Happy Sunday!
Queen Elizabeth II gave her Christmas Address this week and referenced the story of The Good Samaritan. Pastor David Winston also used this story in his sermon today. It's a great story and provides an opportunity for us to do a bit of introspection, and self evaluation. The Jews hated the Samaritans and tried to avoid them at all cost. Who are you avoiding? Who are you hating? Jesus knew what the man really wanted. He wanted to try to trip Jesus up. So Jesus told a special story or parable. Telling a story to Jewish listeners about a "Good" Samaritan was brilliant because they didn't believe a Samaritan could be good. But would you expect anything less from Jesus? Luke 10:25-28 says, "Then an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you understand from it?” The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” Jesus said, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have eternal life.”(Easy-to-Read Version).The man failed to trick Jesus into going against the Law of Moses and might have been a little embarrassed. "The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”(Luke 10:29 NLT). "Jesus replied: As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, robbers attacked him and grabbed everything he had. They beat him up and ran off, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road. But when he saw the man, he walked by on the other side. Later a temple helper came to the same place. But when he saw the man who had been beaten up, he also went by on the other side."(Luke 10:30-32 CEV). Don't miss this! The man laying on the side of the road injured was Jewish. He was of the same nationality, ethnicity, and religious belief of the priest and the temple worker who passed him by. These people were commanded in the Law of Moses to help others, but they refused to even help their own.Luke 10:33-35 says, “Then a DESPISED Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’(NLT)."So, now, tell me, which one of the three men who saw the wounded man proved to be the true neighbor?” The religious scholar responded, “The one who demonstrated kindness and mercy.” Jesus said, “You must go and do the same as he.”(Luke 10:36-37 TPT). Colossians 3:12-15 says, "As, therefore, God’s picked representatives of the new humanity, purified and beloved of God himself, be merciful in action, kindly in heart, humble in mind. Accept life, and be most patient and tolerant with one another, always ready to forgive if you have a difference with anyone. Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you. And, above everything else, be truly loving, for love is the golden chain of all the virtues. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you."(Phillips).Go and Do the Same!Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Sunday!
One of my favorite Christmas movies is "Last Holiday" starring Queen Latifah. In one scene she is at dinner, and the waiter is reciting the menu. He describes numerous extravagant food items. Then she says, "It all sounds so good. Will Chef Didier have the same items on the menu tomorrow?" The waiter quips, "Chef Didier never creates the same menu twice!" I felt like that this morning. I watched our 7am and 9am worship services, and although Dr. Bill Winston preached using the same topic both times, the messages were unique. But isn't that just the way the Word of God always is? I can read a scripture I memorized in Sunday School in the 1970's and get a new revelation for today.Hebrews 4:12 says, "God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what."(Message). Don't miss this! God's Word is our light, our mirror, and our guide. When we have questions, the Word is the answer. The Psalmist said, "Forever, O Eternal One, Your Word stands in heaven, firm and resolute."(Psalm 119:89 Voice). Dr. Winston is continuing a series entitled, "Reaching the World", and this section is called "Restoring the Glory". God breathed into Adam and he became a Living, Speaking, and Breathing Being like God. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."(Genesis 1:26 KJV). The Glory of God was upon Adam and Eve so much so that they didn't even realize they were naked until they sinned and the Glory left them. Jesus is called the Second Adam. His perfect work allows us to get the Glory back. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and Glorify your Father which is in heaven."(Matthew 5:16 KJV). The Apostle Paul went on to say, "Do everything without complaining or arguing so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you SHINE like LIGHTS in a dark world, and you offer them the teaching that gives LIFE. So I can be proud of you when Christ comes again. You will show that my work was not wasted—that I ran in the race and won."(Philippians 2:14-16 Easy-to-Read Version).Are you shining in this dark world? Are you bringing Glory to God by the way you live? If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be any evidence? Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Sunday!
Psalm 18:28 says, "God, all at once you turned on a floodlight for me! You are the revelation-light in my darkness, and in your brightness I can see the path ahead."(TPT).This scripture made me think of the song, "You Are My Sunshine" written by Johnny Cash. Can't you hear it in your head already? "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." Of course, if you read the lyrics to this song it doesn't end well. By the end of the song, his love has left him for another. But when I sing this song, I think of Jesus...my Son Shine! Truly He is my only sunshine, and He and His Word make me happy when skies are gray. I know that he will never leave me. Because He promised, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."(Hebrews 13:5 KJV).Isaiah 9:2 says, "The people who had been living in darkness have seen a great light. The light of LIFE has shined on those who dwelt in the shadowy darkness of death."(Voice). We know that Jesus is the Light of Life. Isaiah goes on to prophecy, "For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder. These will be his royal titles: “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world. This is going to happen because the Lord of heaven’s armies has dedicated himself to do it!"(Isaiah 9:6-7 Living Bible).Don't miss this! Jesus specializes in shining the light that leads us, comforts us, saves us, provides for us, and heals us! He has all of the bases covered and never misses a beat. He comforts us when everything is shaking, and loves us with an everlasting love. How does he comfort us? So glad you asked! Psalm 119:130 says, "As people understand your WORD, it brings LIGHT to their lives. Your word makes even simple people wise."(Easy-to-Read Version). Reading, knowing, and meditating on the Word of God comforts us and reassures us. Are your skies gray? Go to the Word. Love and prayers, Cynthia
Happy Sunday!
Colossians 1:9-14 says, "Since the day we heard these things about you, we have continued praying for you.This is what we pray: - that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need; - that this will help you live in a way that brings honor to the Lord and pleases him in every way; - that your life will produce good works of every kind and that you will grow in your knowledge of God; - that God will strengthen you with his own great power, so that you will be patient and not give up when troubles come. Then you will be HAPPY and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have what he has promised to give all his holy people, who live in the light. God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins."(Easy-to-Read Version).What a thoughtful prayer. We don't have to reinvent prayer we can follow the Biblical examples. The Apostle Paul had heard great things about the Believers in Colossae and wrote a letter to encourage and instruct them. Isn't it wonderful to know that someone is praying for you? Even Jesus prayed for us and the Bible says He's still praying for us, "But Christ, because he lives for ever, possesses a priesthood that needs no successor. This means that he can save fully and completely those who approach God through him, for he is always living to INTERCEDE on their behalf."(Hebrew 7:25 Phillips).Who are you praying for? Did you know we are commanded to pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Continually be prayerful."(ISV). Because we have faith we can pray with confidence. Hebrews 11:6 says, "It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he EXISTS and that he CARES enough to respond to those who seek him."(Message). 1 John 5:14-15 reassures us that our prayers will be successful, "We can come to God with no doubts. This means that when we ask God for things (and those things agree with what God wants for us), God cares about what we say. He listens to us every time we ask him. So we know that he gives us whatever we ask from him."(Easy-to-Read Version). Love and prayers, Cynthia
