Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jan 9th The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From Tree

Today’s Passage – Genesis 25 – 26 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 17 – 18; Proverbs 9; Psalms 41 – 45)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 47:1

Read the “0109 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “ “From A Father To A Son”

“And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.” (Genesis 26:7)

In order for you to fully understand this morning’s thought, you might want to go back and read Genesis chapter twenty. If this account of Isaac lying about the true identity of his wife sounds familiar to you, it is because we read back in Genesis 20 that his father Abraham did the exact same thing to Abimelech. It appears that the apple doesn’t fall very far the tree. Isaac apparently had picked up some of his father’s bad habits.

There is an old expression which states that parents don’t get what they want in child-rearing, they get what they are. I have observed that to be true. Our children definitely begin to emulate our values, character traits, and even our mannerisms. As a school teacher, I have closely observed the children in  my charge, and it is amazing how much the children are like their parents. It’s kind of scary to think that we are also passing on our bad habits. Isaac learned how to lie from his dad.

As parents, we must be very careful to remember that our children are always watching us; almost analyzing us. They mistakenly think that everything we do is right, so they have no reason not to mimic who we are. Even later when they are taught with words regarding bad behavior, the message that they received from the life of the parent will often leave a stronger impression. Parents, and mentors, need to be very careful to watch their own behavior, especially around those young ones that are so impressionable. We need to be what we want them to be. Be the right example to your children.

Jan 7th Thou Art But A Dead Man – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Genesis 20 – 22 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 13 – 14; Psalms 31 – 35; Proverbs 7

Read the “0107 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “The Whole Truth“, “When God Withholds You,” and “God Will Provide Himself a Lamb“

“And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. (2) And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. (3) But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. (4) But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? (5) Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. (6) And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.” (Genesis 20:1-6)

Good morning. Here we have the story of Abimelech, king of Gerar, who took Sarah, Abraham’s wife, to be his wife. After all, Sarah was Abraham’s “sister” or at least that is what he was told. But the LORD kept him from sinning against Him. The first thing I thought was…

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Corinthians 10:13)

In the case of Abimelech, he thought he was taking Abraham’s sister for his own wife, and was about to commit adultery. God protected him from walking into that sin. God provided Himself as the way of escape for Abimelech. When the disciple asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus said…

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (3) Give us day by day our daily bread. (4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:1-4)

The last part of verse 4 is a request for God not to lead us into temptation; but deliver us from evil. This is what happened to Abimelech. He took Abraham’s wife thinking she was his sister, and God blocked him from committing adultery: Abimelech was delivered from evil. King David knew this, and placed it in Psalm 23…

“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:1-6)

If you go running into sin, chasing your lusts, its your own fault. If we stumble into something bad, the LORD will be there to protect us. God is so good to us. Amen?

Peace.

Jan 5th Plain Stupid by Samantha Mears

Today’s Passages – Genesis 13 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 9 – 10; Proverbs 5; Psalms 21 – 25)

Read the “0105 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Back to Square One – Almost;” “Balanced and Biblical Separation;”“Relationships are More Important than Riches;” “Gardens and Green Grass or God’s Will?;”and “Good Friends are Hard to Come By.”

Note – I stole this title from a message preached by Michael Clark

My thought this morning is from Genesis 13:1-13

“1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 13:1-4)

In the beginning of this chapter we read that Abraham and Lot came out of Egypt. They follow the calling of the Lord. 

“5 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” (Genesis 13:5-8)

Here we see that there is an abundance of blessings, so much so that it began to cause strife. 

“9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” (Genesis 13:9-11)

In these verses we read that Lot chooses life on the plain, he is used to a rich abundance and he chooses what is comfortable.

“12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Genesis 13:12-13)

Finally, we can see that Lot looked toward Sodom 

I want to take just one minute to summarize what the Lord spoke with me about in this passage, and then try to apply it to our lives. 

Abraham and his family followed the calling of the Lord to move out of Egypt, in a sense, separating from the world. They travel to Beth-el and dwell there for some time, receiving the blessings of the Lord. A little riff starts between Lot’s men and Abraham’s men, so Abraham and Lot decide to go their separate ways. Abraham gives Lot first pick of the land. Lot growing up, riding the skirt tails of Abraham’s faith and blessings, chooses the land that seems most comfortable. He chooses the plains. While I think Lot was spoiled rotten, I don’t believe this was necessarily “sin” for him to choose this spot. But, one thing led to another and Lot chose to pitch his tent towards Sodom. So he could just watch, or maybe be entertained; not to be apart of it necessarily, just to get a good laugh every once on a while…..

Here’s the deal, and I’m talking to my generation and the next generation mainly, but I believe it applies to everyone in some way. Abraham had a deep abiding love and faith. Lot just followed along, it’s what he did. It was everyday life. When it came time for Lot to stand on his own two feet, he fell. 

We have been raised watching and observing the faith of our parents and now that we are adults and having to stand, we are failing. We have pitched our tents way to close to Sodom and we are so spoiled that we have chosen the comfortable life on the plains. But is it enough to sustain us? 

The plain was not enough for Lot, he did not start off deep in sin. But he continued to watch, he continued to entertain the wickedness, until he got closer and closer. He didn’t even know how bad his life had gotten; he was having a great time and he was enjoying life. 

He was “Plain Stupid” as Bro Mike Clark once said. 

And so are we! We are living a very plain life, a very basic version of Christianity and we can’t even see how far we have gotten from the Lord and how close we are to destroying our lives. 

How deeply are we entertained by the world? I know I am. Social media, TV, the intimate fellowship with all of the unsaved people around us. We just watch, we just laugh, we just nod our heads , we just…. are living “Plain Stupid.” 

Let’s do an about face and let’s move our tents to the far side facing Canaan. Let’s allow our model to be heaven. Let’s stop loving the most basic version of Christianity and actually do something for God.

Sami and her posse.

Jan 4th Finding, Obeying, and Staying in the Place of God’s Will

Today’s Passage – Genesis 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 7 – 8; Proverbs 4; Psalms 16 – 20)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 89:1

Read the 0104 Evening and Morning devotion for today by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “Don’t Move Unless God Moves You“ and “The Beginning of Globalism; ” “The Land Belongs to Israel.”

“31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.” (Genesis 11:31-32)

There is so much that we can discuss from today’s reading and I would encourage you to look at the previous posts linked above to examine more deeply some of the highlights. My thought for today, however surrounds the call of Abraham and his willingness and reluctance to follow the will of God. Abraham was human just like we are and he struggled with obeying God immediately and completely just like we do.

In Genesis 11:31 – 32, we see that Abraham’s father Terah took Abraham and his wife Sarah, and his grandson Lot, from Ur of the Chaldees and brings them into Haran. [Note – Here Abraham is called “Abram,” and Sarah is called “Sarai.” There names will be changed by God later in Genesis (Genesis 17:5; 17:15).]

After Terah dies, Abraham will then take Sarah and Lot and travel into the land of Canaan.

When we compare the Genesis account with what is recorded about the same event in the New Testament, we learn that Abraham was called by God when he was still living in Ur of the Chaldees to get away from his kindred (his family) and go into Canaan. He was supposed to leave his family behind and follow the will of God. We don’t know much about Terah, but it is evident from Joshua 24:2 that he served other gods. Instead, Abraham travels with his father and nephew, and then does not actually complete the journey all the way to Canaan until after his father had died.

“2 And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, 3 And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. 4 Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. 5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” (Acts 7:2-5)

I may be speculating here just a little but it is very possible that Abraham hesitated to obey God until his father was out of the way. Jesus said:

“37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)

Most of us understand what is like to be pressured by family. Most of the time our families want the very best for us and would want us to follow God wherever that leads. However, there are times that the will of God will lead us away from family or away from where our family would want us to go, or possibly away from what our family would want us to do. In times like that, we must be willing to follow God’s will even if it upsets those that we love.

Abraham would later struggle with this same issue again, this time regarding his own son Isaac. We will read about this and likely discuss it in greater detail when we get to Genesis 22, but for now I will point out that God will put Abraham to the ultimate test and ask him to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah. God wanted to see if Abraham loved God more than the son that God had given him.

Abraham also struggled remaining in the place of God’s will after he arrived in the land of Canaan. Once Abraham finally gets to the place of God’s will, he leaves because of a famine. You would think that if God told him that Canaan was the place where Abraham should go, that he would stay there and trust God to take care of him even during a time of famine.

“7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south. 10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.” (Genesis 12:7-10)

Personally, I was called by the Lord to come to Galloway, NJ to be the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church. I know that this is the place of God’s will for me because He made it crystal clear where He wanted me to go before I came. I would be foolish to go against the will of God and leave this place. There have been times when my flesh wanted to go to some “greener pasture” elsewhere, but this is where God wants me.

Christian, the safest place for you to be is inside the will of God. Once you discover the place of God’s will for your life, get there quickly and don’t move until you are absolutely sure that God is moving you. Too many of God’s people never find the place of God’s will in the first place because they are too unwilling to leave their comfort zones. And then even when they find the place of God’s choosing, they run from it when their flesh or some trial pulls them away. Find the place that God wants you to go; stay where God places you; bloom where you are planted; and finish your course.

Jan 3rd But, What If I Fail? by Justin Mears

Today’s Passage – Genesis 7 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Proverbs 3 ; Psalms 11 – 15

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 18:3 & 46

Read the “0103 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “It Doesn’t Take Long, Does It?;“ “A Token;“  “Too Old To Do Something for the Lord?;” “The Law of First Mention Regarding Wine;“ and “The Dove Flew Away.”

“20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard: 21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness.” (Genesis 9:20-23)

This is a sad ending to the story of Noah. The man who was found faithful in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. The only man who stood for right and fought against the flow of culture. When everyone was cursing God performing their wicked acts, Noah refused. Because of this, God chose him to carry out one of the greatest missions he could ask of anyone. Yet in the end he was drunk and naked for his son to gaze upon. 

God does not just show us the success he shows us the failure. God knew about Noah’s troubles later on and still chose him for the task. Why? Maybe it was show us that future failure does not stop God from allowing us to experience present success. 

Really, this thought makes perfect sense for the new year. What stops us from making New Year’s resolution or starting new things? How many times have we gone on a diet only to fail halfway through it; or said we were going to read the Bible through only to get to Leviticus and get bored and drop it. May I challenge you not to give up or stop trying because of fear of failure? What if Noah knew of his failures before he was asked to do this great thing? What if David knew of his failure with Bathsheba before he faced Goliath? And what if Peter knew of his failure on the rough seas before he ever stepped out of the boat.

God is not calling us because he thinks we are perfect or we are somehow qualified. We are not perfect, but that does not mean that we cannot walk on water for a little bit. He has great plans and we ought to live them out while we can, and when we fall flat on our face, we can get back up and continue running the race. 

“For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” (Proverbs 24:16)

Jan 2nd Grieving God

Today’s Passage  – Genesis 4 – 6 (Click on the reference to listen to the audio. Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 3 – 4; Proverbs 2; Psalms 6 – 10)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Joshua 1:8

Read the “0102 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from this passage – “Walking with God,” “Sin Lieth at the Door,” and “Shining Brightly in a Dark World.”

“5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (Genesis 6:5 – 6)

“11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” (Genesis 6:11 – 12)

The spiritual condition of mankind prior to the flood was without doubt a time of complete depravity. Man had gotten as far away from God as they possibly could. Notice that “every imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil continually.” And then, those wicked thoughts overflowed into actions because “the earth was filled with violence.” It got so bad that God actually says that “it repented [Him] that he had made man.” That means that mankind’s rebellion against God caused Him to change directions and destroy nearly all of the people on the earth with the Flood. Everyone was destroyed except Noah and his family. By the way, Noah was not perfect either, but he was a believer, and because of his faith in God, he “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8).

Jesus says that the way things were in the days of Noah are the way things will be before Christ returns:

“26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26 – 27)

The spiritual condition of our world today is pretty bad as well, but I do not think that we have devolved quite as far as they did prior to the flood. To be sure, we are a wicked people, but the restraining work of the Holy Spirit along with the light of Christians is holding back the evil somewhat.

My thought for this blog post, however, is not about how bad the world is getting, but rather about how our thoughts and actions grieve God. Believers can grieve God, and I believe it is very possible that when we sin, it may grieve God even more than when lost people sin, because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God within us. We can choose either to yield to our fleshly lusts and the pressures of this world, or surrender to the Spirit of God within us and submit to what He wants us to do.

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

I get it, we will never be sinless, but we can sin less. And, thank God for His grace and mercy toward us as He forgives our sins. He is also well aware of the fact that we can never be perfect, but we can, by faith, yield to Him. We can choose Him and what He wants over what our our old Adamic and sinful flesh desires.

We also can choose to think about things that are good, holy, righteous, and true:

“8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Philippians 4:8 – 9).

If we can train our minds to think about good things, then good things will come out of our lives via our actions.

Let us make it a goal – a resolution – in this New Year, not to grieve God.

Dec 31st How Firm A Foundation? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Your Favorite Passage

(Second Milers also read – Proverbs 31)

Read the “1231 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)

Good morning. We’re almost done with 2022, and 2023 will soon begin. I hope your new year will be blessed with souls saved, and many blessings from the Lord. Over the years I have accumulated many favorite passages from God’s Word. John 6:37-40 is probably one of my favorites. This tells us that if you came to Jesus, He will not cast you out: your salvation is secure! Jesus will lose nothing, we have everlasting life, and He will raise us up at the last day. God’s Word tells us how we must be saved, and that we can know we are saved…

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:11-13)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

And it is God’s will that none should perish…

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9)

And repentance is a change of mind. Go from believing in false gods, eating a cookie. handing out your watchtowers and pushing your book of mormon. Go from worshiping dead saints to the living God…

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18)

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

If you are not 100% sure you have a home in Heaven, ask Jesus to forgive your sins and He will. Jesus is the only foundation that will stand. Happy New Year, and…

Peace.

Dec 24th ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – 2 Peter 3 – 1 John 3; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read –Psalms 116 – 120; Proverbs 24)

Read the “1224 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1John 1:1-3)

I was going to start with good morning, but with this blog, I will say, “Good evening.”

‘Twas the night before Christmas. If you celebrate Christmas, like others, the tree is all decorated, and the lights are lit, and there are brightly wrapped gifts under it. What is on top of your tree? Is it an angel? Is it a star? It was a star that led the wise men to the Baby Jesus. Our tree has an angel. It was an angel that came to tell the shepherds…

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12)

And as we look down the tree, there a many lights and ornaments…

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14)

Looking at the base of the tree, we see the many gifts. But there is only one gift we should be concerned with: the Gift of God.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” (Luke 2:15-20)

Jesus is the greatest gift ever given…

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Peace, good will toward men.

Dec 17th Turning To Fables – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – 2 Timothy 3 – Titus 3; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)

Read the “1217 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2Timothy 4:1-4)

Good morning. Once upon a time there was a king. This king trusted in the King of Kings. He loved the LORD so much, and wanted to read about Him in his own language. So the king commanded that a translation be made. The translators wanted to please the King of Kings, and their king too. They worked diligently to complete the task given them. And the King James Bible was born. The preserved Word of God for English speaking people. It would go on to show people the way of salvation, and lead to many revivals. This could be the happy ending, but wicked men with a lust for money made changes to the King James Bible: left out passages, changed words, destroying sound doctrine, and creating their own.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2Timothy 3:1-5)

Who is behind this evil plot to destroy God’s Word. There is only one who could try, only to fail. He is the devil. And one day, he will find himself in the Lake of Fire…

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10)

See, even reality can have a happy ending. Amen?

Peace.

Dec 10th Even As Others – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passages – Ephesians 1 – 3; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)

Read the “1210 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Good morning. Do you remember that at one time you were dead in trespasses and sins? We were just like the rest of the world: born with a body, a soul, and a dead spirit. We were no better than the world. And if not for God’s grace, we would face the same end…

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:5-10)

But what is our attitude toward our fellow man? Do we treat them like the Christ would? Even though they beat Him, spit on Him, whipped Him till His skin was in shreds, and then nailed Him to a cross, Jesus still shed His precious blood for their sins. Sometimes I think that we should take another look at a parable that Jesus taught…

“And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

Isaiah wrote that…

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

We are no better that anyone else. And we should treat others as we would like to be treated, or even better. Our Lord Jesus Christ combined the Ten Commandments into two: to love God with everything in you, and love your neighbor as yourself.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:1-2)

Even as others.

Peace!