"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Go tell it to everyone . . . everywhere . . . that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born on this earth so that he could die to pay for our sins. Not his sins, but ours. After the weight of this burden, I'm sure the weight of the cross itself felt like nothing. But it was really something!
As we come up to the month of our Easter celebrations, we are constantly reminded of Jesus' great gift to us all. Even with all the commercialization of the Easter holiday, we still hold a debt of gratitude to God for the gift of his son. We also owe Jesus for his great gift.
We Christians are blessed beyond ordinary belief! To you, Jesus, and to God, the father, we give our heartfelt thanks.
Shall we pay a little less attention to the Easter bunny and a little more to our salvation as we enter the Easter season?
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Forgiveness
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." Mark 2:10
Jesus was healing a man of palsy. His friends had broken open a roof to let the man down for the healing. Jesus said to the man that his sins were forgiven.
Some of the Scribes were on the scene and questioned why Jesus said this. They thought that only God could forgive sin. They accused him of blasphemy.
Jesus assured them that on earth he, the Son of Man, had the power to forgive. As proof, he told the man to stand, pick up his bed and go home. The man did as instructed.
This also was an example of how forgiveness, though it may not immediately heal our palsy, etc., surely can heal our hearts and souls.
Modern Christians tend to believe that if we confess to an offence or error, and claim it as a sin, we can be forgiven if we ask for it.
Jesus has power on earth to heal and forgive. Why don't we take advantage of this gift from God through Christ more often?
Jesus was healing a man of palsy. His friends had broken open a roof to let the man down for the healing. Jesus said to the man that his sins were forgiven.
Some of the Scribes were on the scene and questioned why Jesus said this. They thought that only God could forgive sin. They accused him of blasphemy.
Jesus assured them that on earth he, the Son of Man, had the power to forgive. As proof, he told the man to stand, pick up his bed and go home. The man did as instructed.
This also was an example of how forgiveness, though it may not immediately heal our palsy, etc., surely can heal our hearts and souls.
Modern Christians tend to believe that if we confess to an offence or error, and claim it as a sin, we can be forgiven if we ask for it.
Jesus has power on earth to heal and forgive. Why don't we take advantage of this gift from God through Christ more often?
Saturday, March 1, 2014
The Spirit Will Speak For You
Matthew 10:19-20 "But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
I fancy that it is every Christian speaker's wish or prayer that the Father will use him/her as a vessel to share God's will with others. Why else would anyone want to do Christian work, if not to be God's disciple?
Here, Jesus was instructing his disciples in how to behave as they ministered to others. He felt it was important for them to know that if they fell victim to arrest for preaching the gospel, God would speak for them. They didn't have to grope for what to say.
How marvelous it would be if everyone who shares God's word with others would ask for the Father's help in saying what is needed. That way, no needs would be left to chance. God's will would be automatically spoken.
I fancy that it is every Christian speaker's wish or prayer that the Father will use him/her as a vessel to share God's will with others. Why else would anyone want to do Christian work, if not to be God's disciple?
Here, Jesus was instructing his disciples in how to behave as they ministered to others. He felt it was important for them to know that if they fell victim to arrest for preaching the gospel, God would speak for them. They didn't have to grope for what to say.
How marvelous it would be if everyone who shares God's word with others would ask for the Father's help in saying what is needed. That way, no needs would be left to chance. God's will would be automatically spoken.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)