Bath Time...

Scripture:
Psalm 119:9-16
Ephesians 1:9-14

There have been a few weekends when our little girls will color all over themselves with markers.  You would think having only washable markers wouldn’t be so bad.  There was one time when they painted themselves so thoroughly with blue and purple markers it didn’t come completely out.  Nancy scrubbed them at bath time but when they got out they had black, blue and purple markers smudged over their arms and legs.  It looked like a parent’s nightmare the night before church…

Our lives are the same way.  We have sinned and are stained.  No matter how many good works we do to cleanse ourselves we cannot come clean.  It is only through the righteousness of Christ that we can be cleansed.  2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV): “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  It is through Jesus and only by His cleansing can we be made clean.  Even though we are made righteous we still need to follow God’s will.  We still need to hold His word deep in our hearts.  Psalm 119:1-11 (NIV)

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
they do no wrong
but follow his ways.
You have laid down precepts
that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.

What else can be said…  Keep the faith, burry deep His word in your heart, follow Christ with all you are…

The Law

Scripture:
John 1:6-13
Galatians 3:10-13, 21-24

Rules of the road affect every driver everywhere.  The laws can change from state to state.  One example is that in Illinois you do not need to wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle.  However, in Georgia you do.  If you are unfamiliar with the laws you could find yourself breaking them without even realizing it.  Every street and highway has a speed limit.  Very few people actually observe these limits.  In doing so you are breaking the law.  In some form or fashion each one of us is probably guilty of breaking some law somewhere. 

In the Old Testament we are given the Ten Commandments.  These laws were given to us as God’s standard for us to follow.  The problem is that we cannot keep all ten laws completely 100% of the time through our entire life.  Just one infraction is a sin.  One time of disrespecting our parents or one little white lie that cannot hurt anyone condemns you.  It doesn’t matter which law is broken it is still sin.  The wages of sin is death.  Just one sin in your life means death, separation from God for all eternity.  Everybody is guilty of something.  Nobody can escape this life without feeling the effects of sin.

There is only one person to ever live and be perfectly sinless.  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  It is through Him that we have redemption and salvation.  John 3:16-17 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Christ did not come to remove the laws.  He came to fulfill the laws so that we might have salvation through His atoning death and resurrection.  Jesus bore the sins of the world so that any who call upon Him will be saved.  Ask yourself what am I guilty of today?  Then ask for forgiveness.  Your sins shall be forgiven through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior…

Are You Focused?

Scripture:
Psalm 131
Luke 9:61-62

I remember one of the first garden’s Nancy did after we moved into our house.  I borrowed a tiller from my mom’s uncle.  As I went up and down the rows it plowed through the dirt breaking it up.  If I didn’t keep my focus on what I was doing the tiller would wander off in one direction or the other.  I had to keep my eyes focused on what was ahead.  I had to give my full attention to the task at hand unless I wanted a broken up mess in the garden.

Jesus is telling us we must keep our focus one hundred percent on Him.  If we are not completely focused and dedicated to Him we can end up in a spiritual mess.  We become in effective in our duties to Christ.  As the saying goes, “Let the dead bury themselves…”  Let us focus on winning souls for Christ.  Let us focus on the tasks and duties that Jesus gave us to do.  We need to put one hundred percent into our faith, into our work for Christ.  The best thing of all is knowing when we mess up Jesus is there.  He is with us in all things.  He will help us in our tasks.  He will always forgive us.  Let us put our attention on Christ.   We need to put Him first in all we do.  Let us go in peace for He is with us…

When the Unplanned Happens...

Scripture:
Acts 16:9-31

A couple of years ago I was at a conference for work.  It took me away from home for a couple of nights.  My boss informed us that there was a get together in the hotel.  He was planning on going and inquired if we were.  I remember that I didn’t really feel like going.  I would have preferred to walk around outside or even retire early to my room.  Instead I went upstairs to the gathering.  I met a few people and enjoyed some small talk.  The best part was meeting someone who has become a very dear friend of mine.  Looking back I can see all the events that took place to bring us together.  Some people might say it was just coincidence.  We know better.  God brought us to that place at the same time for a purpose.

Even though it may not seem like it at the time God has a plan for you when the unexpected happens.  He might bring you to a place you hadn’t thought of going.  Events happen that you just didn’t plan on or want to be a part of.  In these moments we can get upset or discouraged or we can find God in them.  In the end you just never know whose life you might touch and change.  You never know who might come along and change your life.  Just remember God has a plan even if we can’t see it.  So when unexpected things happens look for God.  Seek Him through it and you never know what will happen…