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)."

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"

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

Priest or Politician?

Priest or Politician? A question for us to answer. Read carefully and unpack this verse.
1 Peter 2:5
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
"Priests court the heart of God.  Politicians court the heart of people. Which are you?" Zach Neese

The Main Thing

Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

Let's keep our focus on the profound truth of the person of Jesus Christ, not foolish speculation about other "hot button" issues that produce mere speculations and do not foster or grow our faith.  That is not to say we shouldn't defend truth or speak out against ungodliness.  But when you view the bottom line it will be Christ and Him alone.  That is why Paul said my goal is to preach Christ alone.

1 Timothy 1:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,   To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.   As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

YES...BUT

Yes...But

How is it that we would walk in the ways of God....but carry out such ungodly demonstrations in our life.  Then I thought about me.  How often on the surface it appears as one thing but the reality is my heart, thoughts and private actions are simply contrary to a consistent Godly walk.  Oh that it could be said we walked with God, PERIOD, without the BUT.

2 Kings 16:1-4
In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah, Ahaz the son of Jotham, king of Judah, became king. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the L ord his God, as his father David had done.  But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and even made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the L ord had driven out from before the sons of Israel. He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

Life From Death

Life From Death

John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: