- Tuesday, 3/3/20 15
characteristics of Christ to appreciate, praise, and emulate: 12) He knew and
experienced the full range of emotions: Isaiah
53:3ab, He is despised and rejected
of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. He understands all of
our humanity...understand another’s.
Ezra 7:10, For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. God’s hand was on this man because of his actions. We can only control ourselves, but we CAN control ourselves. Our hearts are OUR responsibility: if it’s hard, it’s MY fault. If it’s cold, it’s MY fault. If it’s tender, it’s MY fault. So, honesty time: are you more tender toward the things of God now over last year? More submissive? Quicker to admit fault and seek forgiveness? Quicker to forgive? More ready to respond to the preaching at church? It’s YOUR fault.
- Wednesday, 3/4/20 15 characteristics of Christ to appreciate, praise, and emulate: 13) He is just plain sweet: Psalm 103:8, The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. Revelation 22:17c, And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Notice that the water of life (access to Heaven) to totally FREE. It is not something that we earn via a good life or sincere effort, it is simply the reception of a gift that was completely purchased for us. Jesus paid all that we owe, which is a death sentence due to our sinful nature and ways. All we must do is quit trusting anything else and simply rely upon what He did. Have you? If you have any questions, please contact me. He’s done all He can do to get us to Heaven: the final step is up to you and you alone. If you go to Heaven, you’ll do it on purpose; if you go to Hell, it’ll be by neglect, procrastination, or willful refusal to trust only Him.
- Thursday, 3/5/20 15 characteristics of Christ to appreciate, praise, and emulate: 14) He does get angry, but gets over it, Psalm 103:9, He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. We all have anger issues: are you addressing yours? Revelation 1:20, The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. A reminder that the Lord holds His pastors in His hand and walks in the midst of His churches. He is very able to discipline His men, so we ought to be rather slow to criticize and throw stones at “the obvious sin in THAT church” or with “THAT man.” If laws have been broken, use the legal system. If it’s not your church, not your arena...basically, we need to shut up and pray. Far too many people get all up in arms and automatically believe what someone else said...the Devil is the author of confusion and the sowing of dissention. Pray more than post.
- Friday, 3/6/20 15 characteristics of Christ to appreciate, praise, and emulate: 15) He errs on the side of mercy, Psalm 103:10, He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. On whom have you rained judgment without any mercy? How can you fix it? Psalm 62:1, Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. This verse is a statement by the psalmist to others about his inner condition. 62:5, My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. This is a statement by the psalmist to himself encouraging himself. We absolutely must spend some time keeping ourselves right. If we fall, who’s going to encourage those in our sphere of influence?
- Saturday, 3/7/20 15 characteristics of Christ to appreciate, praise, and emulate (bonus): 16) He took the blame (physically and in reputation) for another. Romans 15:3, For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. Psalm 62:2, He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be GREATLY moved. 62:6, He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. Bro. Hyles preached a sermon from these two verses entitled, “Doubt it: tell it. Believe it: yell it.” Act on what faith you have right now...and that action will produce more faith, and a more solid faith. Keep on telling the “old, old story.”
- Sunday, 3/8/20 Psalm 65:1a, Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion. Remember that we will do a LOT of exalting God’s character in Heaven. So start today. Men, get more verbal in church. YES!! Say more than you have in the past. Ladies, raise your hand in praise today and say a soft, “Amen.” Try it: the walls will NOT crumble around you. Let Pastor know you’re on His side (& his side too.) Proverbs 1:10, My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. In our society, someone else is always to blame...and you do it, I do it, all of the time. We’ve been contaminated with the “It’s not my fault...” philosophy. However, regardless of what society says, sin, in your life and mine, is ALL our fault. Say no; unfriend; turn off; detour; be alone...DO WHATEVER IT TAKES!! Be ye holy cuz He is holy, and cuz He ordered you to be holy.
- Monday, 3/9/20 Revelation 2:4, Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. It’s a delicate balance: on the one hand, we must revel in our forgiveness and how good God has been to us, but on the other hand, we must deal with our current level of sin. Do both...today. Romans 14:13, Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. Each of us need to honestly examine ourselves to see if we callously do this. “Well, I have a right to do thus-n-so...!! They need to control themselves!!” Yes, you do and they should...but God says we’re to care for our brother, and not throw banana peels in front of them as they walk.
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