salvation

He Never Played it Safe

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It is much safer to be feared than to be loved” Machiavelli

I am so glad that our Lord Jesus never played it safe. For His delivery room He chose the manger not the palace. As a man He touched lepers and was friends with notorious sinners. At the end of His life He traveled to Jerusalem even though He knew that there He would be arrested and beaten. As He ate His final meal He shared bread and wine with Judas all the while knowing He would be betrayed. He chose not to call on angels or men to defend Him and accepted the shame and agony of the cross. Thank God that our courageous Savior didn’t play it safe with His life. This Christmas we should remember as we exchange small gifts that He gave dangerously so that we could remain forever safe in His arms.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. Luke 23:34 NKJV

God’s Service Department

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If you have worked in the service department of any store you know that returns can be a challenge. People lose their receipts or bring in things that are just worn out with age. Worse yet some try returning items that came from another store. All of this takes time and patience and tempers sometimes flare. But no matter what the problem, the goal is to restore confidence and put things back in their rightful place.

Today’s scripture talks about a different kind of returning. We are the ones who need to be returned to where we belong. We have forgotten where home is and spiritually speaking have lost our receipt. But nothing can prevent God from restoring us. We can be accepted whether we are worn out, broken or even purchased at another store. God is in the business of returns so don’t even think of giving up. Right now He is willing to accept us as his own and become the Shepherd of our souls!

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:25

Unshakable Kingdom

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On election night some of us stay up late watching the returns come in as the polls close. If the results are close we drink coffee and get some snacks as the hours pass by. Our future seems to balance on a razor’s edge as we wonder what our world will become

But in the kingdom of God it is not like that. The results are already in. Jesus Christ has been declared the King of Kings and the Lord of lords for all eternity! What is at stake is not His position but ours. Will we reverently prepare our hearts to serve Him? Heaven’s kingdom is not a joke a myth or an illusion. Through the blood of Jesus it has been purchased for His own. If we prepare ourselves for His return like the wise virgins, the faithful servants and merchants seeking pearls we will one day enter with joy. There will be nothing in all eternity to compare to the joy of serving Jesus who has given His life for our place in His unshakable Kingdom!

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Hebrews 12:28 NKJV