Posts Tagged ‘ Christ ’
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV
All it takes is faith, believing God came in the flesh, lived a sinless life, died on a cross for the forgiveness of sins, and rose again bodily from the dead.
Believe in Jesus, and be saved.
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:3-5, ESV
The prophets of old promised the coming Messiah, who has come and will come again.
Prepare the way of the Lord!
This originally posted five years ago (and then again two years ago with the longer ending found here) but sometimes it is good remembering some things!
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It is the first week of Advent!
Advent is a time to remember our Lord’s first coming as we look forward to His imminent return.
So, let us prepare hearts for encountering the Lord!
“If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor. But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.”
Job 11:13-20, ESV
In the passage today, Job’s friend Zophar is offering his friendly advice. May we remember that the only way these words are true is if we turn to the Lord and let Him make us clean and righteous!
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Psalm 27:14
Preparing our hearts requires waiting patiently for God. We cannot hurry Him.
Patience leads to peace, because we have a hope found only in God as revealed in Christ and through Scripture.
Then we can more fully turn to Him!
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21, ESV
If the Antichrist was in front of you, dying of thirst and starvation, would you help?
We help others for God’s glory. He does not need our help defending Himself or the Church.
Simply do good.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:17, ESV
Jesus first came to bring us salvation. Turn to Him and believe in His death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
Otherwise, we remain condemned and face judgment at His return.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
1 Chronicles 16:34, ESV
God’s love is enough reason to be thankful everyday.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psalm 100:4, ESV
Always give thanks to God, for everything all the time, praising Him for His love and good works.
It is the fastest route to God’s heart.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV
Do not try to do it all. Do not worry about your weaknesses and faults. Do not believe God will heal everything in this life.
God likes shaming the “wisdom” of this world for His glory through our failings. He likes showing His power through us.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
Proverbs 13:20, ESV
Wanting to learn and become wise leads to wisdom. Even of you only have foolish friends while trying to be wise, you will suffer for their decisions. If you purposely choose foolish friends, you brought it on yourself.
Choose Christ and His Church.
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 John 3:16, ESV
Our highest calling in life is to build the Church to the glory of God, and that can mean sacrificing everything for the Church.
a simple man of God 