmas is to open our hearts to the Savior who came to end our darkness. Jesus said, "While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light. . . . I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness" (John 12:36,46).
     The way out of our spiritual night is to walk in the light with Him.---David McCasland

ALWAYS ON DUTY

Read: Acts 20:22-32

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.

---Hebrews 13:17

     As my kids were discarding their trash at the local mall food court, my oldest son was almost run into by a man who was clearly on a mission. My younger son jokingly remarked, "Maybe he stole something." Thinking I might be able to use this as a teaching moment, I said, "That's what the Bible calls judging." He then asked with a smile: "Why are you always 'pastoring" me?"After I finished laughing, I told my sons that I could never take a vacation from shepherding them. 

     The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders that they too could never take a vacation from shepherding God's people (Acts 20). He was convinced that false teachers would try to ravage the church (v. 29), and the elders needed to protect the group from them. Caring for God's people includes feeding them spiritually, leading them gently, and warning them firmly. Leaders in the church are to be motivated by the incalculable price Christ paid on the cross (v.28).

     Church leaders have a big responsibility to watch over our souls, for one day they will give an account to the Lord for their work among us. Let's bring them joy now by responding to their faithful, godly leadership with obedience and submission (Heb. 13:17). --Marvin Williams

All Is Well

Read: Psalm 46:1-3

     Recently, my husband and I were reacquainted with a young man we had known as a child many years ago. We fondly reminisced about a Christmas program when Matthew had sung--in a perfect boy soprano--the song "All Is Well" by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Michael W. Smith. It was a wonderful memory of a song beautifully sung.

     All is well, all is well;

Lift up your voice and sing.

Born is now Emmanuel,

Born is our Lord and Savior.

Sing Alleluia, sing Alleluia, all is well.

     To hear the words of that song at Christmastime is comforting to many. But some people are unable to absorb the message because their lives are in turmoil. They've experienced the loss of a loved one, persistent unemployment, a serious illness, or depression that will not go away. Their hearts loudly cry out, "All is not well--not for me!"

     But for those of us who celebrate the birth of our Savior--despite the dark night of the soul we may experience--all is well because of Christ. We are not alone in our pain. God is beside us and promises never to leave (Heb. 13:5). He promises that His grace will be sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). He promises to supply all our needs (Phil. 4:19). And He promises us the amazing gift of eternal life (John 10:27-28).

     As we receive God's promises, we can agree with the poet John Greenleaf Whittier, who wrote, "Before me, even as behind, God is, and all is well." ---Cindy Hess Kasper

Today's Bible Reading: Psalm 46:1-3

(1) God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (2) Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; (3) though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.    

Christmas Journey

Read: Luke 2:1-7; Galatians 4:4-5

     How far is it from Nazareth to Bethlehem? If you're in Pennsylvania, it's about 9 miles and takes about 10 minutes by car. But if you're in Nazareth of Galilee, and you're traveling along with your pregnant wife, as Joseph was, it's about 80 miles to Bethlehem. That journey probably took Joseph and Mary about a week, and they didn't stay in a nice hotel when they got there. All Joseph could find was a stall in a stable, and that's where Mary delivered "her firstborn Son" (Luke 2:7).

     But the journey for the infant Jesus was much farther than 80 miles. He left His place in heaven at God's right hand, came to earth, and accepted our humanity. Eventually, He was stretched out on a cross to die, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb. But the journey was not over. He conquered death, left the tomb, walked again among men, and ascended to heaven. Even that is not the journey's end. Someday He will return as King of kings and Lord of lords.

     As you take a Christmas journey this month, reflect on the journey Jesus made for us. He came from heaven to earth to die for us, making salvation available through His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection.

     Praise God for that first Christmas journey!----Dave Egner

Today's Bible Reading--Luke 2:1-7; Galatians 4:4-5

Luke 2

(1) And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (2) This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. (3) So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. (4) Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, (5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. (6) So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. (7) And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Galatians 4

(4) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

December 17, 2014

HOPE IN HIM

READ: ISAIAH 53

     As we drove home from a Christmas party one evening, my family and I approached a small country church nestled between glittering snowbanks. From a distance, I could see its holiday display. Strings of white lights formed the capital letters: H-O-P-E. The sight of that word shining in the darkness reminded me that Jesus is, and always has been, the hope of humankind.

     Before Jesus was born, people hoped for the Messiah--the One who would shoulder their sin and intercede with God on their behalf (Isaiah 53:12). They expected the Messiah to arrive through a virgin who would bear a son in Bethlehem and would name him Immanuel, "God with us" (7:14). The night Jesus was born, their hope was fulfilled (Luke 2:1-14).

     Although we're no longer waiting for Jesus in the form of an infant, He is still the source of our hope. We watch for His second coming (Matthew 24:30); we anticipate the heavenly home He is preparing for us (John 14:2); and we dream of living with Him in His celestial city (1 Thess. 4:16). As Christians, we can look forward to the future because the baby in the manger was, and still is, "the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope" (1 Timothy 1:1).---Jennifer Benson Shuldt 

Today's Bible Reading--Isaiah 53:4-12

(4) Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. (5) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (7) He was oppressed and He was afflicted yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. (8) He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. (9) And they made His grave with the wicked--but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. (10) Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. (11) He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. (12) Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

AVOID THE HUSKS

READ: LUKE 15: 11-24

     Ah, the life of a pig! Each new day brings nothing but slopping through the mud and snorting happily at mealtime. And what meals they have! Crunchy corn husks--or whatever leftovers get tossed into the pen.
     Sound good? No? It probably didn't sound good to the prodigal son either.
     Before he started eating with pigs, he had a warm bed, a rich inheritance, a loving father, a secure future--and probably good food. But it wasn't enough. He wanted "fun." He wanted to run his own life and do whatever he desired. It resulted in a pig's dinner.
     Whenever a young person ignores the guidance of godly parents and the instruction of God's Word, similar results occur. It always shocks me when someone who professes to know Jesus chooses a life that rejects God's clear teaching. Whether the choices include sexual sin, addictive substances, a lack of ambition, or something else, any action that leaves God out risks ending badly.
     If we ignore clear biblical morals and neglect our relationship with God, we can expect trouble. Luke tells us that the young man turned things around after he came to his senses (Luke 15:17). Keep your senses about you. Live for God by the guidance of His Word--unless you have a hankering for the husks.---Dave Branon

Today's Bible Reading---Luke 15:11-24

(11) "A certain man had two sons. (12) And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. (13) And... the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions....(14) But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. (15) Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into fields to feed swine. (16) And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate.... (17) "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! (18) I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, (19) and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."' (20) "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion.... (21) And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' (22) But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe....(23) And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry."

December 15, 2014 (Romans 12: 9-21)

OUR DAILY BREAD

A SUPPORTING ROLE

After the American TV personality Ed McMahon died in 2009, one newspaper headline read, "When it came to being the No. 2 man, he was No. 1." Best known for his 30-year tenure as Johnny Carson's late-night sidekick, McMahon excelled at helping Carson succeed in the spotlight. While most entertainers strive for top billing, McMahon was content with a supporting role.

When the Apostle Paul gave instructions about how to exercise our gifts as members of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-8), he affirmed the value of supporting roles. He began by saying that we should have a realistic opinion of ourselves (v. 3), and he concluded with a call to genuine, unselfish love: "Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (v. 10). Or, as J. B. Phillips translates it, "a willingness to let the other man have the credit."

Our gifts and abilities come to us by God's grace and are to be used by faith (vv. 3,6) in love and service for Christ--not for personal recognition.

May God grant us the ability to embrace with enthusiasm the supporting roles to which He calls us. The ultimate goal is His glory and not our own.----David McCasland

A DAILY LIFE FULL OF GOD'S PRESENCE

     By the power of the precious blood of Christ, it is possible for a Christian to live moment by moment in God's presence. Whenever any little sin would come to frustrate your fellowship with God, you may instantly confess and claim the Lord's prevailing blood. Immediately the fellowship is restored. Why should you waste time? The blood of Christ is available moment by moment, day after day. You can never exhaust the cleansing power of the blood of Christ. His blood is not only able to cleanse every past sin, but also every sin that you could ever commit.
     By the power of the precious blood of Christ, you may enjoy a conscience free from the stain of guilt. Because of this, you can boldly to God. "Let us come forward...with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22). By the blood of Christ, your conscience can be free from guilt. Like a freshly washed window, it can be clear, bright, and full of light.
     Finally, by the power of precious blood of Christ, you can overcome every accusation of Satan. Though his accusations may be strong, the blood of Christ is stronger. It answers them, every one. This blood is your weapon. With this weapon you could never be defeated by Satan; rather, he will be defeated by you.
     How dear and how precious is the blood of Christ! By this  blood you can live in God's presence day after day.

ACCUSATION FROM SATAN

     However, sometimes after you confess and apply the blood you may continue to have some bad feeling within. Does this indicate that your sin is not forgiven? Or that the blood of Christ does not work? Or that something further is needed? You must answer, "Absolutely not!"
     Where, then, do these bad feelings come from after you have confessed and applied the blood? Their source is God's enemy, Satan. To understand this we must see who Satan is and what he does.
     Satan is the "devil," which in the original language of the Bible means "accuser." So Revelation 12:10 refers to him as "the accuser of our brothers,...who accuses them before our God day and night." Satan, God's enemy, spends most of his time day and night accusing God's people. This is his job. Of course, God did not ask him to do this. Rather, he has taken it upon himself to accuse God's people incessantly.
     This is revealed in the story of Job. Job was a righteous man, and feared God (Job 1:1). Yet it is recorded that Satan appeared before God to accuse Job before Him. He said, "Does Job fear God without cause?...You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are spread throughout the land. But stretch forth Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face" (Job 1:9-11). In other words, Satan accused Job of only fearing God because God had blessed him. Satan claimed that God bribed Job and that if God took away all Job's riches, Job would curse God. This illustrates Satan's accusing in the spiritual realm.
     In the book of Zechariah, the high priest, Joshua, stood before God and Satan stood at his right hand "to be his adversary" (3:1). Joshua was "clothed with filthy garments" (v. 3). This speaks of his poor, sinful condition. How often your poor condition gives Satan the opportunity to accuse you. This implies that Satan is not only God's enemy, but he is your enemy as well. Whenever you come to God, Satan resists your coming by accusing you.
     Nothing cripples a Christian spiritually more than accusation. Whenever you listen to Satan's accusation, you are powerless. It is as if all the strength is drained from your spirit. A Christian under accusation finds it hard to fellowship with others and even harder to pray. He feels as though he cannot approach God.
     This is the enemy's subtlety. He never appears in a red suit with a pitchfork crying, "I am the devil! Now I am going to condemn you!" He is more clever than that. He accuses you inwardly and even tricks you into thinking that his accusations are God's speaking.
     How can you distinguish between God's true enlightening in your conscience and Satan's accusation? Sometimes it is difficult, but there are three ways:
     First, God's light supplies you, whereas Satan's accusation drains you. When God speaks concerning your sins, you may feel very exposed and wounded. Nevertheless, you are also supplied and encouraged to draw close to God and apply the precious blood of Christ. Satan's accusations, on the other hand, are totally negative. The more you listen, the harder it is to pray. You feel empty and discouraged.
     Second, God's speaking is always specific, whereas Satan's condemnation is quite often (though not always) general. Sometimes you may be tricked into thinking that you are just tired, or that you have had a rough day. Other times, you may just have a general impression that you are not right with God. But when you search your conscience, you find no specific sin that would cause you to be separated from God. Or you may wake up with a general feeling of depression or a feeling of uneasiness toward God. All these general feelings of condemnation that have no apparent source in sin are of Satan and should be rejected. When God speaks, He is specific and positive. But when Satan speaks, he is often general and negative.
     Third, any uneasy feeling which remains after you confess and claim the blood is of Satan. There is never a need to confess and claim the blood again. God's demand is at once satisfied by the blood. But Satan is never satisfied. He would like to see you confess again and again. Proverbs 27:15 says, "A quarreling wife is as bothersome as a continual dripping on a rainy day." Satan's accusations are like that--like a dripping faucet, or like a nagging wife--they will not let you go to sleep. But God's speaking is different. When you confess and claim the cleansing of the blood, God is instantly satisfied. Any further voice is Satan's.
     If you confess your sin and claim the precious blood, yet some uneasiness continues to tug within, you should stop praying immediately. Do not confess anymore. Rather, turn to the source of the accusation and say something like this: "Satan, I have confessed my sin to God. He has forgiven my sin, and the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed me from it. This uneasiness that I sense right now is not from God; it is from you, and I reject it! Satan, now you must look at the blood of Christ. That blood answers everyone of your accusations." Try speaking to Satan in this way. When you use the blood in this way, Satan is defeated and he knows it. Revelation 12:10-11 says, " The accuser of our brothers has been cast down....And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony." The word of your testimony is just your declaration that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you from every sin and that this blood has defeated Satan. When you speak boldly in this way, Satan's accusations are overcome.
     The Christian life is a kind of warfare. Satan, "your adversary...as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). For this warfare, you need the proper weapons. One important weapon which you must utilize is the blood of Christ.
    

GUILT IN YOUR CONSCIENCE

     Man's second crucial problem is with himself. Within him, in his conscience, there is a heavy load of guilt. How many young people today are burdened by guilt! Guilt is a big problem to man.
     Sins offend God on the one hand and defile us on the other. What is guilt? Guilt is the stain of sins on your conscience. When you are young, your conscience is only stained a little. But as you grow older, these stains accumulate. Like a window which is never washed, the conscience grows darker and darker until eventually little light can penetrate.
     No detergent, no chemical, no acid can wash the stain of guilt from your conscience. Not even a nuclear bomb can dislodge this stain; no, your conscience demands something more powerful than that.. Your conscience needs the precious blood of Christ.
     Hebrews 9:14 says, "How much more is done by the blood of Christ? He offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God." The blood of Christ is powerful enough to purge, or cleanse, your conscience from every guilty stain.
     How does the blood of Christ purge guilt from your conscience? Suppose you receive a traffic ticket for parking on the sidewalk. You have three problems: first, you broke the law; second, you owe the government a fine; and third, you have a copy of the traffic ticket to remind you of the fine. Now suppose you are penniless and find it impossible to pay the fine. You cannot just throw away the ticket, because the police hold a copy, and they will prosecute you if you do not pay. You have a real problem.
     This is a picture of what happens whenever you sin. First, you have broken God's law; that is, you have done something that offends God. Second, you owe God's law something. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. This is a rather stiff fine, impossible for you to pay. And third, you have guilt in your conscience, like the traffic ticket in your pocket, as a nagging reminder of your offense.
     Now there is good news. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, his death fully met all the requirements of God's law for you. In other words, your debt of sin has been paid. Praise the Lord! Jesus Christ, through his death on the cross, paid it all!
     So now, the first two problems have been solved: God is no longer offended, and the debt of sin has been fully paid. But what about your conscience? The stain of guilt, like the traffic ticket, remains as a record of your sin.
     This is where the blood of Christ cleanses your conscience. Because Christ's death has paid the debt of sin, his blood may now wipe out the record of that debt. Just as when the fine is paid, the traffic ticket may be torn up and thrown away, so also any guilt on your conscience may be wiped out.
     This is so easy to experience. Whenever you sin and sense guilt within, you may simply open to God and pray something like this: "O God, forgive me for what I did today. Thank you, Lord, on the cross you died for me and paid for this sin that I have committed. Lord, I believe that this sin has been forgiven by you. Right now I claim your precious blood to cleanse my conscience from any stain of guilt." Remember 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." And as Psalm 103:12 says, "As far as the east is from the west, / So far has he removed our transgressions from us." Who can say how far east is from west? In the same way, when you confess your sins, God removes them infinitely far away from you. They are not associated with you anymore. Because of this, you may have rest in your conscience.
     When God forgives, He forgets. Do not think that after God has forgiven your sins, He may one day come back and remind you of them again. No, when it comes to your forgiven sins, God has a very short memory. Sometimes you may have a better memory than God. Can God really forget? This is what Jeremiah 31:34 says, "I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." If God forgets your sins, you may forget them also. Don't remind God of something He has already forgotten.
     Christ died nearly two thousand years ago. His blood has already been shed and is available twenty-four hours a day to cleanse your conscience. Whenever you sin, there is no need to wait. Waiting does not improve the power of the blood. The blood is all-powerful. Wherever you are, any time of day, if you sense guilt in your conscience, just claim the precious blood. "Blessed is he whose transgressions is forgiven;... / Blessed is the man whom / Jehovah does not impute iniquity" (Psalm 32:1-2). Through the precious blood of Christ, the problem of guilt is solved.

SEPARATION FROM GOD

SEPARATION FROM GOD

When Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, he immediately hid from God. Before Adam sinned, he enjoyed God and was in His presence all the time. Yet after he sinned, he hid. Sin always results in separation from God.
Even as a Christian you may experience this. After committing some little sin, you sense a great gulf between you and God. Because God is righteous, He cannot tolerate sins. This is what the prophet Isaiah said: "Surely the LORD's power is enough to save you. He can hear you when you ask him for help. It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you, so he does not hear you." (Isaiah 59:1-2).
After Adam sinned, God did not say, "Adam, what have you done?" Rather, God is not as much concerned with what sins you may commit, as He is with the fact that your sins separate you from Him. God loves you, but He abhors your sins. As long as your sins remain, God must stay away. In this condition, you feel far from God. For God to come, sins must go.
There is only one thing in the entire universe that can take away sins--the precious blood of Christ. No amount of prayer, no amount of weeping, no ritual, no penance, no promise to do better, no guilty feeling, no period of waiting--no, nothing but the precious blood of Christ--can remove sins. Hebrews 9:22 says that "without shedding of blood is no forgiveness."
This is illustrated in Exodus. Some of the children of Israel may have been as sinful as the Egyptians. Yet when God sent His angel to slay all the firstborn children in the land of Egypt, He did not say, "When I see your good behavior, I will pass over you." God did not require that the children of Israel pray, do penance, or promise to behave. No, God commanded them to slay the Passover lamb and to sprinkle its blood on their doorposts. He said, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). God never looked to see what kind of people were in the house; when He saw the blood, He simply passed away.
That Passover lamb was a picture of Christ. When John the Baptist first saw the Lord he proclaimed, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). Jesus is the Lamb of God. By His precious blood all your sins have been taken away.
What then should you do when you have sinned and feel far from God? You should simply confess that sin to God and believe that the blood of Jesus has taken that sin away. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." When you confess your sins, immediately all distance between you and God is gone.
Don't worry about any feeling or lack of feeling at this point. The blood of Christ is primarily for God's satisfaction, not for yours. Remember, God said, "When I (not you) see the blood...." On the night of the Passover, the children of Israel were within the house while the blood of the lamb was without. Within the house, they could not see the blood; nevertheless, they had peace through knowing that God was satisfied with that blood.
Once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest went alone into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood on the expiation cover of the ark (Leviticus 16:11-17). No one was allowed to watch. This is a shadow of Christ who, after His resurrection, went into the heavenly tabernacle and sprinkled His own blood before God as the propitiation for your sins (Hebrews 12:24) and satisfying God on your behalf. Even though you cannot see the blood, you can believe in its effectiveness. This blood solves your problem toward God.
If God esteems the blood of Christ sufficient to remove your sins, can you do the same? Or do you require some good feeling besides? Can your requirement be higher than God's? No, you must simply confess, "O God, thank You that the blood of Christ has taken away all my sins. If You are happy with the blood, then I am happy also."

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST

 

     To sustain your physical life, you need certain basic items such as water, oxygen, food, clothing, and shelter. In addition, your body requires a certain amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Without all these, your physical life would die, or at least suffer greatly.
     It is the same with your spiritual life. Your spiritual life, just like your physical life, requires certain basic elements. These are essential. Without them, you will find it difficult to survive as a Christian in a world that does not know Christ. One of these basic elements is the blood of Christ.

     Why do you need the blood of Christ? Because, essentially, fallen man has three basic problems. Even as a Christian, you still carry around the fallen human life. So day after day, you may still be plagued with these three problems.
     These three problems involve three parties: God, yourself, and Satan. Toward God, you often sense separation. Within yourself, you often sense guilt. And from Satan, you often sense accusation. These three--separation from God, feelings of guilt, and accusation from Satan--can be three big problems in your Christian life. How can these be overcome? Only by the blood of Christ.

Words of Wisdom

Over the years, I have gathered different sayings that really put into perspective what I want my kids to know.  I thought I would share them with you.

Words of Wisdom

• If nothing else, always be kind.  There is no better way to show good character and strength in who you are.
• Enjoy life and always live life to the fullest.  You only get one life, so live it up.
• Don’t lose sight of who you are to please others.
• Create the life you want.  You are responsible for what you end up doing.
• Live your dream no matter what other people may think.  Don’t be apologetic for it.
• No matter what other people say, as long as you did your best and can look yourself in the mirror, you’re doing better than most.
• Take a risk and go after your dreams.  You don’t want to look back and regret not taking advantage of those moments when you could have taken the leap.
• Be honest.  Lying gets you no where but miserable.
• Realize that everyone who walks through your life is there to teach you something.  It might be good or bad, but you will be wiser for seeing a lesson in the experience.
• When in a relationship, whether with a significant other or a friendship, don’t ever make excuses for someone’s bad treatment of you.  There is never a reason for someone to make you feel less than another. If anyone ever touches you in an inappropriate way, don’t second guess yourself.  Leave that relationship!!!
• Words have power.  Use them with care.
• You can have anything in life you want.  If you don’t get it, you didn’t want it badly enough to work hard enough for it.
• Forgive those who make a mistake, but not those who take advantage of your forgiving nature.
• Be the person you want people to think you are.  Do what you want to be remembered for.
• No matter how bad your life is, there is someone out there who has it worse.  Be thankful for what you do have.
• You can always reinvent yourself.  Age doesn’t matter, it’s only a number.

Day 30--- A Leader Who Serves

Day 30--- A Leader Who Serves
Read: Matthew 20:25-27; Philippians 2:5-11

Have you ever wondered... What it really means to be a servant? How to serve as Jesus did?

Jesus doesn't ask us to serve any differently than he served. He's been there--on earth, among grumpy, demanding people, feeling tired and worn thin. Paul explains in Philippians 2:5-11 that Jesus was the ultimate servant. Reading those passages may make you feel like Jesus is a tough act to follow. But Jesus made it clear in Matthew 20:25-27 that it is your attitude that matters most.
When you see life through Jesus' eyes, it's natural to spot opportunities to serve. Too often we miss them because we focus on ourselves. We can't see beyond the wall of our own problems and concerns. Only when we look beyond ourselves can we be the servants that Jesus desires us to be.
In Luke 22:24-27, Jesus tells his disciples that the leader among them would be a servant. By setting your heart on serving, you can follow in Jesus' footsteps.

This is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as he did         (1 Peter 2:21).

Day 29---Spreading the Good New

Day 29---Spreading the Good News
Read: Acts 8:4-40; Colossians 4:5-6

Have you ever wondered... How to share the good news of salvation? With whom you can share your faith?

Spill your news. Shout your joy. Spread your announcement. After all, good news is meant to be shared. Why stifle the best message ever known to humanity? So you've met Jesus Christ? You know him personally? Then tell your friends and family all about your new friend.
When we are enjoying God's goodness, it's natural to want to talk about him. It's refreshing. Just as you'd share your latest announcement--a new car, a baby on the way, a broken relationship restored--the best news ever should always be on the tip of your tongue. Tell others about the person who has changed your life. Don't push away an opportunity to speak.
Jesus' disciples couldn't contain themselves. They heard. They believed. Then they told everybody. Can you identify with their energy and enthusiasm? Have you felt the undeniable urge to tell someone how Jesus changed your life?

"Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you." So the man left and began to tell the people in the Ten Towns about what Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed (Mark 5:19-20).

Day 28---Finding Comfort in the Dark

Day 28---Finding Comfort in the Dark
Read: Psalm 18:1-6; 34:19

Have you ever wondered... Why Christians suffer? Where to turn for comfort in tough times?

Christians are certainly not exempt from trouble, but when we feel as if we are buried in pain, God offers us comfort to carry us through. Life after conversion doesn't suddenly become a smooth, easy ride, but it is different. We have access to God's richest treasures. His comfort is one of them.
In difficult times, he pours comfort on our weary souls. When life seems good, it's easy to call on God. We casually toss prayers in his direction. We walk with a light step until pain stops us abruptly. Suddenly, God seems far away. We flounder in our pain, struggling to cry out, and all we can muster is a faint whisper.
With compassion, God hears. He sees you, fighting against despair. If we can only lift our eyes to him, we will see him rushing to share his comfort with us. He is our hero, our savior, our peace.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is the father who is full of mercy and all comfort. He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

For a more in-depth study, read: Habakkuk 3:17-19

Day 27---Three in One

Day 27---Three in One
Read: Mark 1:10-11; Matthew 28:19

Have you ever wondered... About the Trinity? How to relate to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?

In two thousand years, biblical scholars have yet to explain the Trinity in fewer than five hundred words. The trinity is one of those beautiful, divine mysteries that we'll never fully understand--not until we stand in heaven and share God's wisdom. We can accept that God doesn't intend for us to understand everything in life. We can be satisfied that God understands, and he has revealed as much as our limited minds can contain.
These verses from Matthew and Mark shed some light on the Trinity. It's astounding to imagine a God who is everywhere all the time, and yet was also crucified on one cross thousands of years ago. This God is not a cold spirit, watching from atop a cloud. He is with you--right here, right now.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

For a more in-depth study, read: John 14:16-17; Romans 5:5-6

Day 26---Believe and Be Baptized

Day 26---Believe and Be Baptized
Read: Matthew 3:11, 13-17; 1 Peter 3:21

Have you ever wondered... What baptism is? If you must be baptized in order to be a Christian?

John (a man), baptized Jesus (the Savior of humanity). Does that sound a bit ironic to you? It did to John the Baptist--and he told Jesus so. But Jesus wanted to stress the importance of baptism, and he wanted to leave us a model to follow, so he was baptized. Jesus didn't need forgiveness; he was perfect. But he followed the will of his Father, which included baptism.
A marriage commitment begins with a ring. The couple publicly commits to each other. At the ceremony, the couple declares, "I'm no longer my own--I'm married!" Baptism announces that you are no longer your former, independent self. You have chosen a relationship, and you take Jesus' name, "Christian."
Baptism is a blessing, not a burden; an honor, not a chore; a privilege, not a punishment. By obeying Jesus' command to be baptized, you symbolically die to sin and are reborn with Christ.

Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of changed hearts and lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus." (Acts 19:4).

For a more in-depth study, read: Acts 2: 38-39

Day 25---Accountable to God

Day 25---Accountable to God
Read: Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 5:13-16; 1 Corinthians 9:16

Have you ever wondered... Once you're saved, are you accountable to God for your actions? What God requires from you?

Romans reminds us that it doesn't matter much what people on earth think about us. It's God who matters. It's a scary thought to realize that one day each of us will stand alone before the judgement seat of Christ. God sees our hearts. He knows our thoughts. He watches every move we make.
If you know Christ, then you don't have to fear him. Your eternity is secure. But, we are accountable to him for our choices. Someday we will stand before him and answer for our decisions.
Sometimes it's hard to hold ourselves to God's strict standards. Good friends can hold each other accountable. A close friend can ask how you're responding to a particular temptation that always seems to break you. A fellow believer can help you live up to God's standards. Remember, ultimately you're accountable only to him--but in the meantime, we can help each other.

The LORD knows what is happening in the world of the dead, so he surely knows the thoughts of the living. (Proverbs 15:11)

For a more in-depth study, read: Proverbs 15:2-3

Day 24---Good Stewards

Day 24---Good Stewards
Read: 1 Peter 4:10-11; Luke 12:41-48

Have you ever wondered... What stewardship is? What God expects you to do with your possessions?

It's no secret that our society is materialistic. God has a different perspective. When you consider God's part in creating the world, you'll realize that everything you "own" is really God's. Not yours-- God's.While you are here on earth, he is entrusting you with it.
Because all you have is on loan from God, you know not to cling to your possessions. They will only slip through your fingers. When God entrusts you with possessions, he expects you to honor him with what you have.
The Bible teaches that we are to give God our firstfruits--meaning the first and best of all we have. Is that because God needs your money? You must be kidding. Why, then, is giving so important? When you give, you put your possessions in proper perspective. Giving helps you participate in God's work. Giving helps you and your heart condition far more than it helps God.
Good stewardship means that you work and give cheerfully. Take inventory of your gifts, talents, and possessions. Invest them in the world around you so that with a glad heart you can report back to the giver.

Each one should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give because you feel forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Day 23---Spiritual Gifts

Day 23---Spiritual Gifts
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4

Have you ever wondered... What spiritual gifts God has given you? How you can use them?

Since God is the giver, he chooses what gifts to give each person. He selects from his infinite pool of talents and blessings and chooses something appropriate for you. Every gift is good. You can't walk away slighted. It's up to you to discover what gifts he's placed in your heart and to use them.
Perhaps you wonder why God gives special gifts. In a "fair" economy, every person would receive the same gifts, in the same measure, at the same time. But God's economy operates differently. To some, he gives the gift of teaching. To others, he gives the gift of hospitality. These are very different gifts, right? God's family needs all of the gifts in order to function smoothly. We are dependent upon each other.
Study Romans 12:3-8 and ask God which gifts he has given you. Ask your family, friends, pastor, and yourself. Consider your talents and your passions, and pray that God would show you how he wants you to serve the family. Then snatch up your prize and use it for God.

We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us (Romans 12:6A).

Day 22---Christian Friendships

Day 22---Christian Friendships
Read: Acts 14:21-22; Ephesians 2:19

Have you ever wondered... How to develop friendships with other Christians? About the importance of having Christian friendships?

God never intended for us to struggle through life alone. You'll notice a pattern in the Scriptures that God provides friends for our support. During tough times, King David turned to his dear friend Jonathan. When Naomi lost her husband and sons, she leaned on her daughter-in-law Ruth. And even Jesus, when he felt anxious about dying on the cross, asked his three closest friends, Peter, James, and John, to come pray with him.
Friends share our joys and sorrows. Friends pray for us. Friends balance us out. Friends help us see beyond our immediate circumstances to God's grand, sweeping plan. And we can do the same for our friends.
So do we need Christian friends? When we truly love Jesus more than anything else, then we want to be able to share what's most important to us with our closest friends. Only other believers can fully understand our passion for Christ.
Let's face it--we need each other. And that's just what God had in mind.

The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. But I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I heard from my Father   (John 15:13-15)

Day 21---Justification: Your Ticket into Heaven

Day 21---Justification: Your Ticket into Heaven
Read: Romans 4:16-25

Have you ever wondered... What you have to do to be admitted into heaven? How you can have a right relationship with God?

As high school students prepare for college, they face four years of late-night study, rounds of admissions tests, and long-term career planning. The stress and strain of their preparation and decisions builds up to a single goal. They anxiously wait, day after day, checking and rechecking the mail box, looking for just one item: the college acceptance letter.
But what if they didn't need a letter? What if getting a spot at the most prestigious school in the country simply required signing up? What if degrees were given away as freely as coupons? This would be a student's dream!
Instant admission into heaven, however, isn't just a dream--it is a reality for all who turn to Jesus. Heaven doesn't require a test or a class. Nothing we do can make us good enough for God or heaven. Jesus does it all. He took the test for us and already filled out our paperwork. The one thing he requires is that we believe that he'll uphold his end of the bargain.

I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God                      (Ephesians 2:8)

Day 20---Getting to Know a New Friend

Day 20---Getting to Know a New Friend
Read: 1 Samuel 3:2-10, 19; Proverbs 3:1-4

Have you ever wondered... How to get to know God?

Making time to get alone with God may seem tough--at times even impossible. Stress, deadlines, relationships, and responsibilities compete for your time. How can you set aside time to pause, open the Bible, study, and listen to God? Those are the meetings that God longs for. He wants to meet with you for your sake, so that you can get to know him and his Word better.
When the prophet Samuel was young, he had never heard God's voice before. Actually hearing God speak was a rare occurrence in those days. The boy had not yet met God in a personal way (1 Samuel 3:7).
But God was eager for Samuel to meet him, so he called his name. Once Samuel's ears were open, he listened for God's voice. From that moment on, he formed a special friendship with God.
Once you hear God, don't hesitate to invite him in. Just as you would spend time getting to know a new friend, spend that kind of time with your Lord. Ask him to sit and chat. Ask him more about himself, and learn about his past, his family, and his plans. Tell him all about your situation, your goals, and your struggles. Once you've shared those heart-to-heart conversations, never grow apart. Let him be more than a mere acquaintance.

Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Day 19---Holy and Clean

Day 19---Holy and Clean

Read: Leviticus 11:45; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Corinthians 7:1

Have you ever wondered... What it means to be holy? How you could ever be considered holy?

Holiness is one of those intimidating religious words that we always hear but generally don't understand. Holiness means set apart, sinless, and perfect. God is holy; we are not.
God loves us despite our dirty, sin-soiled clothes. He wears his holiness like a dazzling, spotless, white robe. These verses encourage us to purify ourselves so that we can be holy, just as God intended us to be.
See that big black spot on your collar? That's lust. Don't forget that smear on the right sleeve. That's jealousy. There's a spot on your cuff and streak on your lapel. Those are pride and dishonesty. What an eyesore we are next to God's purity!
But we can wear holiness, too. We don't wear our own; we wear Christ's. We are covered in his holiness. Once we have been cleansed white as snow, we can stand next to God in pure, holy garments.

But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. It is written in the Scriptures: "You must be holy, because I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15-16)

Day 18---Becoming Like Jesus

Day 18---Becoming Like Jesus
Read: John 17:17-19; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2

Have you ever wondered... What sanctification is? How you become sanctified?

Sanctification is the ongoing process of growing toward holiness. Once you've accepted Christ as your Savior, your salvation is secure, but God isn't finished with you yet. As long as you're alive, he wants you to become more like him. Sanctification is the Holy Spirit's job. Through his leading, you become more and more like Jesus each day.
Sanctification lasts a lifetime. While you're on earth, you'll never be perfect, but you should become more perfect with each passing day. God gives you the tools--the handbook (the Bible), the guide (the Holy Spirit), and the companions (the church).
You don't have to do anything to get salvation. You just embrace it. It's a gift, pure and simple. But from that moment on, God does expect something from you. He expects you to abandon your old lifestyle and grow into Christ's likeness. It's your part in God's plan.

*You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God (Colossians 3:10)

Day 17---Getting Right with God

Day 17---Getting Right with God

Read: Romans 3:19-26; 1 John 2:1-2; Proverbs 2:7-8

Have you ever wondered... How you can become righteous? If following the rules is good enough for God?

Try to think of someone who was righteous, someone who never did anything wrong. Mother Teresa? No. The Apostle Paul? Hardly. The Pope, Joan of Arc, or John the Baptist? None of these characters were righteous of their own accord, and neither are you. There's nothing you can do to make up for your foul behavior.
Sin stinks, and God hates it. Face it: Flowers won't appease him. Gifts and apology cards won't cut it.. The grander tributes--an afternoon serving at the city mission, a fat check in the offering plate--won't make you look any better or any more righteous. We always want to do what is right, but somehow, it just doesn't happen.
God's not surprised. Reading Romans chapter three may help you breathe a little easier. Deeds aren't the way to righteousness--Jesus is. He frees you from your sin when you hand over your life to him. Righteousness is a free gift. Take it. Wear it confidently by obeying God's Word. Then you'll receive all the positive things that God wants to give you along with it.

*But the truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy (James 1:25)

Day 16---Freedom to Obey

Read: James 1:22-25; Romans 6:22; John 8:31-32

Have you ever wondered... Why God asks you to obey him? If obedience will ever become easier and more natural for you?

Sometimes it seems that rules are posted everywhere to limit our fun. "No running." "No diving." "Shirt and shoes required." Some people equate Christianity with a list of rules and regulations. They assume that God surrounds his children with rules just as the fun is getting started. These verses clarify that God's commands aren't meant to limit you. On the contrary, God's instructions free you. His motivation is love, and his goal is to enhance your life, not limit it.
When you live within God's boundaries, you're free--free to enjoy your life without worry, free to approach God without guilt, free to begin relationships without pain. Because of his blessings, obedience becomes fun. You obey not because you have to, but because you want to.

But now you are free from sin and have become slaves of God. This brings you a life that is only for God, and this gives you life forever
(Romans 6:22)

Day 15 Cheering on the Church

Read: Ephesians 1:22-23; Acts 4:32-35

Have you ever wondered... Why you should go to church? What Christ's church is supposed to be like?

Joe was tired of the complaints. Every time his crew of little baseball players ran off the field, he was bombarded with grumbling. "Mark keeps dropping the ball!" "Why can't I play pitcher?" "I'm tired of being in the outfield!" "I won't catch if Timmy pitches!" Joe wasn't at all surprised that his team had yet to win a game.

The church is a team. The success of the church depends on the commitment of the players. The church can only win when its members cheer each other on. Our Captain knows that if his team isn't unified, we will fail. Every time we take the field of life, we can choose to cheer or complain, encourage or criticize, laugh or groan. If we listen carefully to our Coach, we can beat Satan's team in a shutout!

The church team isn't complete without you. God designed it that way. You're the number one draft pick for God's roster. He wants you to be bold and step up to the plate. On God's team, you have the ability to hit a home run

Day 14 The Creator

(Nehemiah 9:6; Job 26:7-14; Acts 14:15)

Have you ever wondered... If the story of Creation is true? Why God bothered to create you?

In the beginning, God breathed life into Adam. God formed each living thing out of nothing. God's color palette is richer than any human artist's. His brush strokes are light and precise. The Bible praises God for his creativity. He left his stamp of craftsmanship on each one of us.
When he created you, he deliberately chose the shape of your face and the color of your eyes. In addition to your physical features, he combined a unique mix of talents and traits. And since that initial moment of creation, he has watched you ever since. Anyone who would labor so much to form you would naturally care enough to lead you the rest of the way through life. You are his child, his artwork.
Perhaps you've wondered why he bothered creating you. What can you possibly give to God that he doesn't already have? Certainly, you can't bring him power, glory, or holiness, but you can bring him one thing that he dearly wants--yourself. You are the masterpiece that the Great Artist treasures.

It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God's command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen (Hebrews 11:3)

FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: PSALM 8

Day 13 A Heavenly Home

(John 14:1-4; Revelation 21:1-4)

Have you ever wondered... What happens after you die? What heaven is like?

Many people believe in heaven, but what is it really like? Is it somewhere up in the sky? What will eternity feel like? Actually, heaven is far greater than we can imagine. The Bible doesn't tell us exactly what heaven will be like, but today's reading gives us an idea. Heaven is a place where there is no more pain, a place where you'll never be lonely and you'll never grow old. Heaven is like nothing that we've ever seen or experienced. But best of all, heaven is where Jesus lives, and we'll be there with him. He is waiting for the perfect time for us all to be there together.
Before Jesus returned to heaven, he promised that he was going to prepare a place for us--in one of his Father's mansions! As a believer, your name is in the Book of Life. Your place will be worshiping God, and you will never grow tired of it. Heaven is a sigh of relief, a warm hug of welcome, the end of the journey...home.
We know that our body--the tent we live in here on earth--will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever. But now we groan in this tent. We want God to give us our heavenly home (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)
FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 15

The Loss of Joy

     What are the things, then, that cause us to sometimes lose our joy? The first item is sin. Joy depends on our having unbroken fellowship with God, but sin separates us from Him and causes Him to hide His face (Isaiah 59:1-2).
     The second item is grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). When we are saved, we become God's temple and have His Spirit indwelling us (1 Corinthians 6:17, 19; Romans 8:9, 11, 16). This Spirit within is not a "force" or a "thing,"  (1 Corinthians 15:45; 2 Corinthians 3:17; 13:5). Like every living person, he has feelings and attitudes. Thus, when we speak or do things contrary to him, he is grieved within us. When the Holy Spirit is grieved, our spirit, which is joined to God (1 Corinthians 6:17), is grieved, and we lose our joy.

Good Morning 6:26 A.M. Bremen, Georgia United States

Dear Lord, thank you so much for another day of life on Earth.  Thank you for another beautiful sunrise to enjoy.  Thank you for the wonderful sounds of nature, from the cool breeze brushing through the trees to the birds singing melodies.  You are a wonderful God, full of grace and mercy.  I praise you for allowing me another day to spend with my family.  I love you Father!  Amen.

Bedtime is Time to be Thankful

Bedtime is Time to be Thankful

Dear God,

My head is heavy, the body weary. It’s time for sleep and I succumb. I am thankful O God  for rest and renewal. A time to re-charge. A time to dream. A time of quiet. I am thankful for all I have.

~Amen

The Joy Of Salvation

    We have seen the assurance of our salvation, that is, how we know that we are saved. We have also seen the security of our salvation, that is, how we can never lose our salvation. But is that sufficient? Unfortunately, many Christians are content to go only this far--having salvation, but having little joy or enjoyment of that salvation.
     Our friend with millions in the bank may have the assurance that he is rich, and he may have the security of knowing that his deposit is safe. But if he never spends a dime and is content to live a pauper's life, we can hardly say he has the enjoyment of those riches. Objectively speaking he is rich, but in his practical experience he has nothing.

     This is the condition of many Christians today. They are saved, but in their daily life they have little experience of the unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8). However, God's intention is that we not only have Christ, but that we enjoy him (John 10:10; Phil 4:4). The normal condition of a Christian is to "exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet. 1:8).
     But nearly all of us will admit that there are times, even many times, when we do not have this overflowing joy. Does this mean that we have lost our salvation? Absolutely not! Our salvation is based upon God, not upon us. But although we cannot lose our salvation, we can lose the joy of that salvation.

THE SECURITY OF SALVATION (PT. 2)

We Have Become God's Children:

     When we were saved, we not only received something; we also became something. We became children of God, born of His eternal life (John 1:12-13). A human father may be able to take back a gift he has given to his child, but he can never take back the human life which he has imparted. Although the child may misbehave, the child is still the father's. In the same way, we are God's children. Although we may have many weaknesses and may require His discipline, our sins and weaknesses cannot change the fact that we are His children. The life we received by our second birth is the eternal life, the indestructible life, the life of God, the life that can never die. Once we are born again, we can never be "un-born."

God Is Strong:

     Another reason for the security of our salvation is God's strength. God is unwilling to allow anything or anyone to snatch us from Him. Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they will never die, and no one can steal them out of my hand. My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all, and no person can steal my sheep out of my Father's hand" (John 10:28-29). The hand of the Father and the hand of the Lord Jesus are two strong hands holding us fast. Even if we try to run away from our Father, it would be impossible. Not only is God stronger than Satan, He is also stronger than we are.

God Never Changes:

     If it were possible to lose our salvation, many of us would have lost it long ago. As human beings, we go through many changes. One day we are hot; the next, cold. But our salvation is not based upon our erratic feelings. It is rooted and grounded in a God who is unchanging in His love and faithfulness toward us (Mal. 3:6). James 1:17 says, "Every good action and every perfect gift is from God. These good gifts come down from the Creator of the sun, moon, and stars, who does not change like their shifting shadows." Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The LORD's love never ends; his mercies never stop. They are new every morning; LORD your loyalty is great." If He loved us enough to save us, He surely loves us enough to keep us in that same salvation. Great is His faithfulness!

Christ Has Promised:

     Finally, Christ himself has promised to keep us, uphold us, and never leave us. Although men often are unrighteous in keeping their promises, Christ will never fail to accomplish what he pledges. Listen to his promise: "The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them" (John 6:37); "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said, "I will never leave you; I will never forget you" (Heb. 13:5). The Lord's promises here are unconditional. By no means and under no circumstances whatever, will he ever cast us out or cease to uphold us. This is faithful promise.
     What powerful security our salvation has! We have God's selection, God's predestination, His calling, His love, His grace, His righteousness, His life, His strength, His unchanging faithfulness, and His promises as the foundation, guaranty, and security for our salvation. We can all declare with Paul, "I am suffering now because I tell the Good News, but I am not ashamed, because I know Jesus, the One in whom I have believed. And I am sure he is able to protect what he has trusted me with until that day" (2 Tim. 1:12).

THE SECURITY OF SALVATION

After a Christian has received the assurance that he is really saved, he may consider, "I know that I am saved today, but how do I know that I will be saved tomorrow? Is it possible for me to lose my salvation?" For such a one, it is no longer a question of assurance, but one of security. 
     A man with millions in the bank has the assurance that the riches are his. But if the bank insists on leaving their vault unlocked, our rich friend will have a real problem with the security of his riches. He knows he is rich today, but he does know about tomorrow.
     Is our salvation like that? Is it something which we have today but may lose at any moment? The answer is, unequivocally, no. We can boldly say, "I know that everything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done, and they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to make people respect him." (Eccl. 3:14).
     One wonderful fact regarding our salvation in Christ is that it is irreversible, that is, it cannot be undone. Once we are saved, we are saved forever because our salvation has as its basis the very nature and person of God Himself.

SALVATION WAS INITIATED BY GOD:
     Jesus told his disciples, "You did not choose me; I chose you. And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name." (John 15:16). In other words, salvation was God's idea, not ours. In eternity past we were chosen and even predestined (marked out) by Him (Eph. 1:4-5). Furthermore, it was He who called us (Rom. 8:29-30). Since it was God's plan to save us in the first place, it is also His plan to keep us in that salvation. Could God choose us, mark us out, call us into salvation and then abandon us? No, God's salvation is eternal.

GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE ARE ETERNAL:
     Furthermore, God's love and grace toward us are not conditional or temporary. It was not love from our side that saved us, but love from His (1 John 4:10). He loved us with an eternal love (Jer. 31:3). His grace was toward us in eternity past, before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9). When God and Christ love us, they love us to the uttermost (John 13:1). No sin, failure, or weakness on our part can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39).

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS:
     But our salvation is based not only upon God's love and grace, but even more upon God's righteousness. Our God is a righteous God. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne (Psa. 89:14). If God were to be unrighteous, His throne would lose its foundation. Therefore, if our salvation in any way involves God's righteousness, it is very strong indeed.
     Suppose you run a red light and are given a $25 ticket. That $25 fine is a righteous penalty, and the law of the land demands that you pay it. If a civil judge simply overlooks your offense and releases you without paying, he is an unrighteous judge. It is not a matter of whether or not the judge loves you; he is bound by law to collect the fine.
     In the same way, our problem before God before we were saved was a legal one. We had broken God's law by our sin and has thus incurred the law's righteous judgment. According to the law of God, where transgression of the law is, death must take place (Rom. 6:23; Ezek.18:4). It is not a matter of God loving us, overlooking our sins, and forgetting about the law's judgment. If God were to do this, His very throne would topple. God is bound by His own law to judge sin. What can He do?
     Since God desired to save us and since we could not pay the debt of sin ourselves, He in His mercy decided to make a way for us. Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ came to die on the cross to pay the debt for our sin. Having no sin himself, he alone was qualified to die this substitutionary death. His death, being reckoned by God as ours, was acceptable to God, and God raised him from the dead. Now when we believe in Christ, his death is counted in God's sight as our own. Thus, our debt of sin is righteously paid, and we are saved.
     Now, can God take back this salvation which Christ has purchased? Absolutely not! Since the debt was paid, for God to demand it again from us would be unrighteous. The same righteousness which formerly called for our condemnation now calls for our justification. What powerful security this gives to our salvation! Even a worldly judge would not demand the same fine to be paid twice. Certainly God, the source of all justice and righteousness, cannot do so.
     Thus, the Bible declares that when God saves us, He shows us forth His righteousness (Rom. 1:16-17; 3:25-26).

THE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

  If you recently have had the experience of receiving Christ, you may have had times when you doubted the reality of that experience; that is, you may have questioned whether you were really saved. Without the real assurance of salvation as a solid foundation, it is difficult for a new Christian to grow and experience the deeper things of the Christian life. Nevertheless, the Bible says it is possible to know absolutely, unreservedly, that you are a saved person. How can this be? Let us read 1 John 5:13: I write this letter to you who believe in the Son of God so you will know that you have eternal life.
It is not, "that you may think," not, "that you may hope," but "that you may know."  We do not need to wait until we die to find out; this assurance is for us to enjoy today. How can we have the assurance of salvation? There are three means:

1. God Says So:

     Our first means of assurance of salvation is God's Word. While man's word may be untrustworthy, God's Word remains sure and steadfast. It is impossible for God to lie (Heb. 6:18; Num. 23:19). Whatever God says stands firm forever (Psa. 119:89). What God has said is not a matter of conjecture. His Word is neither vague nor intangible. It comes to us today in written form, the Bible. The Bible is God's very Word, inspired by Him (2 Tim. 3:16). We can take this Word, believe this Word, and trust this Word. What then does God say about salvation? He says that the way of salvation is a person, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; 14:6; Acts 10:43; 16:31). He says that whoever believes that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead and confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord is saved. He says that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom. 10:9-13). Have you done this? Have you believed in Christ and confessed openly that He is your Lord? Have you called on His name? If so, you are really saved. God says so. That settles it.
2. The Holy Spirit Bears Witness:

     Not only do we have God's Word outside us telling us we are saved, we also have a witness inside us, telling us the the very same thing. What the Bible speaks to us from without, the Spirit confirms within. First John 5:10 says, "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has the truth that God told us. Anyone who does not believe makes God a liar, because that person does believe what God told us about his Son."
     Sometimes, after we have received Christ, we may not feel saved. Nevertheless, if we check within the deepest part our being, with our spirit, we will find a kind of inner witness, an assurance, that we are children of God. "The Spirit Himself witnesses with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16). If you doubt that you have this inner witness of the Spirit, try this simple experiment: try declaring boldly, "I am not a child of God!" You will find it very difficult to even whisper such falsehood. Why? Because the Holy Spirit within you bears witness, "You are a child of God!"

3. Our Love for the Brothers Is Proof:

     The third means of assurance is our love for other brothers and sisters in Christ. First John 3:14 says, "We know we have left death and have come into life because we love each other. Whoever does not love is still dead." A saved person undoubtedly senses a kind of love for others who are also saved. You sense a desire to fellowship, to enjoy Christ with others. This is the spontaneous result of being saved, one of the clearest signs of a saved person. This love transcends the cheap, selfish "love" of today's age. It is a love that is impartial--it loves those who are alike and those who are different. This is the real oneness and harmony the world longs for. Yet it is ours when we receive Christ. "It is good and pleasant when God's people live together in peace!" (Psa. 133:1). This is the testimony of a saved person. 
     By these three witnesses--God's Word, the Spirit's inner witness, and our love for the brothers--we may know and be sure that we are really saved.

Your Thoughts Run Your Life

To listen to our vocabulary you'd think we are the victims of our thoughts. "Don't talk to me," we say. "I'm in a bad mood." As if a mood were a place to which we were assigned rather than an emotion we permit.
Or we say, "Don't mess with her. She has a bad disposition." Is a disposition something we "have"? Like a cold or the flu? Are we the victims of the emotional bacteria of the season? Or do we have a choice?
Paul says we do: "We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Do you hear some battlefield jargon in that passage-"capture every thought," "make it give up" and "obey Christ"? You get the impression that we are soldiers and the thoughts are the enemies. Our assignment is to protect the boat and refuse entrance to trashy thoughts. The minute they appear on the dock we go into action. "This heart belongs to God," we declare, "and you aren't getting on board until you change your allegiance."
Selfishness, step back! Envy, get lost! Find another boat, Anger! You aren't allowed on this ship. Capturing thoughts is serious business.
It was for Jesus. Remember the thoughts that came his way courtesy of the mouth of Peter? Jesus had just prophesied his death, burial, and resurrection, but Peter couldn't bear the thought of it. "Peter took Jesus aside and told him not to talk like that....Jesus said to Peter, 'Go away from me Satan! You are not helping me! You don't care about the things of God, but only about the things people think are important' " (Matthew 16:22,23).
See the decisiveness of Jesus? A trashy thought comes his way. He is tempted to entertain it. A cross-less life would be nice. But what does he do? He stands at the gangplank of the dock and says, "Get away from me." As if to say, "You are not allowed to enter my mind." 

 What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind? What if you took the counsel of Solomon: "Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life" (Proverbs 4:23). (From A Love Worth Giving by Max Lucado)

The Mystery of Human Life

Have you ever wondered why you are living in this world and what the purpose of your life is? There are six keys that unlock this mystery.

1. God's Plan: God desires to express Himself through man (Rom. 8:29). For this purpose, He created man in His own image (Gen. 1:26). Just as a glove is made in the image of a hand to contain a hand, so also man is made in the image of God to contain God. By receiving God as his content, man can express God (2 Cor. 4:7).

2. Man: To fulfill His plan, God made man as a vessel (Rom. 9:21-24). This vessel has three parts: body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23). The body contacts and receives the things of the physical realm. The soul, the mental faculty, contacts and receives the things of the psychological realm. And the human spirit, the innermost part of man, was made to contact and receive God Himself (John 4:24). Man was created not merely to contain food in his stomach, or to contain knowledge in his mind, but to contain God in his spirit (Eph. 5:18).

3. Man's Fall: But before man could receive God as life into his spirit, sin entered into him (Rom. 5:12). Sin deadened his spirit (Eph. 2:1), made him an enemy of God in his mind (Col. 1:21), and transmuted his body into sinful flesh (Gen. 6:3; Rom. 6:12). Thus, sin damaged all three parts of man, alienating him from God. In this condition, man could not receive God.

4. Christ's Redemption for God's Dispensing: Nevertheless, man's fall did not deter God from fulfilling His original plan. In order to accomplish His plan, God gave His son Jesus Christ to us, to die for our sins. Christ died on the cross to redeem man. (Eph. 1:7), thus taking away his sin (John 1:29) and bringing him back to God (Eph. 2:13). Finally, in resurrection, Christ became the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b) so that he could dispense his unsearchably rich life into man's spirit (John 20:22; 3:6).
 
5. Man's Regeneration: Since Christ has become the life-giving Spirit, man can now receive God's life into his spirit. The Bible calls this regeneration (1Pet. 1:3; John 3:3). To receive this life, man needs to repent to God and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 16:31).

6. God's Full Salvation: After regeneration, a believer needs to be baptized (Mark 16:16). Then God begins the lifelong process of gradually spreading Himself as life from the believer's spirit into his soul (Eph. 3:17). This process called transformation (Rom. 12:2), requires human cooperation (Phil. 2:12). The believer cooperates by allowing the Lord to spread into his soul until all desires, thoughts, and decisions become one with those of Christ. Finally, at Christ's return, God will fully saturate the believer's body with his life. This is called glorification (Phil. 3:21). Thus, instead of being empty and damaged in each part, this man is filled and saturated with the life of God. This is God's full salvation! Such a man now expresses God, fulfilling God's plan! After receiving this life a believer needs to attend Christian meetings in order to be nourished and supplied by the life of God that he may grow and mature in this life. In fellowship with other believers in the Body of Christ a believer can enjoy the riches of the presence of Christ.

Day 12 Too Good to Be True

Have you ever wondered...

• If you can lose your salvation?
• If you have to repent over and over again?

Read: John 10:27-29; Romans 8:38-39

Some things just seem too good to be true. For you, heaven might be one of those things--unattainable and out of reach. Maybe you feel like you could never be good enough to deserve going there. The Bible, however, tries to erase that insecurity from your mind. These two verses shout, "Don't worry everybody, God has got you!" Once we yield our lives to him, God holds us with his strong arm. He never lets go of us, no matter what. It's not our job to keep our souls from slipping outside of heaven's bounds--it's God's! He is the ultimate protector who grips our souls for eternity.

Having surrendered yourself to God, your salvation is a done deal. Your prayer is signed, sealed, and delivered straight to God. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done." The Bible reassures you that at the moment of your repentance, you became God's child. Nothing you can do will change God's mind.

And this is the boldness we have in God's presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him     (1 John 5:14-15)

For a more in-depth study, read: 1 John 1:5-2:5