BE COMMITTED

Revelation 3:19 (HCSB) 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be committed and repent.
  Ever felt the sting and disappointment of again doing wrong, a lady confided I think about things I shouldn't, even when I make up my mind no to. The servant of God is confronted with temptations, so are the servants of the world, the only difference is our relationship to our Savior, the One who makes us clean.
   When We allow Christ into our hearts, we are transformed into saved sinners, the flesh still has all the same desires, however the new heart we possess no longer enjoys the lust for sin it once embraced. Sin brings rebuke from God, like the mother or father that corrected us when we were young.
   Feeling guilty today rejoice, He will not let you go on in sin without bringing it to your attention. What should we do, "be committed and repent."
Heavenly Father in You alone we live, in You alone we have the breath to live, in You alone there is Salvation for eternal life, thank You. Lord keep us in your tender care may our thoughts continually run to You. Amen
 

TO KEEP YOU

Psalm 91:11 (NKJV) 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.
    Temptation to do wrong is a real process in our lives, a man was told, "if you will rob that store we can split the loot, and I will do the next one, we will be a team." He was caught and sent to jail, he had never done anything like that before.
   There are real consequences for sin and no one is exempt, many around us suffer when we yield to temptation. Jesus was tempted by satan but He would not yield, even when the enemy used scripture to justify the temptation, our Lord stood firm.
    Do you say no when temptation knocks, do you refuse to yield to the desires that cause everyone to fall? We can if, we will practice looking to God, if when tempted we refuse to yield, there will be amazing victory to stand again and put temptation away. How, 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. His angels have charge over you.
Heavenly Father help us to remember You never leave us alone, when we sin we sin in your presence. May all our thoughts be captive to You and your will for us, to live sin free. Amen

CONTEND EARNESTLY

Jude 1:3 (NKJV) 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
   To contend for the faith we must put ourselves in the battle, we may choose the side lines, but Gods servant always stands where he is instructed. A soldier was told to hold a line against impossible odds, he prayed, "God help me do what I cannot do on my own," bullets barely missed as he fought with renewed energy, finally the battle stopped. The line was intact and no one was killed or wounded, as the soldier stood to examine his surroundings he noticed the enemy lying on the ground and waving in surrender. Summoning the enemy leader he asked, "why did you give up with the numbers of men surrounding you?" The enemy replied, "we could see we were completely out numbered your army covered the hills." The brave soldier had a shattered unit of six men who stood faithfully, against seven hundred.
   Our commitment to God must be on these same lines, we must be more committed to Gods purposes that our own, stay in the battle He is not finished with you yet.
Heavenly Father help us to stand in this day, give us victory where everyone sees defeat. Let our hearts turn to You and leave every fear outside. Amen

HIS NAME'S SAKE

3 John 1:7 (NKJV) 7 because they went forth for His name's sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.
   Examining our own heart is absolutely necessary for Spiritual growth, 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified. How we are seen by the world tells the whole story of what is in the heart.
  To go forth for God involves walking Holy and in His Power, you will not stand for Him if He is not in you. The struggle is right there, we belong to Jesus or we do not, ask your self this question, do those around me say I act, just like Jesus? The answer is in the way we live, is it for His name's sake?
Heavenly Father help us to conquer the desire to serve self and deliberately put our trust in You and nothing else. Amen

FROM AFAR

Psalm 138:6 (NKJV) 6 Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
   We notice those who offend very quickly, they are often marked mentally by us as unimportant or unworthy of our time. God has a place and plan for every living being, no one is outside of His attention, no person is misplaced by The Creator.
  A child born in a stable, in a country far away, to a people not accepted by the world, is not insignificant history, He is The Savior of the world and in Him there is Life and through Him we will see Gods Glory. Too proud to accept that, He sees you, even far away!
Heavenly Father let us look up and see all You intend for us, may we recognize the gift of Jesus, the Savior of the world. Amen

THE WHOLE WORLD

1 John 2:2 (NKJV) 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 
    The Lord knows our ways and sees all too well our hearts, like the mother who knows her child will not do the right thing until trained, so our Creator knows us. Sin has arms that do not release its victims, no matter the strength of the individual or the personal stamina, sin will establish a stronghold.
    A child caught taking cookies, confessed, "I can't help me," so is sin to all people. Christ, the Savior and Lord of all, is willing to receive those who confess, "I cannot do this I need You."
    My hand, your hand and that of all people has been caught in the cookie jar, our only redemption is through the One, born into this world, to save me from me. Celebrate this Christmas season the birth of the One who can save me from me.
Heavenly Father in You alone is the gift of eternal life and in this day we trust You with our lives knowing, in You we will find salvation. Eternal life is from You, it is through You and comes from no other. Help us to seek You only. Amen

LOOKING FORWARD

2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV) 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
   Shepherds working in the night are confronted with the presence of an angel, proclaiming a birth only read and discussed among the religious elite. Fear comes knocking and these humble men find themselves being comforted and encouraged, by Gods heavenly choir. They hear Good News and discover Great Joy, a child will restore Gods people to their rightful place. He is called "Savior, Christ and Lord" referring to the work of Grace to be produced through Him, for all people who come to Him will be blessed.
   This season is referred to as Peace, we are to seek good for others, however the Word of God says that must be our life style if, we belong to Him. We are to live diligent lives working at peace and making sure we encourage others without causing anyone to stumble by our sinfulness.
   As Gods servants we are looking forward to the day of His appearing just as the shepherds did many years ago, He will come and we must be busy sharing Peace with those around us. Won't you trust Him completely today?
Heavenly Father in you we find Peace and Rest, let us embrace all that You have planned and give all Glory and Honor to You. Amen