The Precious Lamb

John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus comming unto him,and saith, Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."

Look what God did to secure forgiveness for us once and for all.To insure we would have the right relationship with him. It starts with Jesus' execution. He was lifted up in the same way that the snake was lifted up on a pole in Moses' day so that the people could look upon it and be forgiven for their sins. Jesus allowed his flesh to be crushed, ripped and torn that He might fulfill His God-given mission to bring redemption to the world.

Jesus mission was to remove the sins off the backs of men and put them on His own. He took upon himself the punishment we deserved for our sins, and he suffered on behalf of us. He endured the excruciating pain of His execution knowing that his death would result in spiritual restoration, for those who put their trust in him. Like a lamb being led to slaughter, he yeilded to His fate without resistance. He was the lamb of God who continues to take away the sins of the world. Jesus was God's sacrificial lamb, a lamb slaughtered on the altar as an atoning sacrifice. He was the scapegoat, the one who separates sin from the sinner, so God can look at us sinners and see us as sinless. Jesus took on the sins of all mankind and was sacrificed on our behalf, God's demand for justice was satisfied.

Now He sits at the right hand of God, where he intercedes on the behalf of all believers. What was needed to purchase redemption for man was done through Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross, where he bore our iniquities,  and poured his life out unto death to secure forgiveness."behold the love of God! 

In Spite Of

Exodus 34:6 "And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."

The sun rose today on a largely selfish, wicked humanity. God's gifts of life, strength, provision and salvation were freely doled out. Laughter and enjoyment flowed, flowers bloomed and birds soared. And these are just a few of the demonstrations of God's steadfast love, His faithfulness, and His longsuffering for his creation. It rains on the just and the unjust.
Nothing we will experience on earth can compare to the "mountain top" experience of Moses as he talked to God and experienced his glory. As God passed near Moses again, He emphasized His love and forgiveness.Through their worship of the golden calf and the activities that followed, the Israelites broke many of the commandments they had recently received and promised to obey. In response, the Lord told Moses of his love and capacity to forgive wickedness, rebellion and sin.That was extremely good news for the people who needed His forgiveness and restoration. God is still expressing that capacity today, for all who seek him.

Look around you, see the evidence of God's faithfulness and goodness, His mercy and His patience. Feel the clothes on your back, and the bible in your hand. Now reflect back on your week. Whether it seemed a good or a bad week, know that God was there with you. We might be tempted to think that the people of Israel were an especially challenging group of people. But we're stubborn and stiff-necked people too! We take God's goodness for granted so often, but what would we do without God's abiding presence?

Be Not Decieved

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves".

There are many who use the gospel of Jesus Christ for their own personal gain. They dress up God's word not to convict and convert, but for the sole purpose of self elevation and pushing a personal agenda. These wolves look like sheep, but instead of feeding the flock, they feast off the flock, deceiving and destroying many along the way.

Jesus here warns us to beware of those who come in the name of the Lord, but not in the way of the Lord. They feed the lust and desires of the flesh, leading many on the downward road of destruction. Their message is one which make you feel good in your sins, instead of making you feel bad about your sin. They often put on great shows of entertainment, but there is very little, if any substance in the message they proclaim. They contain just enough truth to deceive one into believing their lies, which aids in the progress of their agendas and self promotion.

We can't get so self righteous that we began to believe that we are perfect and above the need for any correction, reproof or rebuking with the word of God, by the man of God. It is only because of the love God has for us that He warns us when we are going the wrong way. His will is that none shall perish. Don't tune out that word of correction, embrace it and thank God that He cares and corrects those He loves.

Humble Heart-Prosperious Life

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and fear of the Lord are riches, and honor and life".

Many seek to be in a position to prosper. But what does it mean to prosper? What is prosperity? Is it the gain of worldly treasures? The bible teaches us that friendship of this world is enemy to God. It also tells us contentment with God is great gain. So what is prosperity and how does one truly prosper?

Well scripture tells us when we are humble and fear the Lord, in that lies riches, honor and life. When you realize the Lord truly as your shepherd, knowing He will supply all of your needs. When you acknowledge Him in all of your ways and let Him direct your paths. When you delight yourself in the law of the Lord meditating on His word day and night you will be like a tree planted by a river of water, and what ever you do will prosper. Your prosperity will be in your obedience to the Lord as your walk will bring Him glory. Your humility will allow a lost world to see the light of the Lord shining in you and they will glorify the Lord in heaven. Your fear or respect of the Lord will be seen in how you love those that He died for, as you present your body a living sacrifice, esteeming others needs higher than your own, knowing the Lord will take care of you as you seek after the lost.

If you truly want to prosper, and have life, humble yourself in reverence to the power of the Lord, and let Him work through you. Remember He will withhold no good thing from those who are His.

The Word Sent

Acts 13:26 "Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham,and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent".

Salvation is a big deal and describes the whole life of the true believer. They feel the need of being saved from self, sin, Satan and the world. They trust in God for preservation, and the end there of is eternal rest and peace in the bosom of the Father. The prosperous sinner is on another track, and comes to another conclusion: he disowns all need of salvation, and considers his success to be of his own winning. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the end of the wicked shall be cut off. God is not with the unrighteous; they have neither safety, nor strength, nor salvation in their time of trouble.

What is the word of this salvation? It is the testimony that Jesus is the promised Savior. The word which promises forgiveness to all who exhibit repentance of sin, and have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In a word, it is the proclamation of perfect salvation, through the risen Savior. It is a word, as being spoken by God, and as being his present utterance even at this moment. It is a word which reveals "the word", Jesus the living word of God. It is a word of salvation; for it declares, describes, presents and presses home salvation. It is a word sent, for the Gospel dispensation is a mission of mercy from God, the gospel message, Jesus the Messiah, and the Holy Ghost himself is sent to work salvation among men. Will you decidedly and honestly refuse it? Will you delay and put off your acceptance of this Free gift? Will you play the hypocrite and pretend to receive it, while in your heart you reject it. Will you be a temporary convert, or will you accept the word of salvation with delight?

We have an invitation. Let us exercise our freedom, we can choose or reject the plan of salvation set before us. Be sure of that you know by personal observation and experience, and let your decision be based on unquestionable knowledge. Decide for your self, but let it be done with much prayer and spiritual thought, for you decision is for an eternity.

Unbelievable Love

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross".

Years ago, a man walked the earth and revealed a life so unique it became the central point in human history. A man, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of sinful  men that He might save man.

Though He was human and divine, the Son of Man had nothing in the natural that would have attracted others to him. Yet in just three years, He healed the sick, fed the poor, ministered to the brokenhearted, cast out evil spirits, brought sight to the blind, raised the dead, and gave hope to the hopeless. His message was radical, and His love, unparalleled. Prostitutes, politicians, beggars, and kings all were the same to Him, and equally deserving of love. It wasn't a matter of their worthiness, no it was simply because God, being the very definition of Love, could do no less. We who profess to be His are to do no less. He told us to live simply, to give generously, and to love unconditionally.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13), Jesus told His disciples. We need to remind ourselves that in those terrible hours Jesus hung on the cross, it was all about love. We can't comprehend that kind of all consuming, all-powerful Love, but we can spend the rest of our lives living in wholehearted response to it.

Love Offering

John 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."

Love ; the most powerful of all emotions, it has been the focal point and topic of a many movies, books, songs, plays,and poems over the years.Love is the one thing you can't live without. It is also the one thing to where there is no defense, you can't stop love ,there is no end to love, and there is no containing love.You can't kill,destroy or hurt love. True love is not just a word it is in fact THE WORD.

God so loved, He didn't just love He so loved.He so love that His love was a giving love, as He gave His only begotten Son. He so loved that His love was merciful as it forgives all who accepts His love. His love has power, when man's hatred hung Jesus on the cross, it was God's love that kept Him there . His love is alive, and it gives life. The very nature of  His love shows action. God's love does things, it tears down walls of division, because it's destructive, and it rebuilds lives because it's also constructive. It  makes things happen, it goes places and takes you places. God so loved that His love changes things, changing a sinner into a saint. His love is caring, and it providing. It helps you, it serves you and suffers for you. God so loved that His love is a sacrificial love. God so loved and His love is present in every good deed, and is the very power behind the forgiveness of every bad deed. His love is permanent, everything else comes and goes, but God's love is everlasting. It believes well of others, and when it can't believe well of others, it begins to hope for the best in everything,  and will continue to hope as long as there is hope.

God freely offers this love to all who will accept it,. Will you accept this love?