Archive for the ‘ Jesus ’ Category
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing
Matthew 6:3, ESV
Seeking God will lead us to want to help others the same way Christ helped us, not so much to bring attention to ourselves but to glorify God, to bring others to faith and salvation.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:2, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
We live in a dark world.
Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve broke the one command of God that should have been the easiest: “Don’t eat this fruit.”
Yes, sin means missing the mark, falling short, turning away from God.
Sin is ultimately separation. We are born separated from God because of our super-great grandparents, yet we also choose to remain separated by our own choices.
We live behind a veil that blocks His light, and that veil is too heavy to remove ourselves.
It is as if we blocked out the sun to stop it’s heat, and then we climbed into a steep cave, falling to the bottom, unable to climb back out let alone remove the barrier between us and God.
Yes, we still live in a darkened world full of sin and separation, but God has lifted the veil over us. As we go into this world, the people will see the light streaming through us from above.
May we seek to be that light as we take Him into this dark world.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10, ESV
Let us give thanks to God for every opportunity we get to serve others, especially within our family in Christ: the Church.
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Mark 16:15, ESV
Let us be thankful, not only for our salvation, but that our Lord has given us a purpose: to lead others in our world to salvation in Christ.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17, ESV
Good wants us to bring heaven to earth, and He gives us blessings and gifts to accomplish this mission (not for ourselves).
And He doesn’t change.
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:6, ESV
We can feel self-righteous when we see others messing up and sinning, or we can find ways to justify sin. Love, however, obeys God and rejoices when we do well and right.
“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10, ESV
Even knowing nothing in this world is eternal, we still live like certain things will always be. Even when the world crashes down around us, we can know God is eternal and His love, peace, and compassion will always be with us, those who call on Him.
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”
John 7:37-38, ESV
We long for peace and fellowship, and when we believe in Christ, His Holy Spirit flows through us, giving us inner peace and peace with God and others.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
John 5:24, ESV
We like to think we are basically good, but we have inherent sin that separates us from God and has us under His judgment.
If we believe the truth of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as our only means of salvation, then we are saved.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7, ESV
We like to think we know enough or can figure everything out ourselves, but if we don’t start with God, knowing He has a standard that we fail to meet without Him, we are fools. Yet God can make us wise and loving if we trust in Him.
a simple man of God 