The Nose Shows

   As Christians our value system is based on the divine principles of scripture. Our obligation is to give practical expression to the truth. God’s truth is not only relevant but also eternal, standing the tests of human struggle. At the same time God wants to know what our motives are. Why are we doing the things we do? Why do we act the way we do toward our fellow man? The Bible reminds us that there is no place in Christianity for snobbishness or discrimination. “My brethren in your practice of the Christian faith, do not show partiality.” James 2:1

   God has an ingenious plan to balance out treatment of both rich and poor. He has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. “No man can tell whether he is rich or poor by turning to his ledger. It is the heart that makes a man rich. He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.” Henry Ward Beecher. Furthermore, any contempt for others because of nationality, age, or sex is also a practical denial of faith.

    “You must love and help your neighbors just as much as you love and take care yourself.” James 2:8 The Apostle James later points out that the most important question is “who is my brother” and “who is my neighbor”? For if we love our neighbors as ourselves we will treat them the way we want to be treated. There is a debt we owe to every person whether they have much or little. “Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others- never finish paying that. For if you love them, you will be obeying all God’s laws, fulfilling all His requirements.” Rom 13:8

    Every man, woman, boy, or girl is my neighbor. God has no partiality. This is a revolutionary teaching indeed. Let us not show favoritism towards one person over another because of unchangeable factors such as culture, disabilities, education, or income level. “Where love is, there’s no lack” Richard Brown Dear Christian, the problem is how we look at our differences. Unrighteous judgements cause division within our family, church, and community. Jesus Christ gave us the true standard of value and that will never change.

 

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Click here to read about loving everyone. God does not call us to selective grace.

The Priceless Price

    Change is a part of every day of our life.  Those who place their trust in the blood of Christ find mercy and stability by virtue of His shed blood.  We put our faith solidly in His blood, making Christ Himself the object of our faith.  His blood fully paid the price for all wrongs we ever committed, all unhappy circumstances, and all hurt that others have caused us.  “But he paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:19 

    The Lord Jesus gave us incredible worth.  We were bought from the slave market of sin.  How much did He value us?  A value so high that He was willing to give His blood to purchase us.  Because of the tremendous price paid we no longer belong to ourselves.  We no longer live our lives the way we choose.  One person explained it this way, “if we take our lives and do what we want with them, we are taking something that does not belong to us.”

    What happens when a believer is tempted to return to a decaying, corrupt worlds system?  To go back to the world is to re-cross the great gulf that was bridged for us at a staggering cost.  It is the blood of Jesus Christ that continually cleanses us from all wrongdoing.  All God’s forgiveness is anchored in the blood.  The blood provided God with the basis upon which He could forgive.  The moment a person receives Christ He receives all the benefits which come from the shedding of Christ’s blood.  How wonderful to have received a complete payment.  The outcome of our lives is now in God’s hands.  We are absolutely covered.  Covered by the blood of Jesus.

    Friends, today don’t forget the precious blood shed by your personal Savior. “His blood declares us not guilty.”  Rom 5:9   Now we can experience the renewal of 1 Peter 1:2 “May God bless you richly and grant you increasing freedom from all anxiety and fear.” The blood made the way and the blood will keep the way clear for God’s wonderful peace.  “For it pleased the Father by Him (Christ) to reconcile all things to Himself… having made peace through the blood of His cross.”  Col 1:20  All praise to the Father for Jesus’ blood paid the priceless price.

Click here for encouragement to keep your eyes on Jesus.

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Trusting the Master Plan

    Life is like a roadmap.  There is a planned route God has for us to travel.  Along the way we receive a lot of advice on how to get to our destination.  St. Augustine gives an important piece of council every Christian should follow.  “Beware of despairing about yourself: you are commanded to put your trust in God, and not in yourself.”  Matthew 6:27 also illustrates how worrying cannot make one whit of difference.  “Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?”   Our time and energies could be spent so much better.  We are encouraged to trust in the One directing our lives and tell Him all that is on our heart.  “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.”  Psalms 62:8

    Dear Christian, we must trust in God for our future despite our weakness and insecurity.  God has assigned our lives a  much higher value than we would ever esteem ourselves.  He chose this time of history, these people, and our individual circumstances to construct a stage upon which unfolds His master plan.  Never underestimate that you were born for such a time as this. 

    As blood bought believers we are ready to look to the future.  We have assurance that Jesus is our sufficiency.  “…So you have everything when you have Christ, and you are filled with God through your union with Christ.  He is the highest Ruler, with authority over every other power.”  Col 2:10  He is what we need so trust Him.  “You may trust the Lord too little, but you can never trust Him too much.”  Anonymous  God is going to use you, so get ready.  Expect and anticipate that there is a wonderful future for you.  In time, our bodies may weaken but the plan goes on.  Ralph Emerson reminds us, “All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.”  Will you confidently join your fellow believers in expecting God to reveal His plan for you?

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Click here to read about trusting God through hard times.

Chasing Truth

    Run, not walk, to your nearest Bible.  Through the Word of God we find authentic Christianity is His wonderful words of life.  However, today believers seem confused and unsettled about their beliefs.  The world around us has been too convincing and we have become too compromising.  Proverbs 19:27 exhorts us to get back on track.  “Stop listening to teaching that contradicts what you know is right.” God has equipped each person including the non-believer to turn to Him through their conscience.  One definition of truth is simply that which God has planted within each person, the knowledge of right and wrong.  When a person violates what is morally right they turn from the truth giver.  We should not be surprised that God declares His ways are truth.  All he does is just and good, and all his laws are right, for they are formed from truth and goodness, and stand firm forever.”  Ps 111:7, 8  Truth is God’s perfect blend of His character and justice.

    As we embrace God’s words they become our very identity.  We seek to obey them with loyalty and faithfulness.  This is the essence of Christianity.  So we find ourselves in a relationship with the God of the Universe through obedience.  This enables us to live a Christian life that is both a challenge and pleasure. “Keep me from every wrong; help me, undeserving as I am, to obey your laws, for I have chosen to do right.”  Ps 119:30 “And when we obey him, every path He guides us on is fragrant with his loving-kindness and His truth.”  Ps 25:10

     Friends, we are accountable for knowing right from wrong.  Accountable for doing what is right.  One person said it this way.  “To hear truth and not accept it does not nullify Truth.”  It will continue to stand the test of time.  When our lives have ended and we stand before our Creator, the God of all will pass judgement using the enduring standards we must live by today.  “For the Lord is coming to judge the earth; he will judge the nations fairly and with truth.”  Ps 96:13 It is simple yet profound that God’s stamp upon our life is moral conscience.  Dear Christian, the choice is in our hands.  Will we continue to damage God’s beautiful creation by rejecting the work of our conscience or will we acknowledge that we are an amazing work of God created to live for Him?

Click here to read about the truth of God’s love you.
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