What Can We give the Savior?

We are 10 days away from Christmas, and I'm sure some of you are stressed by the fact that you have not purchased gifts for all those on your Christmas list. I would guess that some of those who are still on the list are those who are difficult to buy for. I think people are challenging to find a gift for because of one of these three reasons: (1) They are people that don't seem to need anything. (2) They are people we don't know really well (like teachers and co-workers). (3) They are people you don't really want to buy, to begin with. Someone said, "There are generally two kinds of Christmas presents: the one you don't like and the ones you don't get." None of us want to get or give gifts that fall into either of those two categories. As a way of stimulating our thinking about gifts, and to remind us of the person who is to be honored above all at this season it seems best to focus on the most famous gift givers of all, the gifts of the Magi. The gift of gold acknowledged the Kingship of Christ. Gold was a gift that denoted royalty, authority, and power. The gift of frankincense acknowledged the Priestly Ministry of Christ. Frankincense was used in the offerings in the temple. They added a fragrant aroma to the sacrifices. The gift of myrrh acknowledged the Sacrificial nature of Christ. Myrrh points to the sacrificial death of Jesus. Now I don't for a moment believe that these Magi understood the significance of these gifts. But they were designed by God to carry a symbolic meaning. So, here is the present question: What Can We give the Savior?  Let me give you some suggestions. First, we can give Him something from the heart. Whatever you do to honor Christ this Christmas make sure it is from the heart- an honest desire to honor and worship the Lord. Second, we can give Him something of value. Maybe you can give your time in serving as a volunteer or helping with repairs or in some other way in the church or in your community. Third, we can give Him something personal. One of the best gifts we can give to our spouse or children is to give them undivided attention. Perhaps a similar gift would be appropriate for the Lord. Finally, we can give Him something symbolic. In Matthew 25 people are commended on how they showed love to Christ. This love was shown in how we dealt with "the least of the brothers." We show God love when we treat those around us in a loving way. The point of all these suggestions is that it is easy for us to forget the guest of honor this Christmas. It is too easy to get so wrapped up in the activity that we forget the Savior. Friend, how do you plan to honor Jesus this Christmas? Is He still on your Christmas list? May God bless you and keep you always.

Pastor Dimas.

God's Redemptive Plan

A legend recounts the return of Jesus to heaven after his time on earth. Jesus bore the marks of his earthly pilgrimage with its cruel cross and shameful death. The angel Gabriel approached him, so the legend goes, and said, "Master, you must have suffered terribly for men down there."  "I did," Jesus replied. "And," continued Gabriel, "Do they know all about how you loved them and what you did for them?" "Oh, no," said Jesus, "not yet. Right now only a few people in Galilee know." "Gabriel was perplexed. “Then what have you done," he asked, "to let everyone know about your love for them?"

Jesus said, "I've asked Peter, James, John, and a few of my friends to tell other people about me. Those who are told well in turn tell other people about me and my story will be spread to the farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all of mankind will have heard about my life and what I have done." Gabriel frowned and looked rather skeptical. He knew full well what poor stuff humans were made of. "Yes," he said, "but what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the twenty-first century, people just don't tell others about you? What then? Haven't you made any other plans?  Jesus answered, "I haven't made any other plans. I'm counting on them." Twenty centuries later, he still has no other plan. He is counting on us (Hewett, J.S. Illustrations Unlimited. Wheaton: IL: pp. 70-71).

High on God's priority list is saving the lives of men and women. God's heart beats for the souls of men and women. In fact, it is his constant thought, his continual pursuit, and his consistent plan. This passion is reflected in Jesus. Jesus is God revealed. And Jesus "came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10). It is reflected in Jesus' commission to the church. The church is the body of Christ in the world today. The church is to "Go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:20). It is reflected in some of Jesus' final words while on earth to individual believers. Each believer represents Jesus. Jesus said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Just as God is in the life-saving business so is Jesus, so is the church, and so are individual believers. We can't escape that fact. The plan for saving those lives that was given to Jesus, then to the church, and then to individual believers has not changed. There is no other plan. You and I are believers today because a few disciples took Jesus at his word. They told people who in turn told other people who in turn told other people. And the word spread from generation to generation, from culture to culture, from century to century. And now we are responsible for telling others about the love of Jesus so the chain will not be broken. It's the only plan that Jesus has. We can't grow weary. We can't forget. We must tell others about Jesus. Jesus has made no other plans. God bless you and keep you always.

Pastor Dimas

Who can be Against Us?

Who can be Against Us?

Romans 8:31-34

In our country, once the court has set you free, you cannot be charged for that crime again.  It is called double jeopardy. In the devotional Our Daily Bread there was this piece; There was a man who confessed to a Wisconsin judge that 2 years earlier in the same court he had been charged with murder and was found innocent. "But I was guilty," he admitted. The judge quickly conferred with the district attorney to see if the man could be brought to trial for murder. They discovered, however, that because of the principle of double jeopardy the man could not be tried again for that crime. Although he was a murderer, he could not be punished for it. According to God's justice, we who are "in Christ" were as guilty as that man before we were converted, but now we are just as unpunishable. Why? Not because of a legal technicality. Rather, it's because any and every sin we've ever committed or will commit has been fully prosecuted in Christ on the cross. And once is all that the law demands. There are still consequences when we do wrong, even as believers. But as far as the penalty of the law is concerned, Jesus' death places us in a beautiful position of being exempt from eternal punishment. Thank God for His principle of "double jeopardy"! (Our Daily Bread Oct. 29, 2000)

Do we fail? Yes. Is some condemnation deserved? Absolutely. Are there times when our relationship with God will be strained because of our sin? Yes. Can these things invalidate our salvation?  Never!  Our sin has been paid for. God has already justified us or declared us “not guilty”. I wonder; do you feel abandoned today?  Do you feel the sting of accusation? Are you so overwhelmed by your own failure that you not only think that others condemn you, but you believe God condemns you as well?

My friend, Jesus died for those very things that haunt you. He paid for the crimes you committed. If you will turn to Him, receive Him, and trust Him for salvation and new life, the voices of condemnation will never be able to hurt you again. There will still be those who take every opportunity to remind you of your failures (those people are NOT your friends), but because of your faith in Christ, you can know that even though some of the charges are true, they will not stick in the court of God. You have been set free, declared innocent, and made new. I encourage you to come to Him today. May God bless you and keep you always.

Pastor Dimas