2 Cor 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
It's the day after Christmas. And the world sure emphasizes the word "after". It's time to turn the carols off that everyone is sick of since they have been playing since October. Its time for the after Christmas sales. Its time to start thinking of New Years. What ever happened to the 12 days of Christmas?
Someone had shared with me that they wondered why they hadn't received a card from me yet. This was still 3 days before Christmas! It was as if I was late in their minds. The urgency of now really matters when it comes to Christmas. Get the shopping done! Get the cards done! Get the baking done! And get it all done now! Try this experiment- say Merry Christmas to someone in the next couple of days and see how they react. Yes, the world is ready to pack it all up and go on to the next thing. We've waited for the Savior to be born and now that He has arrived we're exhausted. Can't we enjoy His birth for a couple of days? Maybe I'll still send a card this week or even blog a Christmas message for Project 52!
The Scripture tells us that the only urgency in life is the urgency of knowing Jesus as your personal Savior. You have no idea if you will be around to celebrate the New Year. You also do not know if this coming year will be the year that your life ends. Are you ready? Now is the day of salvation!
Just think what it would be like if the same urgency to be ready for Christmas was placed on being ready to die? Again, are you ready? Don't let another day go by. Seek Him out like the wise men. Go to Bethlehem like the shepherds. Receive the One who has already been looking for you and who loves you enough to come and die on a cross for you so that you could be forgiven and ready for heaven.
I'm not worrying about what I did or didn't get done this Christmas. Or even what I have or don't have this Christmas because I have the Savior, therefore I have everything! Its time to share that Gift with others because NOW is the day of salvation!
In Christ,
Pastor John
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Maybe It's the Seventh Day!?
Joshua 6:3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
For those familiar with some of the basic stories of the Bible, the story of Joshua has to rank near the top. AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN! This was the best part of the story. Kids love it and adults are still amazed how Joshua with the power of God conquered the city of Jericho. He did not do it with normal military strategy. He did it by following the command of God. The command is in the above verse- march around the city once and do this for six days.
I wonder what the city thought? I wonder what Joshua's army was thinking? March? Did they feel silly? Were they made fun of? In the VeggieTale's version of this story the "Peas" are throwing slushies at the army as they make fun of their daily march. But the people keep marching. I wonder if they grew weary on the third day? I wonder if on the fifth day they were thinking, "this is crazy." I wonder if on the sixth day they felt like idiots wondering how a city can be taken by marching around it.
On the Seventh day God gave different orders: march around the city 7 times with the priest blowing trumpets. And they did and with a shout the walls came tumbling down! The city had been taken. The people had obeyed.
At Project 52 we like to talk about how God has a plan for each of us. You might not know it but the plan includes a great victory for those who know and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Personally when I think about God's plan for my life I sometimes grow impatient as I wait. When I see nothing happening (like walls still up) I wonder if I can continue to march. What I often forget is that it might only be the third or fifth day of God's plan.
Or get this, it might even be the seventh day but I have only marched around the city for the fifth time! Only 2 to go! I would like to encourage you today in your walk with the Lord. DON'T GIVE UP! Whatever it is that you are waiting for, whatever tragedy that you are trying to work through remember that it might be the seventh day- in other words, victory is just around the corner. Soon we will look upon all our enemies, whether people or things, and we will rejoice that the walls have come down! The key is to wait upon the Lord and to obey.
The gift this season is victory, soon, very soon, walls will come tumbling down!!!
In Christ,
Pastor John
For those familiar with some of the basic stories of the Bible, the story of Joshua has to rank near the top. AND THE WALLS CAME TUMBLING DOWN! This was the best part of the story. Kids love it and adults are still amazed how Joshua with the power of God conquered the city of Jericho. He did not do it with normal military strategy. He did it by following the command of God. The command is in the above verse- march around the city once and do this for six days.
I wonder what the city thought? I wonder what Joshua's army was thinking? March? Did they feel silly? Were they made fun of? In the VeggieTale's version of this story the "Peas" are throwing slushies at the army as they make fun of their daily march. But the people keep marching. I wonder if they grew weary on the third day? I wonder if on the fifth day they were thinking, "this is crazy." I wonder if on the sixth day they felt like idiots wondering how a city can be taken by marching around it.
On the Seventh day God gave different orders: march around the city 7 times with the priest blowing trumpets. And they did and with a shout the walls came tumbling down! The city had been taken. The people had obeyed.
At Project 52 we like to talk about how God has a plan for each of us. You might not know it but the plan includes a great victory for those who know and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Personally when I think about God's plan for my life I sometimes grow impatient as I wait. When I see nothing happening (like walls still up) I wonder if I can continue to march. What I often forget is that it might only be the third or fifth day of God's plan.
Or get this, it might even be the seventh day but I have only marched around the city for the fifth time! Only 2 to go! I would like to encourage you today in your walk with the Lord. DON'T GIVE UP! Whatever it is that you are waiting for, whatever tragedy that you are trying to work through remember that it might be the seventh day- in other words, victory is just around the corner. Soon we will look upon all our enemies, whether people or things, and we will rejoice that the walls have come down! The key is to wait upon the Lord and to obey.
The gift this season is victory, soon, very soon, walls will come tumbling down!!!
In Christ,
Pastor John
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