Archive for the ‘ Religion ’ Category
and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
Hebrews 10:24, NASB
One of the reasons we gather as the Church is to encourage each other in doing good things for others, as Christ did for us.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
John 15:2, NASB
Not all who call themselves Christians truly are. We can put on a good show, but God knows our hearts, and He judges our actions, or lack thereof.
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
1 John 5:14, NASB
God may give us things we ask for out of selfish desire, but as we draw closer to Him we will find our desires matching up ever more with His. Then God will always grant us our requests, because we want the same thing.
On this day 19 years ago, at 6:46 PM CST, I bent my knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior. (If you do a search on this site for “birthday”, you will see the various explanations.)
I like to call it my Re-Birthday, as we call faith in Christ being born again. This comes from John 3 and 1 Peter 1.
Something that excites me this year is that my Re-Birthday falls on Wednesday, which means I get to teach the youth about our Lord today!
Also, it is my mother-in-law’s birthday, so join me in wishing her a happy and blessed day! If not for her, I would not have my wife!
God bless you, and remember that Jesus Christ is the reason we live and move and breathe and have meaning!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV
In Christ, you start over. “Born again” means your soul is cleaned and renewed, and God is changing the way you think, feel, and act.
You are no longer the old you. Walk in the new.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:13-14, ESV
Some teach angelic beings do not sing, or at least not anymore, since The Fall.
Is it too much to think they may have at the birth of the Son of God?
Regardless, they worship Jesus. May we join with them!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16, ESV
Do not be intimidated with sharing the gospel or that you believe.
You should be ready to explain why you believe, but it is okay (as a young Christian, at least) to admit you are not entirely sure of all of the reasons.
Just share how you came to faith.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14, ESV
Your love and service for God in the name of Christ should make it evident you are a Christian.
Sure, not everyone you ever meet will know, but those you meet regularly probably should be able to tell by your life.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16, ESV
Our love for each other, care for others, and commitment to Christ will show people who He is, and they can only give glory to God if they are saved.
That means God uses you to reach the lost.
Continuing our journey through the songs and hymns that have had an impact on my spiritual life, we now turn to another of those famous Christmas carols.
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.O Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing all that hear in heaven God’s holy word.
Give to our Father glory in the Highest;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.
In all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be too easy to forget to stop and worship our King.
We must remember that this is a time of joy. Our Savior has come!
Some may get caught up in the materialism. Get past it.
Some may get caught up in the idea that angles do not sing. I like what some teach, that they did sing at Creation (Job 38:7) but stopped singing at the Fall. However, perhaps they did sing at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:13-14), for God joined His Creation to save sinful humanity.
Regardless, let us come together and adore our Savior and King!
a simple man of God 