Here we are with less than 40 minutes left in the year 2009. So much happened in 2009 and it was certainly a year that was characterized as a year of change. What will 2010 hold for us in the near future?
As I've thought over what changes I would like to make in my own life in 2010 I believe that my prayer life needs to be considered. As a pastor of a church I realize that I ought to be on my knees much more than I am currently. Also I need to learn to pray for my enemies. In recent days I have become very irritated with those that oppose my beliefs from God's Word. Why I'm irritated I don't understand because God's Word already tells me that world hates my Savior. So I ought to be proud to be one that is considered "arrogant and bigoted" in this world as I stand up for my Savior.
Lord, teach me to pray for those that stand against me. I'm reminded of the passage in Luke where as your Son Jesus Christ hung upon the cross he said, "Father, forgive them for them know not what they do." Although we are the enemies of the cross, Christ chose to ask God to forgive us. What an act of mercy and grace from the cross over 2,000 years ago. If he was willing to pray for me, may I be bold and willing to pray for my enemies as well.
Becoming Flesh
What an amazing and yet most humbling thing that our Savior did that night over 2,000 years ago. It is during the Christmas season, that we remember all that Jesus Christ did specifically for us, and for the entire world that night so long ago. How does one describe the awesomeness of our God who came to earth and took on flesh so that he might be our personal Savior?
With what do we have to rejoice and praise him with, in gratitude and exaltation in return? He has done so much for us, and yet we the recipients of his everlasting and unconditional love treat his many blessings with the same attitude that we have when we receive a birthday card without any money inside! Why do we take his love for granted? We don't take the love of our children or spouses for granted? We are constantly working on those relationships, but when was the last time that we can say that we worked on our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ? As a familiar old southern gospel song asks, "When was the last time you spent the night on your knees?"
Why is it that often times our Bibles become coffee table decorations, and dust collectors? If any book ever needed to have a dust jacket made for it, it should be our Bibles! God's Word the Bible is a love letter from God himself to all of humanity, and within its pages are verses and passages that describe this love that he has for us. John 3:16, John 15:13, and 1 John 4:10 are just several excellent examples, but often times we reduce the wonderful gospel of Christ down to a list of do nots, consequences and punishments if we fail to not uphold God's Word. Rather than focus on the negatives, let us this Christmas season look upon the blessings and love of God's Word! God gives us Hope, God gives us Love, God gives us Joy, and he is the giver of peace! Why not chose to focus on the blessings, which we will reap for all eternity, rather than the consequences which we will only have for a season? The Lord chastises those he loves.
I John 4:19 "We love Him, because He first loved us."
With what do we have to rejoice and praise him with, in gratitude and exaltation in return? He has done so much for us, and yet we the recipients of his everlasting and unconditional love treat his many blessings with the same attitude that we have when we receive a birthday card without any money inside! Why do we take his love for granted? We don't take the love of our children or spouses for granted? We are constantly working on those relationships, but when was the last time that we can say that we worked on our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ? As a familiar old southern gospel song asks, "When was the last time you spent the night on your knees?"
Why is it that often times our Bibles become coffee table decorations, and dust collectors? If any book ever needed to have a dust jacket made for it, it should be our Bibles! God's Word the Bible is a love letter from God himself to all of humanity, and within its pages are verses and passages that describe this love that he has for us. John 3:16, John 15:13, and 1 John 4:10 are just several excellent examples, but often times we reduce the wonderful gospel of Christ down to a list of do nots, consequences and punishments if we fail to not uphold God's Word. Rather than focus on the negatives, let us this Christmas season look upon the blessings and love of God's Word! God gives us Hope, God gives us Love, God gives us Joy, and he is the giver of peace! Why not chose to focus on the blessings, which we will reap for all eternity, rather than the consequences which we will only have for a season? The Lord chastises those he loves.
I John 4:19 "We love Him, because He first loved us."
The Eyes Of God
The Bible tells us that the eyes of God go "to and fro" (2 Chronicles 16:9) throughout the earth, and I am so thankful that even though his eyes go "to and fro" that he still watches out for me. Just as his eye is on the Sparrow, I know he's watching me.
Imagine a world where our God said that he wasn't watching us. Imagine a world where he never promised to "...never leave us nor forsake us". Imagine if everything in this world was up to pure luck, where evolution was the source of our creation, where there is no afterlife, where there is no promise of provision, etc... What type of world would that be where we would be living without purpose, without reason for being"? I'm so thankful that those things are all wrong, and that we do have a God loves us and has promised us provision (Phil 4:19) , his presence (Heb. 13:5), his protection (Psalm 62), his providence (Matthew 26:42), and eternal presences (Matthew 28:20).
Imagine a world where our God said that he wasn't watching us. Imagine a world where he never promised to "...never leave us nor forsake us". Imagine if everything in this world was up to pure luck, where evolution was the source of our creation, where there is no afterlife, where there is no promise of provision, etc... What type of world would that be where we would be living without purpose, without reason for being"? I'm so thankful that those things are all wrong, and that we do have a God loves us and has promised us provision (Phil 4:19) , his presence (Heb. 13:5), his protection (Psalm 62), his providence (Matthew 26:42), and eternal presences (Matthew 28:20).