May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better. As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
2nd Peter 1:2-4
In the King James Version, verse 2 reads, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you…”
Thus our topic for today … the math of God.
The grace and peace of God begins at the Cross. When you trust Jesus for your salvation, identify your sin condition with His sacrificial death, you have all the grace you need to go to heaven. You can also have the peace of mind to know that your eternity is secure.
The Apostle Peter, in describing the math of God, tells us that grace and peace can be multiplied as we “come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better.” We do that in the same way we get to know any person or topic better. The more you spend time with a person, the better you get to know them. The more you study a subject (reading, researching, and digging for the truth), the better you are able to effectively share that subject with others. The more you listen to that person, the better you will understand the message they are speaking to you.
If we apply all these (special time, study, meditation) to our spiritual life in Christ, our grace and peace will be multiplied.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
THE SECRET IS OUT
God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people. For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.
Colossians 1:25-27
By God’s plan, for a time there were things within the Jewish faith; the Old Testament; the foundation of the Christian religion; which were kept secret. In the temple, again at God’s direction, there were worship practices conducted behind the veil and only the priests were allowed to enter the Holy Place. When the time was right, God sent His Son Jesus, the Messiah, to save mankind from sin condition and pay the sin debt. When He was crucified on Calvary’s Cross, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. Access to the Holy Place was forever revealed to all, Jew or Gentile, who would trust in Jesus. Through Jesus we have access to the LORD God Almighty. There are no longer any veils or secrets which keep any man or woman from the throne of grace.
The secret is out. “For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.”
Prayer Request: Please pray for the pilgrims who will attend the upcoming Walks to Emmaus in Central Mississippi. The men’s Walk #73 will be this weekend (Feb. 16-19) and the women’s Walk #74 will be next weekend (Feb. 23-26). Also pray for the team members who will be serving on these walks. Click on http://www.centralmsemmaus.org for more information.
Colossians 1:25-27
By God’s plan, for a time there were things within the Jewish faith; the Old Testament; the foundation of the Christian religion; which were kept secret. In the temple, again at God’s direction, there were worship practices conducted behind the veil and only the priests were allowed to enter the Holy Place. When the time was right, God sent His Son Jesus, the Messiah, to save mankind from sin condition and pay the sin debt. When He was crucified on Calvary’s Cross, the veil in the temple was rent from top to bottom. Access to the Holy Place was forever revealed to all, Jew or Gentile, who would trust in Jesus. Through Jesus we have access to the LORD God Almighty. There are no longer any veils or secrets which keep any man or woman from the throne of grace.
The secret is out. “For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory.”
Prayer Request: Please pray for the pilgrims who will attend the upcoming Walks to Emmaus in Central Mississippi. The men’s Walk #73 will be this weekend (Feb. 16-19) and the women’s Walk #74 will be next weekend (Feb. 23-26). Also pray for the team members who will be serving on these walks. Click on http://www.centralmsemmaus.org for more information.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
GOD'S VALENTINE
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.
John 3:16
Valentine’s Day is a day when we express love to each other. It may be expressed (on different levels of course) between spouses or co-workers. It could be a family member or a casual acquaintance. Maybe it is a classmate or a life-long best friend. Whoever it is, this day will be filled with expressions of happiness, companionship, friendship, relationship, joy and love. Just maybe this Gospel Pearl will remind you of someone who you want to make one of these expressions to … someone who really needs to hear a word of love today.
God sent His Valentine to us over 2000 years ago. He sent His Son to die on the cross because He loved us. God’s desire is that you and I will return that expression of love to Him by placing our faith in Him; believing that His Son died on the cross for our sin; confessing our sin and believing that Jesus is the One who paid our sin debt; trusting Jesus as the only way to reconciliation with the Father; and being reconciled to one another.
Have you sent your Valentine to God? It only takes a prayer.
John 3:16
Valentine’s Day is a day when we express love to each other. It may be expressed (on different levels of course) between spouses or co-workers. It could be a family member or a casual acquaintance. Maybe it is a classmate or a life-long best friend. Whoever it is, this day will be filled with expressions of happiness, companionship, friendship, relationship, joy and love. Just maybe this Gospel Pearl will remind you of someone who you want to make one of these expressions to … someone who really needs to hear a word of love today.
God sent His Valentine to us over 2000 years ago. He sent His Son to die on the cross because He loved us. God’s desire is that you and I will return that expression of love to Him by placing our faith in Him; believing that His Son died on the cross for our sin; confessing our sin and believing that Jesus is the One who paid our sin debt; trusting Jesus as the only way to reconciliation with the Father; and being reconciled to one another.
Have you sent your Valentine to God? It only takes a prayer.
Monday, February 13, 2006
HEALING RELATIONSHIPS
So put away all falsehood and “tell your neighbor the truth” because we belong to each other. And “don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil… Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:25-27, 31-32
Mending a broken bone is relatively straightforward. If it is a minor break (a hairline fracture), protected and left alone, it may heal itself. If there is a major break the care of a doctor is required. After the bone is properly set, placed in a cast and given time, the break will heal.
It is not always so straightforward with a broken relationship. Even for the most minor offenses, hardly ever will leaving the situation alone truly repair the relationship. Communication, talking through the situation without “bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander”, is required.
For those severely broken relationships, the care of the Divine Physician is required. For the break to be properly set, His Word is the pattern. His Spirit is the cast which can hold your relationship together, while you allow time for your injury to heal. Placing your faith in the Divine Physician, there is no break which He cannot heal, in His time.
Ephesians 4:25-27, 31-32
Mending a broken bone is relatively straightforward. If it is a minor break (a hairline fracture), protected and left alone, it may heal itself. If there is a major break the care of a doctor is required. After the bone is properly set, placed in a cast and given time, the break will heal.
It is not always so straightforward with a broken relationship. Even for the most minor offenses, hardly ever will leaving the situation alone truly repair the relationship. Communication, talking through the situation without “bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander”, is required.
For those severely broken relationships, the care of the Divine Physician is required. For the break to be properly set, His Word is the pattern. His Spirit is the cast which can hold your relationship together, while you allow time for your injury to heal. Placing your faith in the Divine Physician, there is no break which He cannot heal, in His time.
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