KEEP YOURSELVES IN GOD'S LOVE

SCRIPTURE: Jude 14-25

VERSE FOR TODAY: To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now forevermore! Amen (Jude 24,25, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "To God Be the Glory"

We live in a world of warnings. Signs on our highways warn us of steep hills, sharps curves, dangerous intersections, and un-usual circumstances. The medicines we buy have warning on their labels lest we use them improperly. Tools are accompanied by warning labels intended to keep us from injury. Parents are constantly giving warning to their children to keep them from harm.

Though they may sometimes seem restricting to usf, warnings are for our benefits. Jude's writing to the church is filled with warning and things to remember as we live our lives. He warn us to remember that Christ is coming again to judge all people. He warns us to be careful of what. We say, lest we be faults-finders, grumblers, and speakers of harsh words. He warn us not to be in by those who boast about themselves and flatter others to accomplish their evil desires.

Christian's are concentrate on prayer and on building up their own faith and that of others. They are to be merciful to others as they grow in awareness of God's mercy to them.

Our God is at work in our lives to keep us from falling and to enable us to enter His presence with great joy.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Dear Father,. Keep us from the attitudes, the desires, and the selfishness of the wicked. Rather, let us be kept in Your love and mercy as You bring us to eternal life. Amen.

CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

SCRIPTURE: Jude 1-13

VERSE FOR TODAY: Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the sainst (Jude 3, New International).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Who Is on the Lord  Side?"

At the Zoo in Columbus, Ohio, one can enter into the world of gorilla by means of virtual reality. Those who put on the neccessary equiptment can see reality from gorilla's point of view.

Jude lived before the days of electronic reality now called meta verse, NTF. But he did see the word from a special point of view.

Jude was aware that there were people even within the church who needed to be opposed. They used the grace of God as an excuse for immorality and denied the lordship of Christ.

They slandered those in authority and spoke about things they didn't understand. They were rebellious and greedy, more interested in their own profit than in the good of others.

Jude called on Christian's to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. Think about what "contending for the faith" means in your life and in your community. Pray for God's strength and guidance as you walk daily with Him.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Gracious Father, sometimes we get discouraged when we realize that there are those who oppose You in the church as well as outside the church. We love You and we know that we are kept by Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to be faithful, true, and determined as we live out each day. Amen.

COME FOLLOW JESUS

SCRIPTURE: Luke 18:18-27

VERSE FOR TODAY: Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God" (Luke 18:27, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Footprint of Jesus"

A Statement in this story really shook the apostles. They had always thought that riches were a sign of God's favor and poverty was a sign of sinfulness. They apparently hadn't understood some of the things that Jesus had taught; and they apparently hadn't read the book of Job recently. But just about everyone thought just as they did. Some of us may think that way too.

Then Jesus said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! (Luke 18:24, New International Version). Rich men are likely to feel self-sufficient. They can buy what they want. Christian's are like "little children" (Luke 18:16,17). They are dependent. A poor man have an advantage. It is clear to him that he can't make it on his own, so he is ready to depend on the Lord.

"Who then can be saved?" the disciples asked. Jesus said nobody can by his own goodness. It is impossible. You will not do enough parent-honoring, murder-avoiding, and truth-telling to stand eye-to-eye with a perfect God. But with Him all things are possible, even the salvation of rich men, if they follow Jesus.

Salvation means trusting Jesus, not trusting yourself.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Thank You for using Your Word, Father, to remind us that it is not what we do but whose we are that allows us to inherit eternal life. We confess that we are tempted to be our own guides. We thank you for providing Your Holy Spirit to help us resist that temptation.  Jesus is Lord! Amen.

NO MORE DEATH

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 21:1-4

VERSE FOR TODAY: He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" (Revelation 31:5, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "The Light of the World Is Jesus"

I don't really need to know a lot about Heaven, or to understand all of the pictures that John draws for us in the book of Revelation. I can understand enough of the first part of that book to hear the assurance that those who hold on to Jesus will be there, and I can read the last two chapters and be enthralled by the big picture.

Divine glory will light the whole place. None of the evil stuff that is done now under the cover of night will be there. 

We used to tell our sons that "nothing good happens out there after midnight." You can probably point out a few exceptions, but only a few, All of that "darkness" will be finished.

No more crying, no more pain, no more death! Wow! Jim won't have arthritis. Bob will have two legs. Mother will be able to see and to speak. Bill will be there; the fatal wreck will not have mattered. Herman will have a new heart. Betty will breathe without a struggle. Harriet will hear every word.

We have good days here. And our lives are a privilege, a gift from God. But we will not mourn too long for the saints who have "graduated" to the light.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: To have the chance to see Your marvelous creation, our Father, is enough for us to know of Your love and Your power, and enough to call us to worship. But the glimpse of Heaven that You inspired John to give us--that overwhelm us. We rest in the hope of "coming home" Amen.

WHAT A DAY! NO HARM, NO DESTRUCTION!

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 65:17-25

VERSE FOR TODAY: The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the loin will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 65:25, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "O That Will Be Glory"

Have you ever tried to picture Heaven? John saw wonderful visions of thing to come.

In the book of Revelation he described the wonders in the best words he could find; but even with his book before us, we feel sure our picture of Heaven is far from complete. We know it will be much more than lush golf courses, beautiful sunsets and comfortable conversation 

But here and now also are a part of our present concern.

Can we have a little bit of Heaven on earth? Isaiah indicated that there could be some of that. In a day when God's people would really do things in God's ways, perennial enemies would get along. People would be safe on the streets. People who were more wealthy would help those who were poorer, not by government mandate, but because they would want to be a little bit like God. Lower stress and greater harmony would make someone who lived to be a hundred years old "just a kid." People would work for what they had; and they would leave others people's  things alone. They would be anxious to help, not to hurt.

That's the way it would be when people would love and obey God. That's the way it will be when the Spirit of King Jesus leads His church.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Heavenly Father, we look forward to Heaven, with You and Your Don. That will be glory

 Just now, we ask that You will empower us to demonstrate a little bit of what that will be like. Amen.

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE OUGHT WE TO BE?

SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 3:11-18

VERSE FOR TODAY: So then, fear friends, since you are looking forward to this , make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him (2 Peter 3:-14, New International Version).

HYMNFOR TODAY: "Would You Live for Jesus?"

Our youth minister's almost four-,year old son was in the office the other day. Someone asked him a hard question. "is the preacher perfect?" He thought for a minute and said "No." Then he was asked, "Are you perfect?" He didn't think very long at all. "No," he said, ",Well,who is perfect?" the questioner asked. After just a few seconds the boy said, "Jeanie!" Jeannie is his next-door neighbor, who's a young great-grandfather and she shows a lot of love to little children.

If he had gotten his theology right he would have told us that no one is perfect except God the Father and Jesus,God's Son. But it was exciting to hear his estimation  of his Christian neighbor.

Christian can season as they age. They can "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." As they know Him better they can be more like Him. One of the most exciting things for a minister to watch is the growing up of the leaders an servants in the Church. "Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him." Now there's  a wonderful goal for life. If we don't quite make it, let's fall short by the smallest margin possible.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: Thank You, gracious Father, that You have created us with that quality the children sing about possiblity. And thank You for sending those who trust in Your Don and the holy Spirit to help us bring about that possibility. Amen.

A PATIENT GOD

SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 3:1-10

VERSE FOR TODAY: The Lord is not slow on keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come repentance (2 Peter 3:9, New International Version).

HYMN FOR TODAY: "Take My Life and Let It Be"

Wouldn't it be simpler if God were to settle His issues right away? I have to admit that there are times when I have heard someone curse God, and threaten Him, that I have been tempted to pray, "God, would You please hit that guy?" If God would step in and eliminate murderers, rapists, and gangsters, this world would be a better place. They have it coming.Then I remember that Paul wrote to the Corinthians believers. "That is what some of you were. But you were washed,  you were sanctified" (1Corinthians 6:11, New International Version). Some thieves, homosexuals, drunkards and slanderers were changed by the spirit of God, and justified.

And I remember something else. If God had punished each of my sins immediately, I would be in a bad way. They may not have been the big black type; but they have "missed the mark." I am grateful for His patience.

It is good to know, too, that God doesn't want anyone to perish. He keeps giving time for His wayward children to turn to Him. Some all it "slow" But He calls it loving patience.

PRAYER THOUGHTS: "Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, Thank you, Lord, for making me whole; Thank you, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free." Amen.