Saturday, February 3, 2024

The Perfect Person

 When we are young we look at people and desire to be like someone we admire. As we grow older we see that they are not perfect, but flawed. If we have suffered some hurt, we do not hold onto it; we forgive the person. We should want the best for them or their memory. All this requires that God be in our heart. God loves us and wants us to be like his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one we desire to be like. He is the perfect person. He also forgives our sins as we are to forgive others. We cannot continue and grow in grace and favor without God.


The story of Joseph shows us how to forgive.


Gen 50:15  When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 

Gen 50:16  So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 

Gen 50:17  ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 

Gen 50:18  His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 

Gen 50:19  But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 

Gen 50:20  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 

Gen 50:21  So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. 



Saturday, December 2, 2023

Sound the Trumpet

 Act 20:26  Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 

Act 20:27  for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 


The wisdom and truth of God are given in the Bible. The Old Testament and the New Testament speak of the dealings of God with his people.  Man's wisdom cannot compare to the wisdom of God who created all things. In the Old Testament it speaks of a watchman.  If he sees the enemy coming he is to sound the trumpet. If he remains quiet, then the blood of those killed will be on his hands.


Eze 33:4  then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 

Eze 33:5  He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 

Eze 33:6  But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman's hand. 

Eze 33:7  “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 


It is the responsability of the church and the people of God to warn of these enemies.  Where are the enemies among us? Have they come through our open borders? Are they in government, and schools? The enemies of our souls are spiritual.God is a spirit and is greater than all. Come to God through Jesus, His son who has shed his innocent blood for our sin and shame. His blood has defeated our enemies.

 

Friday, December 1, 2023

No Bad


Eph 4:29  When you talk, don't say anything bad. But say the good things that people need—whatever will help them grow stronger. Then what you say will be a blessing to those who hear you. 


People who have been hurt often seek to hurt other people. They deserve it?  Really, do we know another persons motives or experiences?  Let God search your heart and show you what troubles you, then give it all to God. Accept the love of God through Jesus who came to take away your sins and guilt. Be the person that God created you to be. 


Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 



Tuesday, September 26, 2023

Healing of a Deaf Man

Jesus healed in many different ways. In this story he heals a deaf man.


Mar 7:31  Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 

Mar 7:32  And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 


Who were they who brought the man to Jesus?  They were people who cared about the deaf man and who had heard that Jesus healed all who came to him.


Mar 7:33  And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 


Taking him aside from the crowd, perhaps many  had unbelief or were just looking for a reason to accuse Jesus to the jealous religious leaders. This was a private manner. Would we want a crowd watching us when brought to a doctor? He placed his fingers in the deaf ears of the man and spit, perhaps applying spit to the stammering tongue.


Mar 7:34  And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 


Jesus looked up to heaven. He always did his father's will. God is our healer and life giver. Jesus spoke "be opened" a command from the giver of life and health.


Mar 7:35  And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 


A miracle of God; perfect hearing and clear speech. 


I am reminded of Moses making excuses to the LORD who was calling him to speak before the Pharaoh in Egypt. He humbly said that he was slow of speech. 


Exo 4:10  But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 

Exo 4:11  Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 


God made us and he has a reason. Some he heals while others may be given a handicap.  God has a purpose and a reason for all people.  If he calls you to a task he will give you the abiliy to fulfill it.  God cares about us, he heals and encourages us. When he saw that we were lost and separated from God, he sent his son Jesus to die in our place and to give all who believe in him eternal life. We may be someone who can pray for anothers healing. Pray and let God hear your concerns. He will respond according to his will.


Tuesday, September 19, 2023

A Rebellious People

People look for fulfillment in the wrong places. They may blame others for their unhappiness, but really we are all somewhat rebellious, seeking our own way. We like friends who agree with us, even when we know that it is wrong. All have struggles in this life. Look to your creator, the creator of heaven and earth. Have we given him any thanks. Do we seek our way through him?


 Isa 30:8  And now, go, write it before them on a tablet and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever. 

Isa 30:9  For they are a rebellious people, lying children, children unwilling to hear the instruction of the LORD; 

Isa 30:10  who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions, 

Isa 30:11  leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.” 


In some of the largest churches the leaders have become worldly people pleasers. They write books about being successful in the world while neglecting the things of God. All this world will be left behind. Is your soul ready for eternity?


John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 



Monday, September 18, 2023

The Cornerstone

People are searching for meaning to life. They are searching for real truth, not your truth or my truth, but real eternal truth. If we build our lives on lies, then we have a false security. 


Isa 28:15  You have said, "We have made an agreement with death. We have a contract with death. So we will not be punished. Punishment will pass us without hurting us. We will hide behind our tricks and lies." 

Isa 28:16  Because of these things, the Lord GOD says, "I will put a rock—a cornerstone—in the ground in Zion. This will be a very precious stone. Everything will be built on this very important rock. Anyone who trusts in that rock will not be disappointed. 

Isa 28:17  "Workers use a string and weight to show their work is straight and true. I will use justice as the string and goodness as the weight when I lay that foundation. But your safe places were built on lies. So they will be destroyed and washed away when the troubles come against you like hail storms and floods.


Jesus is our rock that we build our lives upon. Learn of his justice, his goodness and his love for you. He makes all things new. We need him now and forever.


Friday, September 15, 2023

Cold Reception

Mar 6:2  And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 

Mar 6:3  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 

Mar 6:4  And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 

Mar 6:5  And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 


Usually the first born son was given more honor and received the most encouragment.  Imagine how the family of Jesus could have misunderstood this son of Mary and son of God who had no sins.  Humans often gossip and see things wrong. There may have been jealousy and social unacceptance, especially when Jesus began his ministry at age thirty. He was thought to be a carpenter or builder.  What do people say of us when we follow God? He's got religion?  Jesus has more than religion, he is God the Son and he would be about his heavenly father's business. 


Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 


In spite of their unbelief, Jesus healed a few people.


Rom 5:6  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die 

Rom 5:8  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


Jesus deserves all honor and praise. Give him your respect. Believe in him and he will give you a new life and purpose.