The Greatest Gift What songs do you remember that you love about the resurrection of Jesus? So many of these songs are in my heart and are so meaningful to me. They stir us to remember the gift we have received that is greater than all gifts. This Easter, and always, let us share our Wondrous Story of Jesus. I Will Sing The Wondrous Story This beautiful hymn was written in 1886 by Francis Rowley. It is called " I Will Sing the Wondrous Story". This Easter let us all sing the wonderous story. I will sing the wondrous story Of the Christ who died for me. How He left His home in glory For the cross of Calvary. I was lost, but Jesus found me, Found the sheep that went astray, Threw His loving arms around me, Drew me back into His way. I was bruised, but Jesus healed me; Faint was I from many a fall; Sight was gone, and fears possessed me, But He freed me from them all. Days of darkness still come o'er me, Sorrow's paths I often tread, But the Savior still is with me; By His hand I'm safely led. He will keep me till the river Rolls its waters at my feet; Then He'll bear me safely over, Where the loved ones I shall meet. Yes, I'll sing the wondrous story Of the Christ who died for me, Sing it with the saints in glory, Gathered by the crystal sea. What Is Your Story? Each of us has a story to tell. How did you come to know the Lord? So many people I know have been possessed by fear and damaged by the falls that have come their way during life, and although dark days still happen even after they come to know God, they know now that Jesus our Savior is with them and leads them like a loving Shepherd. Yes, Jesus has freed us from our fears and hurts, praise His holy name! Jesus's Complete Sacrifice Jesus left his glorious home to die on the cross for each of us. He came to find His lost sheep and to bring them into the fold because all we like sheep have gone astray. His resurrection made all of this possible. This Easter I am reminded of a quote from Octavius Winslow: "So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of Himself, He created the tree upon which He was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail Him to the accursed wood." Sing Of His Glory Eventually we will, if we know Him, be gathered together with all the saints to sing of His glory. In Revelation 5:13 we read our song, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” We sing praises to our God and King because God is our glory forever! Tell Your Story Your story, your song, doesn't have to wait, you can tell it now. When you have the opportunity, share what our wonderous Savior has done for you. Let the world know that He died for you and them. Tell them how He reached out to you, the stray lamb, and brought you back into His way. Let others know we serve a risen Savior. A Savior who loves us beyond our comprehension and who seeks us, even now, to follow Him. I Once Was Lost But Now I'm Found

Why Reading the Old Testament Matters In my experience, people often avoid reading the Old Testament. It is worth remembering that when Jesus and His disciples talk about Scripture, it is the Old Testament they are referring to. Many stories or prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament have what is known as a dual fulfillment. This simply means they often have a short-term and a long-term fulfillment. The stories surrounding Joseph and Judah offer a beautiful example, foreshadowing Jesus as Savior and King. I want to begin by highlighting one such story that you may be familiar with, found in Genesis 37:9-11. Joseph’s Prophetic Dreams and Their Short-Term Fulfillment Here Joseph is explaining the second of two dreams he had, which foretold a time when his brothers and others would bow down to him. " Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me. " Genesis 37:9 When Joseph's father Jacob and his eleven brothers heard this, they immediately interpreted it to mean that one day they would be under the authority of Joseph. You can imagine if you told your brothers that they would one day bow down to you, how well that would go over! This only increased the hostility that Joseph's brothers had toward him, contributing to their decision to be rid of him by selling him into slavery. From Trials to Triumph: Joseph as a Type of Christ As many of you know, Joseph's life shows us God's plan in suffering and his eventual rise to become the "right hand man" of the Egyptian pharaoh. As such, he instructs the Egyptians to store grain for a famine he knows is coming because of another prophetic dream he had. In time, his brothers come to Egypt for food and do indeed find themselves bowing before their brother, whom they do not recognize. Through this, the nation of Israel was saved, the line of David was assured, and the birth of the Messiah would eventually happen. This is an example of a short-term fulfillment. But there is so much more to this prophetic dream. Joseph himself becomes a foreshadowing of Jesus. His life of hardship: rejected by his own people, sold for silver, falsely imprisoned, elevated to a position of power, and forgiving and saving his people, mirrors Jesus on an earthly scale. Looking further into the future, we see an even longer-term fulfillment as the story continues. First in Jesus born in first-century Israel, and later in Jesus as the reigning King of the New Jerusalem yet to come. Judah: From Failure to Royal Lineage Joseph’s life echoes Christ's. But suffering is not the final word. Later in Genesis, Jacob’s blessing of Judah shifts our attention from the suffering servant to the coming King. It is from Judah's lineage that Christ will be born, for He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Joseph reminds us of Jesus as the suffering servant, while Judah is the ruling king. In these stories we see both sides of Jesus displayed and both, in their way, pointing to a future fulfillment. In Genesis 49:8, as Jacob lay dying, he blesses each of his sons. To Judah, whose name means 'praise', he says these words, " Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you. " The Fulfillment of God’s Promises Through Joseph and Judah Judah's blessing indicates that the tribe of Judah would be important in the future of the Jewish nation. Indeed, Judah became the most prominent of all the tribes producing kings like David and Solomon. The expression, " Your hand on the neck of your enemies, " simply means that Judah and his offspring will be victorious over their enemies. We see this in the military success of King David, as well as the future victory of Christ over sin and death. In 2 Samuel 5:1-3 we are told that all of the tribes of Israel paid homage to King David. And one day, every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Jacob describes Judah as a lion's cub (Genesis 49:9) and in Revelation 5:5, John calls the victorious Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Jacob compares Judah to a protective lioness and asks, " Who dares to rouse him? " What nation would be bold enough to rouse this lion into action? We know when the nations of the earth are roused against Israel one last time at the Battle of Armageddon, they are completely and utterly destroyed. In Genesis 49:10, Jacob says the scepter will remain with Judah until "Shiloh" comes, a reference to the Messiah. The scepter is a sign of ruling authority. All believers must accept the authority of Christ forever. The lineage of Judah will remain forever at the coming of Jesus. Genesis 49:11 continues this imagery showing the complete abundance that people will experience during the reign of the Messiah (Revelation 20:4). Judah as a Substitute: A Foreshadowing of Christ Why was Judah chosen for such a blessing? Judah was actually the brother who first suggested that they sell Joseph into slavery. But by the time the brothers arrive in Egypt and discover their brother Joseph in charge of everything, he displays a change of heart. In Genesis 44 we see Judah offering to become a slave in exchange for his younger brother Benjamin. Why did he do this? Judah had guaranteed his father that he would bring his youngest son home safely. In Christ, we have a guarantee of Heaven if we have faith and believe. Out of love for his father who could not bear to lose his youngest child, Judah offered himself as a substitute. Judah even told his father if he did not bring Benjamin back, he " would bear the blame forever. " Jesus took the blame on our behalf. This foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ for us on the cross. The Faithfulness of God Across Generations What makes this story even more meaningful is that Joseph was a good guy from beginning to end. He always remained faithful to God. But Judah on the other hand, made many terrible mistakes. After impregnating his dead son's wife, his life and his heart changed. No one would be surprised if Joseph had been chosen to be the forefather of the Messiah, but Judah? Like Judah, we can also be redeemed and turn our own lives around because of Jesus. Foreshadowing Jesus as Savior and King Joseph was blessed to preserve the family which would become Israel, while Judah was chosen for the royal Messianic line despite his previous failures— one pointing to Jesus the Savior, and the other to Jesus the conquering King . God is always faithful to His promises. God's covenant promises to Abraham were fulfilled thanks to Joseph. Joseph's brothers did bow down to him as he had been shown in his dream. Jacob's prophecy that the scepter would not depart from Judah was also fulfilled when his descendant, King David, established a royal line that would never end (2 Samuel 7). Judah was promised the obedience of all the people. This promise will be fulfilled during the Messiah's reign on earth and this will be the New Jerusalem's hope. Old Testament Stories Pointing to Christ Throughout the Old Testament we see examples of "types of Christ." From Joseph, to Judah, and David, to Solomon, these stories purposely lead us toward the expectation and fulfillment of Christ as Messiah. We should be able to say with Paul, " Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! " Romans 11:33 This is precisely why studying the Old Testament is so important. Stories with dual fulfillment help us see the richness of Old Testament history on a grand scale, always pointing to the future. They are foreshadowing Jesus as Savior and King, first as Christ, our suffering servant who takes away our sin, and finally as our great King to whom the whole world bows. All praise to God our King ! In the words of Jesus, “ You search the Scriptures…and it is they that bear witness about me. ” John 5:39 Questions You May Have: What is foreshadowing? Foreshadowing is a writing device that hints at things to come.

Jesus Humbly Served We are told that Jesus came " in the form of a bondservant " (Philippians 2:7). But what does that mean? A bondservant is a person who is owned by someone else for a specified amount of time. They aren't a slave but they are obligated to serve. As a bondservant He lived to do His Father's will. For a time on this earth, Jesus, who is God, chose not to show His unlimited power. He came here to humbly give us an example of how to serve others. He was God, veiled in flesh. The Servant's Heart: Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet At the Last Supper, Jesus set an example for us. He washed the feet of the disciples, a job usually performed by a servant or the host. In John 13:12-17, He tells the disciples that He has given them an example, that we should do the same as He has. Jesus explains that a servant is not greater than his master. So, we can't think we are too good to do for others what Christ Himself was willing to do. His was the perfect servant's heart. Washing someone's feet was an example of great humility. How have we humbled ourselves before others? Perhaps we feel like others should humble themselves before us? Our Calling as Bondservants to Christ Jesus was a bondservant to God. As His followers, this is what is expected of us. Paul, Timothy, James, Jude and Peter all refer to themselves as bondservants. They were bondservants in the sense that Jesus paid a debt for their sin by dying on the cross, a debt they can never repay. So, forever these men called themselves bondservants to our Lord. They humbled themselves and, in every respect, tried to be servants to God and others, just as Jesus was. They showed complete devotion to Jesus and were completely submitted to Him, as we should be. The Purpose of Jesus' Service and Humility In Mark 10:45, we read why Jesus came to Earth: He came " not to be served, but to serve. " He came to give His very life as a ransom for those who would believe. In this chapter, He tells the disciples that to become great you must become a servant. Our Lord tells us in Luke 18:14 that the one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who is humbled will be exalted. The word exalted here means to raise someone up in power, wealth, rank or dignity. Isaiah 66:2 says that God will bless the humble. Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 52-53 by coming to us as a suffering servant who took our sins upon Himself. He teaches us that we serve because He served . What It Means to Serve Others as God’s People What does it look like to be a servant of God? In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus explains who the blessed ones are. They feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and those in prison. He explains that when we do these things for the ones the world thinks are unimportant, it was as if we are doing it to Him. Biblical Role Models of Service: Dorcas and the Good Samaritan An example of this is the story of Dorcas (Tabitha) in Acts 9:36-43. She made " tunics and garments " for widows who lived in Joppa. When she died, there was a great outpouring of grief for this woman that we are told was " full of good works and charitable deeds ". Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, restored her life. In Luke 10:25-37, another example of someone who has a servant's heart is seen in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. This story shows that we should love and serve not just those who love us, but even our enemies. The example of the Good Samaritan is one of love in action . He served another expecting nothing in return. Modern-Day Example of Humility in Service: Dr. Donald Hopkins We also have examples today of those who serve others with humility. Dr. Donald Hopkins is a Christian doctor who has made a big impact on global health, especially in poor and underserved areas. He played a key role at the Carter Center in nearly wiping out Guinea worm disease, helping to reduce cases from millions in the 1980s to only a few today. He was also involved in the fight to end smallpox and has led efforts against other diseases that are often overlooked. Driven by his faith and a desire to help others, Dr. Hopkins has made a lasting difference in public health around the world. He has accomplished so much and yet most of us have never even heard of him. He is a humble servant. Practical Ways to Serve in Your Community How can we serve in our communities today? There are so many ways to serve. We can volunteer at a food bank, serve in various roles in our church, give our time or money to local charities, visit nursing homes, work in prison ministries, or work with child abuse and neglect services as a volunteer. We can do simple things like check on our neighbors who don't get out much, or mow an elderly person's lawn. The list is endless. Our service should be prayerful. How does God want me to serve? Pray that He would show you. Serving others doesn’t always mean doing big things. It can be as simple as truly listening to someone or doing a task you’d rather avoid—without complaining. Service, in reality, means giving up your whole life for God and others. Serving with True Humility and Pure Intentions In our service, however, we must be very careful. Who are we are doing these good things for? Do we do them to make ourselves feel better? Do we do them so people will applaud us as great Christians? Do we do them for the praises of men or for the love of God? What is our motivation ? In Galatians 1:10, Paul tells us, " For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. " To serve as Christ did, Paul reminds us in Philippians 2:3 that we should consider others as better than ourselves. Embracing Humility Without Demeaning Yourself Does this mean that we should go around belittling our abilities and trashing ourselves as worthless? Absolutely not! What Paul is saying is that we should serve the Lord with humility toward others, which gives glory to God. We all have talents and skills, but they come from God. That is something we should never forget. We should avoid false humility that seeks to glorify ourselves, and instead serve others with genuine humility. Serving with Strength from God 1 John 3:18 reminds us that we shouldn't just talk about loving people; but we should show it in our actions and our truth. If we truly love our neighbor as ourself (Galatians 5:14), we should have no problem having the heart of a servant. Why should it be easy? Because Peter tells us, " If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ "(1 Peter 4:11, NIV). God Himself will give us the ability to serve. The Reward of Faithful Service At the end of our lives, we all want to hear Jesus say, " Well done good and faithful servant " (Matthew 25:23). Our faithful service can bring joy to us in this life, as well as in the next. Perhaps more than anything else Jesus has called us to serve, and do so with love. Are we?

Men: strong, courageous, and bold—this is how the Bible describes them and their service to God. Sometimes we look around our churches and wonder where have the men gone: especially, the young men. I wonder if they think, 'real men' don't go to church? Many churches today seek young men to take up their role in God’s work. What the Bible makes clear is that a 'real man' is what is needed in the church. "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13 Biblical Principles of Manhood In Psalm 37:23, the Bible defines what a good man is. When a man desires God and delights in Him he will follow the ways of God. Micah 6:8 says that God has shown man what He wants. God desires us to be humble, merciful, and treat people justly. Guidance for Young Men in Scripture Young men are told in Psalm 119:9 that to stay pure they must be obedient to the word of the Lord. Psalm 71:5 reminds us that God is our hope and our trust from the time we were young. In Proverbs 23, Solomon tells his son not to associate with drunks and gluttons because they will end in poverty. He tells his son to listen to his father and mother and follow wisdom's call . The entire third chapter of Proverbs is addressed to "my son." In it we find some very specific advice for young men. We learn that God blesses the just, humble and wise. They are to: Keep the commandments of God. Be merciful and truthful. Trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him, which means to admit He has authority over us. Fear the Lord and leave evil. Honor God with what you have—this means give to His work. Not " despise the chastening of the Lord ". This means to understand that if God loves us, He must and will correct us when we sin. Love wisdom. Give good things to people and don't plot bad things against your neighbor. Not fight or argue with someone for no reason. Not be envious of those in power. Jeremiah's Youthful Calling The prophet Jeremiah was called as a young man to speak God's word to the people. In Jeremiah 1:6, he told God he couldn't speak as a prophet because he was young. God told Jeremiah not to say that. He told Jeremiah that he would speak what God commanded him to speak and go where God told him to go and not to be afraid because God would be with him. In Lamentation 3:27, Jeremiah tells us, "It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth." This means that experiencing hardship and pain when we are young, teaches us very early to put our trust in God alone. We know He is in control of every situation, even if we don't understand. Mighty Men of Valor - Gideon There were certain men in the Bible who were given the title, Mighty Men of Valor. These men were singled out for what God saw in them. The greatness that was there whether they were aware of it or not. Gideon was one such person. In Judges 6:12-14 the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon and tells him that he is a Mighty Man of Valor . Gideon believes God has abandoned Israel. He believes that he is of no importance and certainly cannot be a Mighty Man of Valor, but he is told to go and defeat the enemy because the Angel says, " Have I not sent you? " Maybe God is calling you to be one as well. Maybe God has sent you! Young men today can use the example of Gideon's courage to serve God in ways they never thought possible. The Example of Timothy In the New Testament, we read about Timothy, a young man who worked with Paul as an evangelist and became the first bishop of Ephesus. In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul tells Timothy that no one should look down on him because he is young. Instead, Timothy is told to be an example to other Christians in his word, conduct, love, spirit, faith and purity. His young age could not be used as an excuse to be disobedient to God. In 1 Timothy 5:1, Paul explains that young men are not to be rebuked but encouraged as you would a brother. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 says that a man of God will flee evil and "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness." Paul tells Timothy that a man of God will "fight the good fight of faith." Young men need to wrestle against evil , as we all do. Overcoming Youthful Temptations Later, in 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul encourages Christians to run from the lusts of their youth. Lust doesn't just refer to sex. It also means any sinful longing like getting high, drinking too much, or revenge, for example. When the desire becomes overwhelming to do these things, it becomes lust. Titus 2:6-8 continues with this theme by saying that young men should be sober-minded. This means focusing on God and using self control. These young men are told to have a pattern of good works, their doctrine should be one of integrity. Integrity means your life should be sincere and lived without hypocrisy, consistent with what you say you believe. Also, the young men should have sound speech, meaning that it is wholesome and truthful. They should recognize the danger of idle words . 1 Peter 5:5-9 directly addresses young people. They are to be humbly submissive to older people and each other. They should be watchful for the devil, who seeks to destroy them, while exercising self-control. Leadership and Responsibility in the Early Church Men were the leaders of the early church, just as they are today. They were often tortured, even martyred for their faith. The expectations for the young men who were Christians were high. Being young was not an excuse for not living for Christ the absolute best way they could. These young men in the church were to become missionaries and evangelists, pastors and teachers, grounded firmly in their faith. They encouraged each other and those around them to live a holy life that would be a blessing to others. Young Men Today: Embrace Your Role—Act Like Men The young men of today are expected to do the same. We don't need to make excuses for them. We don't need to treat them like little children, as though being a Christian witness is too hard for them. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:11, explains that "when I became a man I put away childish things." They are capable, and they are able to be the leaders Jesus expects them to be. Their strength will come from Him. Pray for Strong Leaders We need young men in the church as much as they need the church. Young men need to fight the good fight of faith that Paul spoke of. It is very difficult to be a strong and faithful young Christian man in today's world because the temptations are many. Being a Christian is not for the weak and faint hearted, but for those who know who their enemy really is —the devil. But God will always be with them, just as He was for Jeremiah. We need to make a point of praying for our young men to be the leaders that God wants them to be.

The Most Important Lessons As parents, we often find ourselves repeating certain phrases to our children—"If there's one thing you should remember, it's this..." These "one things" are usually about the most important lessons we want them to learn. Interestingly, the Bible also uses this expression to highlight what truly matters in life. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of people discovering their "one thing" —the thing that matters most to them in their relationship with God. David’s One Desire: To Dwell with God (Psalm 27:4) David tells us in Psalm 27:4, “ One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” David was a hunted man. Saul desired to kill him. But in the midst of his trials, his heart longed to be where God was. This was the joy of His life, to be near God. This desire is the reason he was able to write the beloved 23rd Psalm. God was with him. What is your one desire? Have you thought about what is the most important thing to you in your life? Is your first thought of your loved ones or is it of God? When times are tough do we want to be closer to God, or do we give up on God? The Rich Young Ruler: Lacking One Thing (Mark 10:17-22) In Mark 10:17-22, we read the story of the rich young ruler. Here was a wealthy, powerful young man who had tried to obey the law his whole life. "What must I do to be saved?" , he asked. The young ruler didn't realize he was about to face bitter disappointment. Jesus loved the young man, but He knew his heart. When Jesus told him the "One thing you lack is to sell everything you own," He revealed that the one thing the young man valued above all was his money. It was not a sin for him to have money, but it was a sin to treasure it above God. We might ask ourselves, has God caused us to think that we should give up something we value for Him? Have we been willing to? Could it be social status? Money? Time? Our own wants? Our family? The Blessings of Leaving All for God (Luke 18:28) Following this story, Peter speaks up, telling Jesus about the sacrifices made by the disciples who followed Him. In Luke 18:28, Peter tells Jesus that they have left everything to follow Him. The Lord replies that those who have left home or family for the sake of God will receive much more now and in eternal life. The "more" Jesus speaks of are God's abundant blessings , not physical, worldly things. Mary and Martha: Choosing the Good Part (Luke 10) In the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10, when Jesus comes to their home, Martha is scurrying around tending to needs, while Mary is sitting at Jesus's feet and hearing His words. Martha scolds Jesus and expects Him to reprimand Mary for not doing her part, but instead, Jesus tells Martha, "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” The good part, the "one thing", that Mary chose was to be still and listen to Jesus. In our efforts to "do things" for God we often forget that hearing His words, studying them, and praying over them is sometimes more important than our actions. The Blind Man’s Testimony: Spiritual Sight Restored (John 9:25) In John 9:25, we read the story of the man born blind. The Lord restored his vision, but when the Pharisees questioned him asking if Jesus was a sinner, the man cried out that the "one thing" he knew was that he once was blind but now could see. As Jesus explains in this chapter, the Pharisees suffered from spiritual blindness, not physical blindness like the man born blind. As John Newton's stirring hymn, Amazing Grace, reminds us. "I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see." All of us experienced spiritual blindness before we became a Christian. Now the " one thing" we know is that Christ has opened our eyes to let us see our need for Him above everything. Paul’s Focus on Pressing Toward the Goal (Philippians 3:13-14) Paul declares in Philippians 3:13-14, that the "one thing" he does is press towards the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God, in Jesus. Paul's focus is on what he can do today, and the rest of his life, to live for Christ. Paul compares himself to a runner in a race. His goal is to know Jesus and be like Him as much as possible. The word 'press' in this verse means to actively pursue our Lord so as to be sanctified to Him, to be set apart and holy, for God. The Common Theme: Seeking God Above All Else In these examples, we see that the "one thing" needed is always similar. For David, it was to be with God. For Mary, it was to listen to Him. For the man born blind, it was to see, spiritually and physically. For Paul, it was to keep pressing onward in his journey of faith. And for the sad rich young ruler, it was understanding what mattered most in his life. In each case, the ‘one thing’ was what they valued above everything else. The Most Important 'One Thing' We can place ourselves in these stories and ask similar questions: Do we want to be with God; listen to Him; see our spiritual need; keep pressing to be more like Him; and examine our life to see what is truly important to us? As Paul continues on to say in Philippians 4:1, "My beloved, stand firm in the Lord." What is your life , if it isn't lived for God? In all that we do seek Jesus, our eternal hope. That is the "one thing" that will always matter the most.

We Are Living Sacrifices As Christians we are called a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). To be a living sacrifice means to offer ourselves completely to God. When we do this we will not be like the world, but we will be transformed by the word of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the altar fire that consumed the burnt offering was a gift from God (Leviticus 9:24) that was never to go out (Leviticus 6:13). In the New Testament, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11). This fire is also a gift from God. When the Holy Spirit first appears to the church in Acts 2:3-4, He appears as tongues of fire resting above each one present. Purified By Fire This symbol of fire that God uses is meaningful because just as fire can purify something, like removing impurities from gold or silver, so too does the Holy Spirit purify us and sanctify us, in our walk with Jesus. The fire of the Holy Spirit consumes the things in our lives that separate us and keep us from walking in the spirit as Christ would have us do. In 1 Peter 1:2 addresses " pilgrims of the Dispersion "..." elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ,". It is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us. The purpose of sanctification is so that we will be obedient to become more like Christ. Strength And Power By His Presence Fire also represents God's presence in our lives. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was covered over with God's presence in the form of a cloud by day and fire by night (Numbers 9:14-15). In the New Testament, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 6:16 that we are the temple of God and that God dwells in us. His presence in His gives us strength and power (Romans 8:26 and Acts 1:8) and it is His indwelling fire that enables us to be courageous for our faith. In Revelation 12:11, the Bible speaks of those who are overcomers. They overcome evil by the blood of Jesus and their testimonies. They overcome in the face of persecution, and John tells, " us they did not love their lives to the death. " Even as believers overcome persecution today and die for their faith—it is the Holy Spirit living in us that gives them this strength and power. We are told that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us (Ephesians 1:20). That power is the Holy Spirit. Because we have that power we can go boldly before people. Fan Into Flame The Gift Of God Our zeal and passion for God comes from the Holy Spirit. We should have a burning desire to know God and to share Him with others. Just as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus say that their hearts were burning within them after their encounter with the resurrected Christ, so we also have a flame that needs to be kept burning. When Paul writes Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6 he reminds Timothy to " fan into flames " the gift Paul gave Timothy when he laid hands on him. "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." 2 Timothy 1:6 How does a person " fan into flame " our gifts? The gifts are from God, but we have to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to stir them up. Our diligence, as faithful workers for God, makes us disciplined and produces the fruits of the Spirit that Paul speaks of in Galatians 5: 22-23. We are not to neglect the gifts that we have (1 Timothy 4:14). We are to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction for our lives (Galatians 5:25). In Romans 12:11 Paul tells us to be spiritually fervent when serving the Lord and never to lack zeal. Fervent means to show intense feeling while being sincere and steady. Zeal refers to being enthusiastic. Paul says Christians shouldn't be bored, unemotional or insincere. As Revelation 3:19 tells the church at Laodicea, " be zealous and repent ". The Bible tells us complacency is foolish (Proverbs 1:32). God Gives Us Gifts The gifts that we have been given are to be used for others. Just as Jesus describes in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). We have the Holy Spirit who helps us use our God given talents and abilities to spread the kingdom message. The Spirit gives us boldness to speak of Jesus to others (Acts 4:31). The indwelling Spirit of God also enables us to be obedient to the command to love and serve others. We are told to be rivers of living water to bless others. As Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:10, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Paul tells us that by one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body—the Body of Christ. And although, we may feel that our gifts are unnecessary or unimportant, each gift, each person, is necessary for the proper functioning of that Body. We all have something to offer. Consumed By Fire The fire that was started by God to consume the sacrifices of the Israelites is, in essence, the same fire that was given to us, in the form of the Holy Spirit, when we became Christians. Just as their sacrifice was consumed by fire, so our lives should be consumed with the fire of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, this gift of God that purifies, sanctifies and empowers us, not just so we can have a beautiful experience with God, but so that we can obediently and zealously share Him with a lost and dying world. Let us rid ourselves of complacency and fan into flame the gift of God. Do you have the Holy Spirit? If not, "... the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely." - Revelation 22:17

God Given Tools to be Diligent Work, effort, persistence, endurance, discipline are all words that don't necessarily sound like much fun. They are all wrapped up in one word - diligence. This word is found many times in the Bible. In 2 Peter 1:1-11, Peter addresses Christians, and tells them that they have been given by God all the tools they need to live a successful Christian life. Each one must strive to be the diligent Christian God expects them to be. No matter what we strive to do in life, whether it be to have a successful career, a happy marriage, or become known for our art or music or sports ability, one thing they all have in common is that they require diligence. Just as diligence can bring about good, it can also bring about evil desires if we so choose. If we work at evil, plan it, think upon it, and make efforts to advance it, that too will be successful. The Diligent Christian Peter says God has given us what we need to live a godly life, but the thing that we must add is diligence. We should work diligently to be approved . The lazy Christian will not be a successful one. The one who is diligent only for a season will fade away. Great And Precious Promises In 2 Peter 1:4, Peter tells us that we have received " great and precious promises ". We are standing on the promises that include the faithfulness of our Lord, forgiveness, eternal life, a hope for the future, and the return of our Lord. Because of these promises, 2 Peter 1:4 says we " have become partakers in the Divine Nature ". Why? Because, as we have been told, we are the sons and daughters of God (2 Corinthians 6:18). The Holy Spirit makes this possible. It is He that gives the gifts and the promises that help us become a godly man or woman. Without our diligence, though, without us doing our part, no fruit will come from our lives. If we really desire it, we can become holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). Hebrews 11:6 says that we will be rewarded when we diligently seek God. Deuteronomy 4:9 tells us to diligently guard our soul. Deuteronomy 6:17 informs us of the importance of diligently keeping and learning the instructions of God. In fact, if we don't do this, we can actually forget God (Deuteronomy 8:11). In Matthew 24:12-13, Jesus reminds us to endure to the end so that we will be saved. Endurance is part of diligence. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives us the ability to endure (Romans 5:3-5). Diligence Makes Us Fruitful With diligence, we can add to our faith a list of qualities that a growing, maturing Christian should have: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). It is these things Peter tells us that will keep us from being unfruitful and barren " in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ " (2 Petr 1:8). The closer we stay to the Son, the more we grow to become like Him, and, the more we understand who He really is. The Parable Of The Stewards In Luke12:32-46, Jesus tells us the parable of the stewards or managers. The wise steward is faithful and diligent. The other steward, believing his master is delayed in returning, proceeds to abuse the servants below him and eats and drinks to drunkenness. This evil steward, as he is called, will be assigned the place with unbelievers when the master returns. The difference between the two was their faithfulness and diligence. Our Faith Should Change Us But if we have not been diligent, then we won't have these things. Peter says we will become like a blind person, one that can't remember being cleansed from old sins (2 Peter 1:9). People who choose not to be diligent can't see those precious promises that Peter talks about. They can't see that their beliefs should have influence on the way they live their lives. These people belong to a church, perhaps, but how and in what way their faith should change them is not so clearly seen. Peter says they cannot see far off, which implies that they don't see very far into the true nature of the gospel. When we first become Christians, we should not think that it is OK to stay as we are. We are on a faith journey, a journey to holiness that some have compared to a ladder of faith. Each rung of our diligent climb brings God more into focus. Each step up brings us closer to the righteousness we are called to live. Stumbling blocks will certainly be put in our path by Satan, but as Peter says, " if you do these things you will never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10) . And in Jude 1:24 we read this, " Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling". We rely on God's power not to stumble, not our own. Diligence Prevents Us From Falling Our diligence in growing our faith will prevent us from falling into repetitive, unrepentant sin. Will we still sin? Yes, of course, but we won't fall and be left behind. When we see the fruits of our diligence, it will allow us to face death knowing that when we leave this earth, it will be to live with Jesus. How Do We Know We Are His? Growing in grace and in the knowledge of God is a guarantee that we belong to Him. When we see gradual progress towards holiness in our lives, we can see proof that the Holy Spirit is at work within us. When we know little of God or how He would have us live our lives, it is easy to slip back into the ways of the world. If we have no desire to know God better, perhaps we never really knew Him at all. An Analogy Concerning Diligence Our diligence is like that of a poor, underprivileged student who has been offered free tuition to an elite university by a rich benefactor. The student has been freely offered this gift. He did nothing to deserve it. Because of this, he has the desire to please his benefactor and show his gratitude. This causes him to be work hard in his studies. He strives for excellence. He has been blessed beyond measure, and, he longs to show the benefactor that he will try very hard to do his best each and every day. So we, like the poor student, have done nothing to deserve the gift of eternal life offered to us by God, but because we love Him who first loved us, we want to work diligently to live a holy life. We want to work diligently to grow in our knowledge of God because, when we die, we want Him to know that we loved Him so much that we wanted to be like Him in all that we are and all that we do. As Ephesians 4:15 reminds us, "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ" Growing in every way into Him is our goal. Once again, as Peter tells us, we are to grow diligently in virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. And finally, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians chapter 13:13, the greatest of these is love. Our Everlasting Kingdom 2 Peter 1:11 describes our homecoming into Heaven. He says that " an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom ". This means we will have a warm welcome, as a good and faithful servant. If you can, imagine the gates of Heaven being opened wide for you, the diligent servant. This is our promise, our blessed hope, that at the end of our lives, we will live with our Savior in His everlasting Kingdom.

The Book of 1 John and the Question of Sin Like many people, I sometimes tend to avoid passages in the Bible that I have trouble understanding. However, with prayerful study of God's word and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can gain an understanding. First John 5:18 is one such verse. As one Bible scholar put it, many of us would like to place John’s statement in this verse "up on the shelf where the unintelligible things are getting covered over with dust." Can Christians Still Sin And Be Born Of God? 1 John 5:18, says the following, "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin;" How can John say such a thing since clearly we all sin, even after having come to a saving knowledge of Christ? In 1 John 3:6 and 3:9, he repeats that those born of God don't sin. However, in 1 John 1:8, he says that if we say we have not sinned that we are lying. In 1 John 2:1 he tells the church that he is writing to them so they won't sin. And in I John 5:16-17 he tells us to pray for our brother if he is sinning a sin which doesn't lead to death. Our brother would be another Christian. So can Christians still sin? Clearly, John recognizes we will sin. The New Creation v Our Old Self There is no contradiction in what John is saying here. We have become a new creation in Christ, we have put on the New Man and that new creation is the Holy Spirit who lives within us. As Paul says, he no longer lives but Christ lives in him (Galatians 2:19). We don't make ourselves a new creation; God does. In McClaren's Expositions he tells us, "there is a power in him, a life-principle in him which is sinless, and whatsoever in him is born of God overcometh the world and’ sinneth not.’" Colossians 3:5 reminds us that since our old self is dead, we should "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." We war against those things that remain in us that oppose God. Because we are a new creation, we can now choose righteous behavior; but our old sinful desires, sadly, still exist and war against us. 1 Timothy 6:11 tells us to flee from sin and pursue righteousness. We are all like Paul at times, who does the thing he doesn't want to do (Romans 7:19). James 3:2, reminds us also that, " We all stumble in many ways. " James is including himself among those who stumble. Habitual Sin John's statement in 1 John 5:18 is referring to habitual sins, sins that are ongoing. As John Stott says, “The present tense in the Greek verb implied habit, continuity, unbroken sequence.” Some modern translations include habitual in the translation of this verse. As 1 John 3:7 says, " let no one deceive you". John wanted to assure his readers that true Christians don't continue in sin. We may struggle with particular sins but we won't remain in them indefinitely. True Christians feel remorse and repent from their sins. Why Did John Write First John? Why did John write this letter? It was written to refute false teachers, who claimed to know God, but didn't. These false teachers were likely Gnostics. Gnosticism, according to the Encyclopedia of the Bible , "held that a redeemed soul in a sinful body was not responsible for the deeds of that body." This idea promoted sexual immorality and taught that Christians didn't have to stop doing sinful behaviors. This was false doctrine. Sin No Longer Controls Us To emphasize that as a Christian we are indeed responsible for what we do, John stresses that a Christian will no longer be controlled by sin. As God's children, we do sometimes disobey our Father. We do still sin because, although forgiven, we are still fallen human beings living in a fallen world. We do sin, as John reminds us in I John 1:8, but our new nature, given to us by God, helps us to become more like Him daily. We are becoming sanctified. Where once we were slaves to sin as Paul tells us (Romans 6:20), " now we are slaves to righteousness, which leads to sanctification " (Romans 6:19). Are You Being Sanctified? Am I a " slave to righteousness "? Am I becoming sanctified? As my pastor recently said, "Are we fans or we followers?" We aren't just passive spectators to our Christian life expecting God to do all the work. As Paul says in I Corinthians 9:26-27, "... Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection.... " The Holy Spirit living in us gives us the ability to choose who we serve - sin or God. We fight darkness with light. How Do You Know You Are His? These early Christians wanted to understand how to truly know they belonged to Christ. John says in 1 John 5:11-13, that he writes to these Christians so that they " may know that they have eternal life and continue to believe in the name of the Son of God ". 1 John 3:10 says those that those who don't practice righteousness aren't of God. Practice doesn't imply perfection; we practice to become more like Him. Sin no longer defines who we are. 1 John 3:23-24 tells us that we abide in Him if we are obedient to Him, and that the Spirit He has given us will let us know that we are His. This is how we know we belong to Christ. What Is A True Christian? As John reminds us over and over in 1 John. True Christians show love. They allow the light of Christ to shine through so that others can see it. True Christians don't live in a state of sin. True Christians practice righteousness. John tells us that God is light (1 John 1:5), that He is life (1 John 2:25), and that He is love ( 1 John 4:8). John shows us that true love and discipleship, mean that we will act righteously. Can Christians still sin? Yes, but if it is habitual sin with no repentance, then it is time to question if your faith is real. Towards the end of 1 John 5 in verse 20, he tells us that Jesus has given us an understanding to know Him and be in Him who is true, Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Most High God. This knowledge is based on our experience of Christ. Without this understanding we can't know Him. Without it we can't be in Him. This is eternal life and we know it. This is truth.

Futility v The Renewal of our Mind The Bible explains to us in Ephesians 4:17 that while we were lost and in the world (Gentiles), we operated in the " futility of our minds ". What is a mind without God? Someone who looks for answers but never finds any. It is someone who seeks joy in things or people but can't find anything that lasts. It is a mind without focus on what's really important. It is a mind that often feels hopeless and adrift in the world. Hope only comes when we " put on the new man ," renewed by the Holy Spirit. But what does futility mean? Futility means that you are striving for something that you can't find, seeking something that always seems out of reach. A mind without God is concerned only with itself. The opposite of futility is wisdom, sanity, judgment. This is what God wants for us. He wants our minds to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 10:16 says that God will write His covenant in our minds. The Old Man And The New Man In Ephesians 4:22 Paul says that we must put off the old man with its sinful desires and lusts and in verse 24 he says we must put on the new man. The new man is renewed in the spirit of your mind. Our mind needs to be daily refocused on God. This new man is created in righteousness and holiness . He picks up this idea in Romans 8:5 where he says we should live according to the Holy Spirit of God and that our minds should be set on those things that come from the Spirit. Romans 12:2 says, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Our goal as Christians is to have a renewed mind. But how? I Corinthians 2:16 says that we " have been given the mind of Christ ." How do we go about renewing our mind with the help of the Holy Spirit? By reading and studying the word of God. By reading the word we grow in faith and knowledge day by day. Hosea 4:6 says that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. We steadily grow and mature by learning more and more what the mind of Christ really is. Sanctified When Jesus prayed for us to God in John 17:17 He said " Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." To become more like Christ, to be sanctified, we need to know the truth and that truth is found in His Word. When we go to church and hear the Word read, we often feel like we have enough. But do we understand what we have heard, really? Have we prayed over it? Have we meditated on it? Have we read the entire chapter it is from, not just the one verse or two that we heard? What Is The Difference? The new man that Paul talks about in Ephesians is one who grows more and more to be like Christ. Colossians 3:10 says that the new man is renewed in knowledge. Knowledge of what? Knowledge of Him who created us. Paul describes the differences between the Old Man and the New Man. Old Man New Man lies speaks truth steals works so he can share with others speaks "corrupt words" edifies (builds up) people with their words angry kind holds grudges forgives holds on to hatred loves greedy generous lewd (lust, fornication, adultery) sexually pure Put On The New Man Paul continues in Ephesians 4:18 to say that the old man was blinded by his sin and alienated from God because of his ignorance of the love of Christ and his mercy. Now that we have " put on " the new man, quite literally clothed ourselves with Christ , we should grow in holiness daily to become more like Him. Our new man, our new clothes, should be obvious to those around us. Study The Word Reading our Bible every day should be as normal as eating breakfast or watching the news. It should be part of our routine, but it should be the most important part. I want to quote Jenny Hawkins about reading the Word daily. She said, " When I was so tired I couldn't remember what I'd read; when I was mad and couldn't feel what I read; when I was sad and could not hear God's voice in what I read; I still read - and that saved me through difficult times." We should dedicate ourselves to being obedient and learning about God even when we don't feel like it. Do You Really Want To Know Him? To grow in Christ, to grow in love, we need to write His words on our hearts and in our minds. We need to want to know Him. We have the Holy Spirit of God within us. Let us put on the new man and be renewed! Rejoice in Him!

The Lasting Impression of a Letter Letters, we don't write letters much anymore, unless emails or long texts count. I have some letters that I have had for 50 years. I guess you would call me a letter hoarder. When I go back and read them, they take me back to a different time, a different place. Some of them take me to a good place and time, others not so much. The thing about letters though is that they last. Not just the physical letter, but the impression it makes continues. Your life is a letter from Christ. How does that make you feel? Letters Of Recommendation In Paul's time ministers were often required to have letters of recommendation written for them by their churches. This was done because there were many false teachers. In 2 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul says that he needs no letter because the church at Corinth has become that for him. Not because of anything he personally did, but because of the work of God on their hearts. Indeed, Paul says, they themselves are the letter of recommendation, written from Christ on their hearts. A Letter From Christ As Christians, each of our lives are letters from Christ. Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:3 says this, "...you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." We are a " letter from Christ ". Think about that. Our lives are being read by those around us every day. The impression that we make with our lives stays with people. Does our letter recommend Christ to others? Does it make them want to know Christ more or does it make them want to stay away from Him? Letters With Corrections There have certainly been times when my life was not the letter I wanted people to read. Thanks be to God that He forgives me and with the help of the Holy Spirit I can rewrite my letter. He allows corrections! My goal is that my letter is written more and more by Him and less and less by me. Written On Our Hearts But who is it that is doing the writing? Paul says it is the Holy Spirit of God and that He is writing this letter on our hearts. The same idea is expressed in Hebrews 8:10. The New Covenant will be written on our hearts. Proverbs 3:3 says to, " write truth and mercy on the tablets of our hearts." Jeremiah 31:31-34 prophesies of a time when God will give a New Covenant that will be written on our hearts. The Old Covenant v New Covenant The Old Covenant of Moses was written by God on stone tablets. These laws, these Ten Commandments, were to be followed, but people soon found out that it was impossible to always obey them. This fact made people realize their failings and short comings. There was condemnation under the Old Covenant, but now, under the New Covenant there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). Only the New Covenant, written in our hearts, offers us hope. Because of Jesus's sacrifice we can become sons of God, adopted into His family. What Does Our Letter Say? In Romans 2: 14-16 Paul explains more about this. He says that when we (Gentiles) are obedient to the law it is proof that the law is "written on our hearts". When people who are not Christians think of us, what does our letter say to them? If it doesn't say what we want it to, we need to make an effort to have a more loving letter to read. A letter filled with the love of Christ. More Like God Ezekiel 11:19 predicts the time of Christ when he says, "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh," This same spirit is the Spirit of God who writes on our hearts. Before we had this Spirit the letter we wrote to the world was selfish, lying, hating, angry, bitter, proud, and full of all kinds of sin. Even if we were " good " people our righteousness was as filthy rags before a perfect God (Isaiah 64:6). Now that we have a new heart, we should desire to be more like God. People should see God in our letter. Being Transformed At the end of chapter 3 in 2 Corinthians, Paul says we are being transformed into His (God's) image, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. This is not an instant thing. Paul says we are transformed with " ever increasing glory ". Our letter from Christ should sound more and more as if Christ wrote it Himself. This transformation comes from, as Paul says, " beholding as in a mirror the Glory of God ". Beholding doesn't mean a casual glance. It means to really look deeply at something - to study it. Romans 8:29 says we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. In other words we are supposed to become like Him in every way. Knowing Who God Is To become more like God we need to understand who God is , and to do this, we need to study His word and get to know Him. We need to pray, listen, and grasp an understanding of Him as deeply as possible in this life. God is love. We need to allow Him to transform us into love as well; so that when people read our letter, our lives, it will reflect Him in all that we do. Our lives are a letter from Christ to the whole world.

What to Wear to the Wedding? Going to a wedding can be a stressful event for people. What to wear? Maybe you don't own a lot of dressy clothes so what do you do? Wear what you have and look out of place or go buy new clothes. In Matthew there is a story of someone who came to a wedding feast without the proper clothing. He was not clothed with Christ. The Parable Of The Wedding Feast In Matthew 22:1-14 we read the parable of the wedding feast. To summarize it, the king invited people to the wedding of his son but they didn't want to come. He angrily punished them and told his servants to go out and invite basically anyone who would come, till the hall was filled with guests. To the king's surprise when he looked around there was a man without a wedding garment on. The king addressed him as ' friend '. He asks why are you dressed this way? The man seems surprised, especially when he is bound and cast out of the wedding feast. Then the Lord makes this statement, "For many are called, but few are chosen ." Matthew 22:14 Symbolism Of The Parable The symbolism of this parable is pretty understandable. The Jews were the guests who were invited and ignored the invitation. They rejected Jesus when He was here, so the call of salvation went out to everyone. The gentiles (the rest of the world) would be those who were asked to come and fill the hall. But what about the man without proper clothing? Proper Attire First, we need a background on Jewish weddings of the time period. The host of the wedding feast would provide his guests with proper attire. They didn't have to worry about what they would wear because it was provided for them. The man who was thrown out would have had access to such a garment. Why did he not have it on? It would have been quite insulting to the king to have a guest refuse to put on the white robe. The man apparently believed that his old clothes were adequate to attend the wedding. Maybe he was just careless, thoughtless about what he was doing. He may have been excited to be at the feast but not aware that a change of clothes was necessary. Clothed With Christ The symbolism of the wedding garment is this, as Romans 13:14 says, we are to be " clothed with Christ ". In Revelation 19:8 the clothing required for the marriage supper of the Lamb, the joining of Christ with His church, is clearly stated. " It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." In Zechariah chapter 3, Zechariah has a vision of Joshua standing before the angel of the Lord in filthy garments. The angel of the Lord tells those around him to remove his filthy garments, because his sin has been taken away, and put fine clothes on him. Christ's Righteousness Clothes Us It is the righteousness of Christ that clothes us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus became sin, who knew no sin. The reason He did this is so that we might become the " righteousness of God ". Galatians 3:27 says if we have been baptized in Christ, then we have clothed ourselves with Christ. This righteousness is a gift God freely gives us, not because we deserve it, but out of His grace. Isaiah 64:6 explains that our righteousness is like " filthy rags ". This is why we need the robe of righteousness that Christ offers us. Conversion Means Change When someone accepts the call of Christ it can't be done without realizing that you must be converted. Conversion is change. Conversion is transformation . I can't continue to wear my filthy rags. I have to put on Christ. I have to change, to grow in obedience and the way of truth . We read in Luke 15:7 that there is joy in Heaven over just one sinner who repents . Repentance is turning from sin. Simple belief is not enough. The Bible reminds us that even the devil believes (James 2:19). The man at the wedding feast did not have to buy his new clothes, he just had to accept them. He had to put them on. He had to realize his filthy clothes weren't acceptable to the King. The King had invited everyone to His feast. He had invited the good and the bad. The man came thinking that he didn't have to change, that he could come as he was without the proper attire. There was a price to pay for that thinking. An eternal price will be paid if we believe that we have no need for new garments, for Christ's righteousness. Yes, we can come to Christ as we are. The mistake some people make is that they think they can stay that way. They see no real need to change their lives. Some people say they are Christians but their lives show no evidence of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22-23). Their lives tells us they aren't what they say they are. Imagine the surprise of the man in the parable. He thought he was fine. He thought what he had on was good enough. As Matthew 22:14 said, the King has invited as many guests as his servants could find to His Son's wedding but few will be chosen. Few will wear the robe of righteousness provided by our King.

Made in the Image of God We are " Made in the image of God ." This is what Genesis tells us. When I make something in my image it looks like me. When God makes something in His image it is about the qualities and attributes of Himself. God is love, God is compassionate, God is faithful, God is truth, and God is light. As humans we have the same characteristics as God and because we are made in His image, we should reflect those characteristics to others. In Isaiah 43: 7, God says, "Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Created For His Glory We were created for His glory. When we glorify God, we highly exalt and honor Him. One way we glorify Him is by our holy conduct. We show the world the characteristics of our Maker and Savior. All things exist to glorify God. Even " The heavens declare the glory of God ."(Psalm 19:1) Reflect Your Creator Imagine a world where everyone in it reflected the image of their Maker. Imagine a world where when I looked at another human being it would be with the love and compassion of God. Imagine being faithful to others as Jesus is faithful to us. Imagine being truthful with others as God is truthful with us. Now imagine a world where all of us did that. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus tells us our light needs to shine before men. We are to walk in the light . It shines for two reasons. So that the world can see our good works and so our Father is glorified. Sadly, everyone in the world does not reflect the character of God. Sadly, everyone does not glorify Him, because sin has entered the world. God has free will and part of our image of Him is our own free will. We are free to glorify Him and we are free to deny Him. The New Man Jesus offers us salvation, redemption from sin, so that as it says in Ephesians 4:24 we can put on the "new man" . This new man was created in holiness and righteousness. We are restored through Christ's sacrifice to " the new man created according to God ", in what? In righteousness and holiness! We become a true image bearer. We become a renewed person. In Philippians 2:9-11, we are told that God has exalted Jesus and every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord. Every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord for the same reason that all of creation will, for " the glory of God ". We Are God's Witnesses In Isaiah 43:10 God says, “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He." Witnesses tell the truth. Witnesses have relevant information. Witnesses speak what they know and tell others so that others can know a fact. As Christians we are witnesses to God's glory, His mercy, His faithfulness, and His truth. This is what we were made for; to show others God's glory and God's characteristics. In Isaiah 43:21, God continues and says that He has formed a people for Himself so they can declare His praise. Isaiah was prophesying to the people of Israel in Isaiah 43, but these words still apply to His people today. He has formed us for Himself and because of this we will declare His praises. We Are Adopted To Praise Him In Ephesians 1:4-6, Paul tells us we are the adopted sons and daughters of Christ before the foundation of the world. For this reason, for the praise and glory of His grace, Jesus has made us acceptable. Before the world was even made, His grace was praised and glorified. We sing praises to Him now and forever. Restoration of us to Him, and all of creation, is the fulfillment of God's promise. I want to echo today the prayer found in Hebrews 13: 20-21, "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."