The most wonderful time of the year!

Merry Christmas! Think about this a minute with me. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday. It is mind blowing but true, to think that God who was never born, thus never had a birthday, came to earth in the form of his son Jesus. Think about this, Mary who was a virgin and engaged to be married to Joseph, conceived the baby from the Holy spirit, who is God! Amazing, God came to earth in the form of a man. God gave me and you Jesus. The savior of the world.

Check this out in our scripture for today from the book of Matthew, chapter 1:18-24

18This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. 19Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding. 20While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22So the Lord's promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23"A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us."
24After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord's angel had told him to do. 25But they did not sleep together before her baby was born. Then Joseph named him Jesus.

Nope not me, I would never do that!

If you are a married man or woman did you ever think about the fact that you can commit sin, against God, even with your eyes and what you think about. That's right, God illustrated this for us in our text for today in Matthew 5:27-30 NIV.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell."

Wow! That is some strong stuff. This passage brings out a few questions for me and you to think about today. Is this really true today in 2011? Would a loving God really say that? Does God really care about that with all that's going on in our world today? Nobody can see me do that or think like that anyway, right?

God wants you and I to surrender our life, our day, our thoughts, and our eyes to him. It's like this -
Eph. 5: 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

Let me know what you think.

They shouldn't have done that to me...

When someone does something to push you aside or maybe they ignore you, focused only on their agenda trying to get ahead in a marriage, a job, a social position, a team, or whatever, or maybe they say things that are hurtful directly to you or even to someone else about you, or possibly they just cut you off in traffic. Are you like me and want to get even or say something ugly back or let out a string of negative comments? Now weather your personality or your makeup say's you are an aggressive, or passive, or a combination of both kinda person, that's in your nature to want to get back at them or get even with them, or just silently hate or dislike them exploding on someone else at another time because this person has upset you. Think about this with me a little while, here is what Jesus said in the Bible, Gods word for you and I, it's in the book of Matthew chapter 5: vs.21-26

"21 You know that our ancestors were told, "Do not murder" and "A murderer must be brought to trial." 22 But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell. 23 So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God. 25 Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don't, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail. 26 I promise you that you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe."

Did you catch that, God wants me to forgive that person, to make peace with that spouse, that child, that parent, that coworker, that crooked business or even that person that cut me off in traffic. Wow! How in the world do I do that! Do you understand, they shouldn't have done that to me.

Ephesians 4:26-27 says "Don't get so angry that you sin. Don't go to bed angry 27 and don't give the devil a chance."

Let me know what you think?

A misunderstanding?

Maybe there is a misunderstanding today about the law, ten commandments, the prophets and the Bible. Some think the ten commandments, the prophets and the Bible itself are not applicable in modern times. I've had someone tell me that their church believes the Bible but not all of it. They believe it is a good religious book that was written a long time ago, it's just not relevant today for our modern churches that try to reach today's generation. What do you think?

Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:17-19 nlt

¹⁷ “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. ¹⁹ So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

A City on a hill

Think about this with me. Jesus wants you and me to let him (meaning Jesus, The light) shine through us, through our lives, that means in our relationships, with our spouse, our children, with our neighbors, coworkers, bosses, etc... That also means in our work, or our business dealings, or our school work. You see he says the light lives in you if you are a follower of Jesus Christ. So we got to let it shine! I know, that is way easier said than done a lot of times but when we submit ourselves to him as our savior every day and choose to follow him he has a way of shining through! It's kinda like you can't put the light out, you just can't hide it!

14"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16.

The light of the world

You are the light of the world .... Matthew 5:14. Who is the light of the world? Well in John 8:12 Jesus says "I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." So Jesus says that if we follow him we have the light of life. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ you have the light of life! What does the light look like? The light looks like peace, love, kindness, paitence, and gentleness. Many days I don't feel like the light, but Jesus says that I have the light of life! So it's not about how I feel, He, Jesus is my peace, love, kindness and if I choose to let him live in me then I can reflect those same qualities.

Salt of the earth

"You are the salt of the earth..." According to Matthew 5:13 this is who Jesus the son of the living God says you are! The salt of the earth. I use salt to enhance the taste of certain foods like grits. The Food Networks great southern cook Mrs. Paula Deane uses a pinch of salt in a lot of her recipies to enhance the taste. Salt is used to preserve or to make it last, like country hams are cured in salt to make them last untill you cook them for a Christmas morning breakfast. Jesus says that I am the salt of the earth! My speech, my life, my responces to circumstances, my love for my wife, my love for other people, my work, my submission to authority can be enhanced with the love, grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ!