Pass the Salt!!!

"Ye are the salt of the earth."(Matthew 5:13)

Salt does many things.  It seasons.  It heals.  Salt purifies and preserves.  Dr. Vance Havner once said that salt also irritates.  That is it smarts, it causes a sting.  True Christians who are really putting Christ first in their lives are out of step with the world, for they are walking in the steps of Jesus Christ.  The Christlike life will rub the world the wrong way, but that is alright.  Jesus said: "The World hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."  Righteous living is a rebuke to this world, and the world resents anything or anyone that exposes its corruption and sinfulness.  Let's be salty Christians.  Our influence makes all the difference in a lost and dying world.  Spread a little salt all around!

Seeking God's Will!!!

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Seeking out and finding God's Will for one's life is often a long process.  Often times we feel that we need to help God out in the process and get ahead of Him.  That always proves to be the wrong thing to do.  Dr. Kenneth Ridings, former president of Fruitland Bible Institute, once said that 'he had been in the perfect will of God a few times, but he had found it to be a slippery place.'   One of my professors in school, Rev. Jerry Hyder, once shared in chapel eight ways to find God's Will for one's life.  I'm sure we could add to the list, but Bro. Jerry's list is very thought provoking.
1. Be Obedient.
2. Spend quality time with God.
3. Be teachable in your attitude.
4. Don't be afraid to try new things.
5. Get busy with what you already know to do.
6. Remember it is a process.
7. Resist the temptation to compare yourself with others.
8. God will provide.

I have sought to follow these steps over the years and have found them to be very helpful.  My prayer is each of us will seek God's Will over our own will.  It can indeed be a "slippery place" at times.

Where will You spend Eternity???

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in Heaven.  But, whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in Heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Are we ashamed of Jesus?  Are we afraid to publicly adknowledge Him?  We shouldn't be.  If we won't confess Him before men(people), He won't adknowledge us to "The Heavenly Father."  Those who deny Christ on earth won't make it to Heaven.  You say why should I publicly acknowledge Christ to be my personal Savior?  Because that is what Christ said we are to do.  Have you been putting off accepting Christ as your personal Savior?  Don't wait a moment longer!  We never know what tomorrow will hold.  But as a child of God we know "The God" who holds all of our tomorrows.  Those who want to follow Christ should publicly profess Him to be their Savior, follow His example, and be baptized.  They then should unite with a local, Bible believing church.  Then we are to serve HIM faithfully all the days of our lives.  That takes committment.  Heaven awaits those who trust Christ.  A fiery Hell awaits those who reject HIM!  The choice is ours.  Where will we spend eternity? 

"Who will go and work Today?"

"Ye shall be witnesses unto me........" (Acts 1:8)

There are several callings listed in God's Word.  Among them are Pastor-Teachers, and Evangelists.  However, we are all called to be His witnesses to a lost and dying world.  Every believer in the early church was a missionary.  They were all spreading the "Good News."  That is our calling today as well.  How will they hear the "Gospel Message" unless we tell them?  It is a joint effort.  Each of us working together can accomplish much for God's Kingdom.  Lets get off the sidelines and out of our comfort zones and go out into the highways and byways and compel them to come to Jesus.  Lets remember Jesus charge to us, "Ye shall be witnesses unto me."

Love is a many Splendored thing!!

"Love never fails...............And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:8,13)

Valentine's Day is upon us.  During this time many express their love to their spouse or sweetheart.  Everyone wants to know they are appreciated and loved.  There is an old saying that "love makes the world go round."  Our scripture tells us that "Love never fails."  Truly love can overcome many things.  The "Love of God" is the greatest love of all, for it is offered to all humankind.  All who accept Christ as Savior can experience this love.  The gospel song says: "His love is a boundless love and it reaches down and touches me."  I'm thankful to have family, friends, and a church that loves me!  Most of all, I'm thankful for the Love of God.  Aren't you?

Profound Truth:  Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!!!

"Preaching the Cross!!!"

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness." (1 Corinthians 1:18)

There are more religions today in the world than at any other time in all of history.  Yet religion never saved anyone from the fires of Hell.  Only Jesus Christ and His Blood can save us.  Few preachers or churches are true to God's Word anymore.  They have itching ears.  They want to be "politically correct."  Their desire is to be entertained rather than be enlightened with the inerrant Word of God.  Christ must remain our focus, and the preaching of the cross must forever be our message.  Lets never settle for the watered down theology of our day.  We will all give an account one day as to what we did or did not do with the message of "The Cross."  What we do with "The Cross of Jesus Christ" will determine where we will spend eternity.  Are we ready to meet "The Lord?"

Life Verse:  "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and
                    Him crucified." (1Corinthians 2:2)

The Lord is Good All the Time!!!

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knoweth them that trust Him." (Nahum 1:7)

I like the phrase many use today:  "God is good all the time."  Just turn on the television or read the headlines and there is rarely anything good mentioned.  But "The Lord is good."  Our scripture says: "He is a stronghold in the day of trouble."  Truly these are trying times for many of us.  But Christians can not live in constant fear and still expect to enjoy all the blessings of "The Lord."  When calamity and adversity strike us, and they will, we must remember that we are not alone in the battle.  God is with us!  HE knows those that trust in Him and will never forsake them, though we fail Him miserably at times.  Are we bewildered?  Trust God!  Are we stressed?  Trust the God of all peace and understanding.  Have we lost our way?  Jesus, like a shepherd will guide us, if we only trust HIM!  Remember, "The Lord is good all the time." 

Shouting Time!!!!

"O clap your hands, all ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triump."(Psalm 47:1)

There will likely be a lot of cheering and jeering as people watch the Super Bowl.  Most of us get quite excited when our favorite team is winning.  Often times we get beside ourselves.  Rarely does one see that same level of enthusiasm for "The Lord's Work."  It shouldn't be that way.  For HE is worthy of our praise.  Being a child of God is a wonderful thing and we should share that excitement with a lost and dying world.  Afterall we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.  This should make us "shout unto God with the voice of triumph."

Action Point:  Get all excited, go tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King!!!