FIRST LIGHT - The Power of the Cross

“My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3)

     There are two places where men will spend eternity: One is heaven with the Lord; the other is the lake of fire with - well you know.

     The power of the cross is twofold. Supremely, it is the reconciliation of God and man.

     But it is more. The cross of Christ and His finished work there is also the only basis for a radical change in our relationship with one another. Let’s face it! It is our encounters with other folk that stirs up most of our anxieties. Tension with family, coworkers, friends, neighbors, or an acquaintance can occupy much of our time and thought.

     For sin not only created conflict and alienation with God, it also exalted self to the throne of every man’s life. Only the cross, where we receive the new nature of Christ, can provide the power to relate harmoniously to one another. We are called and enabled supernaturally to: “Serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). “Comfort one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). “Accept one another” (Romans 15:7). “Admonish one another” (Romans 15:14).

     If you are at odds with a Christian Brother or friend, go to the cross and ask our Lord Jesus Christ for His power through the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the reality of His love through you. Becoming a peacemaker will bring “the peace which surpasses comprehension” (Philippians 4:7).

FIRST LIGHT - Words for the Soul

“My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3)

FIRST LIGHT SERIES – Our blog is starting a new series referred to as FIRST LIGHT in hopes of encouraging, educating and strengthening you in your daily walk with the Lord.

     There are two places where men will spend eternity: One is heaven with the Lord; the other is the lake of fire with - well you know.

     The Bible in the book of John 14:1-3 tells us; “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.  2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also”.

     Those words of Jesus have been recited at countless gravesides, speaking comfort and quiet hope of an eternal future of those in locked in the grieving boundaries of time and space.

     But Jesus meant more by His statement; His gentle assurance was meant to transform our struggle into an understandable, exciting journey with an identifiable destination.

     These words or comfort for the living, those who know life through the experience of being “born again.” There would always be room for speculation if Jesus had not gone on to lay the groundwork, presenting Himself as; “the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comet to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).
     The magnitude of that one statement cancels out and shows the emptiness of statements by “educated men” who wish to believe that “heaven is such that all who have lived well, of whatever religion, have a place there.”

     “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You hast sent” (John 17:3)

     Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Have you accepted him as Lord and Savior? You can right now: All you have to do is ask Him to come into your life, save you and forgive you from all your sins, then you too will have this good news. Read the Bible it's food for the soul.

I'M SORRY

Someone once said, “For a happy marriage, when your wrong admit it, when your right shut up.” This is good advice and could eliminate many problems if adhered to. It’s also good for much more than just marriage.

               What is it about the human workings that hates to admit, “I was wrong?” It just kind of hangs up in your throat doesn’t it.

               How many arguments, fusses, disagreements, and “falling outs” could have been stopped in the initial stages, before things got out of hand, if either party would have just stopped and said “I’m sorry,” instead of going on in indifference. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Does it really matter who was wrong? Does it really matter what it was about? Fact is, we usually come up with plenty of reasons, and a lot of them from religious reasoning, why we have the right and reason to not be the one to give in. “After all, it’s the principle of the matter. I can’t show weakness by giving in, and besides, Jesus showed anger and righteous indignation.” Yeah He did, but He never came into sin as a result of it. Can we say that we usually don’t sin when we are angry?

               Lord, guard my lips, mind, and heart against hurting those who I love, and love me, with angry words spoken in haste or out of my own hurt.

               What does the Word of God say?  Ephesians 4:23-32 & 5:4   23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. 26) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27) Neither give place to the devil. 28) Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs. 29) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30) And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

5:4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Pray this Prayer:  Lord, guard my lips, mind, and heart against hurting those who I love, and love me, with angry words spoken in haste or out of my own hurt.

               Remember God loves you!