Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Benediction

Benedictions (the utterance or bestowing of a blessing, especially at the end of a religious service) are quite often seen as repetitive or trite by many, especially those of us outside the more liturgical circles of Christianity.  However when you examine scripture there are many powerfully moving and motivating benedictions.  Perhaps one of the greatest in this writers opinion is found in the little book of Jude verses 24-25.  It is of great encouragement to the follower of Christ and great glory to the person of Christ.  (From the Amplified Bible)"Now to Him Who is able to keep you without stumbling or slipping or falling, and to present [you] unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation [with unspeakable, ecstatic delight]– To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it)."

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

WRONG PLACE WRONG TIME....DISASTEROUS RESULTS

How many times have you found yourself in a compromising circumstance because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time by your own choosing?  As a result of poor decisions and sin it will cost you and everyone around you. David on two occasions when he should have been leading his troops  in battle got caught in compromising traps.  Oh the cost!
I Chronicles 20-21 and II Samuel 11
"At a time when kings go forth to battle"

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Who Am I?

There are two ways to ask the question depending on the emphasis on syllables.
David asks the Who Am I question in a way that should resonate with each of us as we think about the birth of Christ and His purpose to redeem us.  David was profoundly humbled by the gracious hand of God on him and his family.  In light of the fact that of all the people in the world He has been merciful to us and our families, we should repeat the question in humble gratefulness....Who Am I?
And David the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house and family, that You have brought me up to this? I Chron. 17:16