Repent I say again Repent...

Scripture 

Acts 2:38-39

Philippians 1:1-11

John the Baptist preached repentance.  He foretold of the coming of Christ.  In Acts we are told to repent and be baptized.  Jesus himself as an example was baptized.  In our great commission Jesus tells us to baptize others.  Matthew 28:18-20 

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Prior to Jesus people were baptized after repenting from their sins.  Jesus came and was baptized. Matthew 3:13-15:

 ¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

 ¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

For several years I struggled with being baptized.  I was baptized as an infant and felt it was enough.  Baptism is not in any part a part of salvation.  If baptism was necessary to be saved then we would have works that saves us.  Then it is no longer necessary for the death and resurrection of Christ to save us.  Baptism has no part of salvation in us.  It is however the symbol of our new life in Christ.  

Jesus was himself baptized.  Jesus tells us to baptize others.  He is not only the ultimate example but given us direction.  As Christians we must repent of our sins.  We must seek a new life in Christ dying to our old ways of life.  Our baptism is our symbol of our new life in Christ.  Let us remember that we are new creations in life when we accept Christ as our Saviour.  Repentance is not just a one time deal.  Even in our new lives we will still make mistakes.  We wills till continue to sin.  Our lives will not be made perfect until we are received into heaven.  Until then we need to continually repent.  Let our baptisms remind us that we need to repent that we are made new in Christ... 

A Touch And A Hug

Scripture:

Leviticus 19:9-15

Matthew 19:13-15

There is nothing sweeter than a hug or snuggle from my two year old daughter.  I just love the way she lays her little head on my shoulder and hugs me.  When my seven year old was younger she would climb in bed with us in the morning and just snuggle up with me.  Also to hear little feet come running up as you come home being greeted with a hug is the best home coming I can get.  

We all love the feel of the touch from a friend or loved one.  There is something special and comforting in a loving embrace or touch.  How much greater is the touch from Jesus.  He touches our hearts and lives.  He gives us His loving embrace.  In Matthew 19:15 "After laying His hands on them, He departed from there."  Jesus touched the children before departing.  He always touched those He healed.  Sometimes there was a physical touch.  Always a touch in the heart.

Can you feel the touch of Jesus?  Is His touch given to others through you?  Remember the next time you give a hug it just might be the hug Jesus gives that person.  Our embrace might be the comfort Christ gives to someone else. We all feel good when we give or receive a loving hug.  Just a touch of the hand can bring volumes of comfort. 

Let Us Grow Together...

Scripture:
Isaiah 43:1-13

1 Corinthians 13:9-13

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As I read today's devotionals I kept thinking of Megan, my 14 year old soon to be 15.  As I reflect on the past I remember playing with her and her younger brother Aaron.  I remember laying on the couch when is was a new born with her in my arms asleep.  Now I look at this wonderful teenager who is full of life and growing everyday.  

She didn't turn into a teenager over night.  She hasn't all of a sudden grown up into an adult.  Time has passed and she has slowly grown and matured.  I watched as her playing shifted from childhood to teen stuff.  Now she loves puppets, dogs, and horses.  

Why do we expect to be saved and then completely mature Christians?  God doesn't think we should go from infant to adult over night.  We cannot sit idle and let life slip by drinking only proverbial milk.  We do have to grow and mature as Christians.  We just do not have to do so over night.  God uses many trials and events in our lives to shape and mold us.  Our choices are used to help us grow.  God doesn't cause hardships to befall us.  However, He will use them to help us grow and trust in Him.  It doesn't happen over night but we do grow.

Let us walk in our faith and grow from infant to toddler on up to mature Christians together...

Love...

Scripture:

John 15:9-17

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

It is so easy to hate.  It is so easy to strike out at others.  We can do so without thought or any care.  Yet when it comes to love we falter and stumble.  In 1 Corinthians we are told without love all else is meaningless.  In John 15:17 Jesus give us his command to love one another. "This is my command: Love each other."

Love should come easily and naturally.  Love needs to be the very center of who we are.  A relationship with a spouse or our children will fail and end bitterly without love.  In A Christmas Carol Scrooge lives his life without the love of others.  As a boy he grew up not feeling a father's love.  As an adult he foolishly lets go of the love a woman has for him.  He then spends the rest of his life alone and bitter.  At least until the three spirits visit him.  Scrooge is then given another chance.  He finds love in a child and through his nephew. 

Jesus is waiting to share His love with us.  His love is a perfect love and one we are to imitate.  However since we are not perfect we will make mistakes and that is when we have to remember 1 Corinthians 13:4-8:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

If we keep the love of Christ in us and strive to follow what love truly is we will live as Christ would have us live.  We will be a bit kinder and more forgiving.  We will be understanding and gentle.  With love we can look past the shortcomings of others.  With love others can look past our faults and mistakes...