Grace and Kindess Is For All

Scripture:

Ephesians 4:1-7 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Devotional:

Reading verse two I thought of my kids.  It seems I am always saying to them to show kindness or grace to each other.  Something is said, and another will snap back at them.  Most of the time it seems that what I am saying falls on deaf ears.  As I think about it I wonder if that is how God feels?  He tells us in His word to be kind and gentle.  We are to show love and compassion.  However, we still snap, fight, hold grudges, and hate.  The reasons vary but the results are the same.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine this.  What if ALL Christians everywhere started doing this?  What if we all showed kindness, gentleness, love, and most of all GRACE to everyone? It doesn’t matter what they do or who they are.  Reread verse seven again.  “But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.”  That is right, the grace Christ gives is for everyone not just those we think it should go to, thank God for that…  Back to my thought though, can you imagine the effects and changes we would have on the world if we as Christians showed unconditional love to everyone no matter who they are, no matter what they do, no matter their chosen life style, or path?  Families would change, neighborhoods would be different, and communities would be effected.  Most of all Countries would be become better places to live, regardless of the country or where it is located.

Jesus did not die on the cross just for you.  He did not die on the cross just for me.  He died for that person we cannot stand.  He died for that person we choose to hate.  He also died for that other person…

If Christ loves them, just as much as He loves you and me.  Therefore we should we try to do the same?  No, it is not easy.  In fact it can be very hard.  The good news is we do not have to do it alone.  We have each other but most importantly, we have the Holy Spirit…  You want others to love you, me too.  You, me too, want to be shown kindness and grace.  Therefore, WE NEED to do the same to others no matter how we feel…

Blessing God...

Scripture: Psalm 103:1-2 (ESV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Devotional:

Bless the Lord…  We often asked to be blessed, we also ask for blessings for others.  But what does it mean to bless the Lord? 

Let us start by translating Bless from Hebrew.  According to the site Ancient-Hebrew.org the verb barak means to neal.  When it is written in the piel form it means to show respect.  Berakhah means a gift or present. (http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/vocabulary_definitions_bless.html)  Looking up bless the Lord on Google retrieves dozens of sites to give us the answer. 

Pause a moment to think about what you think bless the Lord means…  Before looking anything up I thought it simply meant to praise and honor God.  After looking it up, I realized I needed to add a few more words to my definition.

What does it mean to bless the Lord?  To honor Him, to praise and worship Him.  Adding to this we honor God not only with words but also with the attitude of our hearts.  Just to say it is just lip service and has no meaning.  It is what is in our hearts and attitude is what matters.  DesiringGod.org says this.  “It means to speak well of his greatness and goodness — and really mean it from the depths of your soul.” (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-it-means-to-bless-the-lord)

Bless God with the attitude of your heart, with our words, by praising and worshiping Him.  Join me in raising the level in which we “Bless the Lord…”

It's Time to Let Jesus In...

Scripture:

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

Devotional:

This morning I went to www.biblegateway.com and the verse of the day was Isaiah 7:14.  The first thought that came to my mind after reading that simple verse was God’s love.  God loves each one of us individually so much that He gave of Himself.  Jesus, who is God, came to earth as a little baby.  He lived as a child.  He grew up into a man who shaped and changed the world.

Jesus’s love for just you is so great that He would still be born to ultimately suffer and die so that you can be saved.  It amazes me that even for one person, no matter who they are or what they did, or do, Jesus would still be born, live, die, and rise up from the grave.

Let me ask you a question or two.  Whom do you love?  Who is it that you would do it all over again just for that one person?  What group of people would you do still do it?  It is true that our love is not as great as God’s, but if you take your love for that person or group and multiply it tenfold you still would not match God’s love.  His love is not just for one or two people.  God loves each person that much.

This Christmas think about how your love compares to God’s love.  We certainly fall short.  However, through the Holy Spirit we can love others who in our eyes are unlovable.  We can care for those around us.  Is the spirit of Christmas in you this year?  Are you full of love and compassion?  This Christmas what is in your heart?  Maybe it’s time we all let Jesus in…

Not Deserving...

Scripture:1Timothy 1:12-16 (ESV)

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Devotional:

Throughout my life there have been many times I have questioned my own faith.  I think who am I, and why would God save me.  I definitely do not deserve it.   Then I read something Paul writes.  Throughout all his writings, Paul is faithful.  However, this was not always the case.  In fact, Paul starts out persecuting Christians and putting them to death.

So what happened?  How did Paul come to change his ways.  It was not anything he did.  It was not his strength or will.  Are you asking what happened?  Simply put Jesus showed up.  Paul became faithful for the rest of his life, even unto death.

Jesus did show up.  He was born a baby.  He lived life here on earth.  He suffered a horrible death.  He rose from the dead victorious over sin and death.  The best part is that is not the end of the story.  Jesus is still showing up today.  The Holy Spirit is at work all around.  Jesus came not for a few but for everyone.  Jesus is waiting for us to welcome Him in.  He wants to be part of our lives.  The fact is anyone can be saved.  Jesus did not come for a select few.  He desperately wants each one of us to believe.  Romans 3:23-24 (ESV) “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”  Yes that means every single one of us has sinned.  Every single one of us deserves death, separation from God for all eternity.  Jesus offers redemption for us all.  His death and resurrection paid our debts.  Romans 6:23 (ESV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Even though we do not deserve it, we are given life.  The most precious thing we could ever gain is freely given.  I think that single thought gives people the most trouble.  We place a price tag on everything.  The more valuable the higher it costs.  Therefore, something free must not be of great value.  Something free has to have strings attached.   The truth is there was and is a price for our salvation.  It cost a man his life.  He was severely beaten.  He was nailed to a cross and suffered a painful humiliating death.  Why did he do it?  You might find it hard to believe, but He did it because He loves YOU. 

Paul is a great example for us.  He would be one of the last people we would think God would redeem and use.  God chose Paul.  Paul accepted and devoted his life to Christ.  He did not deserve it, but he did receive it.  What about you?