THE WORST OF SINNERS

THE WORST OF SINNERS

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8

Did you hear the news about the man who requested to die in the place of the nun? And neither did I. It is a rare occasion that someone will lose their life for a righteous or a good person. I read devotionals from Voice of the Martyrs and rarely I have heard of someone coming forth and saying "this is a good person, don't kill him, take my life instead." This happens but very seldom does it occur.

In your life time have you ever heard of someone coming forth, requesting to die in the place of a pedophile, or a serial killer, or even a rapist? Never!!! That just doesn't happen or does it?  Yes it did happen but only once. It happened with Jesus Christ the Savior of the World. The Son of God. The Holy One. The Redeemer of Man. The Sinless One.

I was the worst of sinners, you were the worst of sinners, the Apostle Paul was the worst of sinners and even Mary the mother of our Lord was the worst of sinners. Every person who has ever lived was the worst of sinners but, Jesus still chose to give His life for us. What would compel Him to do that? What manner of love was this? How could he die for us while we were still in our sins? Why would he die for us before we committed the very sins he knew we would commit? It had to be love that moved him to do this.

Don't let anyone deceive you Jesus did not die for the righteous, neither did he die for a good person. Jesus died for the vilest of man. He died for sinners. Sinners such as you and I. Why would Jesus die for sinners? Because we were sinners without any means of saving ourselves. So the love of the Holy One was compelled to die for the unholy.  Yes it is mind blogging that Jesus could love the hopeless sinner. Sinners are not worthy of the love of God. We are not worthy of His grace and we are not worthy of His mercy. In view of such great love may we live a life of gratitude to Him.

DON'T BE DEVOURED BY SIN

DON'T BE DEVOURED BY SIN

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Genesis 4:7

It doesn't matter to a lion what part of the body he first starts to eat at. What the lion is confidently aware of is in the end it will devour it's prey. Likewise with sin. It doesn't matter what part of your life sin first affects because sin is proficiently, confidently aware that if it's not brought under the submission of Christ it is like a deadly virus that will infect and destroy lives.

Be warned my brothers and sisters in Christ sin cannot be toyed with. It is pleasurable, yet dangerous. Are you aware that sin is very patient? Unfortunately this was something that King Solomon didn't learned until the latter part of his life. Scripture tells us he was the wisest man that ever lived. But, he was not wiser than sin. Solomon sought God most of his life. But, sin waited patiently for him. Sin sought Solomon's weakness. It found it in women. Sin waited, pounced and devoured the wise king. It turned his heart from the One who gave him wisdom. Sin brought the wise king down and sin will do the same for us if we are not careful.

Don't be devoured by sin but devour sin with the word of God.

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Matthew 16:13,14

There are many testimonies given about Jesus. Jesus said the patriarch Abraham  "rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." The testimony of John the Baptist was "“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" The testimony of the great evangelist Billy Graham is "Jesus is the only way to salvation." Dr. John MacArthur one of the greatest bible teachers and pastors who has ever lived confession of faith is "Jesus is God."

I get excited hearing other believers confession of faith. But, Jesus gets excited hearing each individual's testimony. He knows Abraham, John the Baptist, Billy Graham and John MacArthur's confession of faith. But he is also interested in yours. That is one of the reasons for his question in Mark 8:29 " But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter being guided by the Holy Spirit answered, "You are the Messiah." It is our confession of faith in Jesus that will determine where we will spend eternity. 

Never be ashamed to make that confession of Jesus!!! Demons weren't ashamed. The demons who will never live in Heaven again as angels testified of Jesus. The bible gives numerous examples of their acknowledgment of our Lord. Read in amazement at their reverence and fear of The Son Of God: "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Matthew 8:29  One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"Acts 19:15 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. Luke 4:41

Those evil beings once lived in Heaven. They knew Jesus was deity in human form. One of the things that I love about Jesus is when you are in his presence you can't contain yourself. The demons couldn't contain their confession about Jesus. If you are chosen but frozen dare to get in Jesus presence. Beloved, it was you that Christ died for. How dare you allow a fallen angel give a better testimony!  Come on people of God It's testimony time!!! Jesus is asking the question "Who do you say that I am? What is your response?

Book Review: A Dads Prayers for His Daughter

I received a copy of the book A Dad's Prayers for His Daughter from Baker Publishing Group in return for a review of the book. My review of this book is my honest opinion.

 

 

 

I have never been in favor of praying someone else's prayers. It felt to much like cheating to me. I always thought why would God honor a prayer that was prayed by me but was written by someone else. But my feelings change when I received A Dad's Prayers for His Daughter by Rob and Joanna Teigen.

I was hooked after reading the third paragraph of the first prayer titled "When She Needs God's Salvation." This prayer was heart wretching. Rob tells God "Without your salvation she has no future and no hope. She wont be able to comprehend the truth of your Word, which directs our steps and teaches us how to live, She wont receive the gift of your Spirit, who brings comfort, wisdom, and help as we make our way through this confusing world."  I could identify with this because this is exactly my heart's cry for my granddaughter. This should also be the heart's cry for every Christian for the lost.

 

This book covers everything that effects daughters in today's world. This book touches on lying, purity, boredom, marriage, etc.  I started incorporating this book into my personal quite time. I also use the prayers to pray for and over my granddaughter.

 

One day at work I recommended this book to one of my co-workers as something that she may be interested in for her daughter. I let her scan over the book and her reply was that this book would be something that she would like to buy for her self.

 

I love reading and this was one of the best books that I have ever read. This a book that I will reference frequently. I give it a 10 out of 10.

It Is Yours

Never allow the doubters or the haters to shake your confidence in what God has spoken to your heart. What God has for you, it is yours. Regardless of the appearance of your situation, it is yours. When David was a shepherd boy, I'm sure he never dreamed he would one day be the King of Israel. He was just the boy who tended the "few sheep." But, where some saw a shepherd boy, in reality God saw a King. Therefore God gave him the kingdom. What God has for you, it is yours.

Book Review: I Saul

Book Review: I Saul by Jerry Jenkins and James MacDonald

 

I received a copy of the book I Saul from Worthy Publishing in exchange for a review of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

I am not a fan of fiction. Fiction is to unreal to me. So I was a little nervous and excited at the same time about reading this book. Especially with the authors trying to bring the past of history and the present of fiction together. This book had a lot to live up to.  After all it was written by two of my favorite people. Jerry Jenkins and Pastor James MacDonald.

I had nothing to worry about. This book gave me great hope for fiction books. I was swept away in this book. I actually felt as if I was literally visiting Texas and walking with Paul without ever leaving the comfort of my home.

The main characters in the book is Augie Knox. Augie is a professor at a Seminary. And, there is  Luke the trusted friend and companion of Paul. It is through Luke that we learn about Paul and get to visit Rome.

Though the character of Augie is fiction. He could be the person sitting next to you at church or the neighbor that lives next door. He is a loving son. He loves the Lord and tries to help others who are  in need. He loves and cherishes the lady he is engage to. He is a good friend and protector.  If I had a man in mind to marry Augie would be the perfect example.

The other main character is Luke who we are all familiar with. Luke is not a fictional character. Luke lived and really was a part of the life of the Apostle Paul. Luke is very caring and patient. He was truly a servant to Paul. He writes down whatever Paul ask him to write. Luke is to be commended because he never grows tired of Paul and I believe he suffered along with Paul as Paul was in chains for the gospel

In this book the parchment of The Apostle Paul is found by someone and manages to get into the wrong hands. The person tries to make a profit of the parchment. Augie, his fiance Sofia and his friend Roger relentlessly try to and fights to prevent the parchment from being exploited for gain.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it. In I Saul fiction and non-fiction meets and it was so real.

Were We Worth Jesus Dying For

Glimpses of Grace

We're We Worth Dying For?

Once when my granddaughter was about 2 or 3 years old I took her for an outing. Out of nowhere comes this speeding maniac. With quick reflexes I yanked my granddaughter up and literally threw her in the opposite direction in a grasses area. I actually put myself in harms way for her. We both ended up being okay. But, was my granddaughter worth me risking my life for? ABSOLUTELY!!!

Were we worth Jesus dying for? I think I heard John the Baptist say " I am unworthy to untie the straps of your sandal." Were we worth Jesus dying for. Be quiet and listen closely. Can't you hear Paul saying "I am the chief of sinners." Were we worth dying for? Shh! Be quiet. Now can you hear Peter saying "depart from me Lord for I am a sinful man." Were we worth Jesus dying for? Can't you hear King David saying "against you and you alone have I sinned." Were we worth dying for? Do you hear Charlotte Elliott saying so softly "just as I am without one plea, but that thou blood was shed for me, and that thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God I come." Oh praise be to God I can hear the host of Heaven saying "Worthy is the Lamb." What are you saying now. I'm saying "who am I Jesus that you would love me and call me by name. I not worthy of it, but please don't withdraw your hands from me because I would be undone."

Jesus didn’t go to the cross because we were “worth it”. Jesus went to the cross because He was worth it. He was the only one worthy to be slain for our sins. We were and are great sinners in need of a great Savior. Our worth is not in who we are but in Whose we are. We were adopted into the family of God. The worth we have is what God has given to us. Were we worth dying for ABSOLUTELY NOT. Because of who He is God loves us. He values us. What an honor to serve the Living God. Is Jesus worth living for? ABSOLUTELY!!! Now listen closely can't you hear them saying "these who turned the world upside down is now here." Oh Beloved of God, Go now and do it for Jesus! I know what you are thinking and you are absolutely righty unbelievers are not worthy of being saved and neither were we. But, Jesus has a message worthy of being told. He is infamous for saving the greatest of sinner. Oh yes, He is now inhabiting our praise because He can hear us now as we say in unison "How Great, How Great Is Our God!."

Give praise to the only God. He is our Savior. Glory, majesty, power and authority belong to him. Give praise to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give praise to the One who was before all time, who now is, and who will be forever. Amen. Jude 1:25 (NIRV)