Christ Born in Us

Mary gave birth to the Son of God by the Holy Spirit. The angel said to Mary, "You have found favor with God," and she responded, "I am the Lord's servant."

Each of us has also found favor with God because He loved us so much He sent His only Son to redeem us from our sin to a forever life with Him. When we accept that He did that for us personally, our response to the love He lavishes on us will be to carry His Son in our hearts and take the good news of salvation to the ends of the earth. Like Mary, we deliver Christ with our own set of gifts, talents and resources.

Prayer
Lord, here I am. Send me--only with your help, for I cannot hope to do this on my own. Expand the boundaries of my ministry so more people will come to experience your amazing love. Amen.

Where is Your Treasure?

I asked a couple of young men who came to my door if they knew whether or not they were going to Heaven. They said they thought so--because they were good. I told them they could be sure because the Bible says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." The young men reminded me of the rich young man who came to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him [the rich young man] and loved him. He had asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.

"Keep the law," Jesus said. He meant the Ten Commandments.

"I've kept these since I was a boy," the young man said. But the law couldn't save him or anyone else. Jesus knew that.

He said, "One thing you lack. Go and sell everything you have and give to the poor. You will have treasure in heaven," Mark 10:21. If he did this, he would be dependent on God, not his wealth. While he thought he was good and religious, he actually failed on the first of the commandments, to love God with all his heart. His wealth was his god and he walked away sad, not willing to give up earthly treasure for eternity's gain.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life."

Application
What about you? Is something keeping you from knowing the love of Jesus? Maybe it's not wealth or possessions. Maybe it's a relationship or a compulsive nature. We live in a world of sin and it will touch us one way or another. Jesus died for these things and by believing this, we inherit eternal life with God. Whatever is holding you back, you can surrender it to Jesus and experience His amazing love. I can't promise you a life on easy street. That's not something God promised. However, He promised He would always be with us, that He would never leave or forsake us. I know this to be true. Nearly twenty one years ago I surrendered myself to God and although my life hasn't been void of problems, I have found a treasure in knowing He is always with me.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, I am praying for those reading this post, that you would help them trust you and nothing or no one else. Amen.

Mercy or Judgement-Luke 7:36-48

A sinful woman followed Jesus into the Pharisee's house. As she wept, her tears fell on Jesus' feet and she wiped them with her hair. She poured perfume on them and kissed them. The Pharisee thought to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner," Luke 7:39.

Knowing the Pharisee's thoughts, Jesus said, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a lender--one 500 denarii and the other 50. Neither could pay their debts so the lender canceled what they owed. Which of them will love him more?"

Simon said, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

Jesus said he was right. Then He looked at Simon and said, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house but you gave me no water for my feet. She wet my feet with her tears. You did not greet me with a customary kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she poured perfume on my feet. Her sins are forgiven for she loved much. Yet he who has been forgiven little loves little," Luke 7:44-48.

It is easy for us to judge people as Simon did, but Jesus showed mercy. Because I am forgiven of much, as the woman in this story, and know God's love, I want others to know His love and forgiveness too. Do you know God's love, my friend? If not, say His name, surrender your soul to Him, and you will never be the same. His amazing love will change you, and He will give you a new heart.

Sneak Preview

Have you wondered what the end times will be like? God gives many clues in the Bible. Have you noticed the similarities in the book of Exodus and the book of Revelation? In Exodus, God's people had been in slavery for over 400 years in Egypt when He sent Moses to the Pharaoh to say, "The God of Israel says 'Let my people go!'"

"Who is this God?" asked the king. He didn't know and he didn't care. God destroyed him and all of Egypt.  He used every one of the ten plagues against the gods of Egypt and all who worshiped them. The gods had eyes that couldn't see, ears that couldn't hear and mouths that couldn't speak. They had no power to fight against the one true God of Israel.

Life on earth changes through the ages, but God never changes. Our gods may not be made of wood or stone, but if they separate us from a relationship with God, we can be sure that we will not survive the coming destruction. God rescued His people before the flood of Noah's time and before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of Egypt.

It may appear that our God is judgemental and unmerciful. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He lovingly created us in His image. We are the only beings on earth that have the abilities to choose and create and control. Yet He made us for His pleasure and for relationship with Him. He knew we might choose our ways over His, so He made a way for us to change that and spend eternity with Him. That was through His Son whom He sacrificed on the cross to redeem us from our sin. Jesus did that willingly because He could see the treasure on the other side of the suffering--all of us together in God's kingdom.

Have you accepted God's amazing love? If so, you have a great hope in heaven, eternity with a God who loves you more than you can imagine. If you haven't, you can say His name now. Don't put it off. No one knows how much time we have left, but God is waiting for the last person who will surrender to Him. That is awesome and merciful. Maybe that person is you. Say yes to God's love today. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is waiting at the door of your heart, (Revelation 3:20).

When you say His name, simply pray this prayer: Thank you God for loving me. I'm sorry I haven't lived my life pleasing to you, but I want to change that today. Come into my heart and help me live for you. Amen.

Come to the Water

Whoever is thirsty, Come to the water, take the free gift of the water of life, (Revelation 22:17 NIV). I hope you'll take the link to Tenth Avenue North's YouTube video and song to experience God's amazing love.

Time and again the Bible refers to water as an image of God's love. Did you know that under Memphis, Tennessee there is a huge aquifer (spring) that holds billions of gallons of water 1000 feet under ground? It is inexhaustible for the people in Memphis. Think of Jesus as the living water that springs up into our lives to overflowing. We cannot possibly hold God's love inside us. It overflows to those around us as we learn to love as He loves.

Have you expereienced God's amazing love? If not, my friend, I am praying for you. Say His name and you will know His presence. I have been without His love, and I never want to experience that again. No one has to because God knocks at the door of our hearts, waiting for us to invite Him in. Will you do that today?