Grace for your spirit 9-12-16

Grace for your spirit

"Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb."  Revelation 19:9

In the Bible, Jesus is pictured a bridegroom, and Christians are called the Bride of Christ.  One of the focal points in the future is the time when the bride and groom can be joined for eternity.  What a blessing to receive an invitation to that event.  Our R.S.V.P. is our faithfulness and purity.  The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  Where else would we want to be?

Grace for your spirit 9-

Grace for your spirit

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

Have you ever seen a dangerous stunt performed on television that was accompanied by this warning? "Don’t try this at home". Too many Christians are performing a dangerous stunt each week. They are trying to grow and prosper as Christians at home alone.  

Grace for your spirit 9-8-16

Grace for your spirit

But let your statement be, Yes, yes, or No, no; anything beyond these is of evil.  Matthew 5:37 / James 5:12

Do we have to swear on a stack of Bibles that we are telling the truth? Cross your heart,  hope to die, stick a needle in your eye?  As Christians, we should never have to swear by anything that we are telling the truth.  Our word should be our bond.  For us, Yes should mean Yes and No, no.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Our Christian character and our word should be our bond.

Grace for your spirit 9-7-16

Grace for your spirit

For they disciplined us for a short time, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.  Hebrews 12:10

God calls for us to be holy as He is holy.  He calls for our sanctification, and separation from the world.  The discipline that he leads us to is definitely for our good. It is the threshold to holy living.  Without discipline we cannot reach those goals.  Discipline doesn't feel good in the short run, but it is always best for the long run.

Grace for your spirit 9-6-16

Grace for your spirit

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.  John 13:35

If we would slip in and out of church pews asking people how they can show they are true disciples, we would get lots of answers.  Some might say, "church attendance, baptism, and generous giving.  Others might say, a bumper sticker, a cross pin, or by carrying a big Bible.  All those are easy compared to the Jesus proposed.  He has asked us to love our enemies, love the unlovable, and love our brethren.  Love.  That's our sign.  Wear it.

Grace for your spirit 9-2-16

Grace for your spirit

A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to those who had been invited, 'Come for everything is ready now.'  But they all alike begin to make excuses...Luke 14:16-18

This parable given by Jesus was a picture of His invitation to His kingdom, and His supper in heaven.  All the excuse makers missed it and their invitation were cancelled.  Jesus is still calling, What is our answer?  Remember the old song, "Excuses, Excuses"

Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day.

And the Devil he'll supply them, if the church you stay away.

When people come to know the Lord, the Devil always loses

So to keep them folks away from church, he offers them excuses.

Let's respond to Jesus, not the devil.

Grace for your spirit 9-1-16

Grace for your spirit

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another a more important than yourselves; Philippians 2:3

Almost every sin we commit can be directly traced to selfishness, conceit, and only thinking only of ourselves.  If we would put ourselves last, and have the attitude of Jesus, most of our sins would go away. When our purposes are like Christ's purposes, we will walk after the Spirit as we should.