Gtcotr/ss051522
I have a passion and God has a purpose for sticking to the basics today. Recently we have considered that God gave us the Bible so we could understand Him. His hope is that if we understand Him, we will choose to become more like Him. If anyone wants to know what God looks like they can look in the mirror. God looks like you, or should I say, you look like Him. He made us in His image. (Genesis 1:26-28; 2:7)
We were made to look like God on the outside but as we grow, we begin to think and feel much different than God does on the inside. Jesus encouraged us to pay more attention to little children because, He said, of such are the Kingdom of Heaven. However, human nature is not God’s nature. Human life is not God’s life. Human thinking is not God’s thinking. Human love is not God’s love. (Matthew 19; Mark 10; Luke 18; Isaiah 55:9)
Many people are doing good and doing their best, but we cannot make light of the fact that Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Born not only of the water, through the womb of a mother, but also born of the Holy Spirit. (John 3) No matter how good a person is, heaven is for the saved.
Some might take issue with the thought of good not being good enough. I can understand that thought from a human perspective. However, human perspective does not rule on earth or in heaven, and certainly not for eternity. When you get to heaven you can ask God to clarify why. That’s providing you get to heaven. And according to the Bible, you must be born again to get that opportunity. Decisions this big simply belong to God.
And God has made His decision. He will not save your mortal body. However, He is willing to save your immortal soul. And all who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, will be given a new body at the resurrection that will be incorruptible and undefiled. (1 Corinthians 15)
You can be born again right now
·
Acknowledge before God that you are a sinner.
·
Ask God to forgive you through the blood of Jesus.
· Accept Jesus into your life as Savior and Lord by faith.
Now that we are all on the same page, I am going to use the next few minutes to tell you something and hopefully teach you something. It is my hope that you will both listen and that you will learn at least one thing that will make you want to be more like Jesus. We understand that:
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
The Bible only tells one story and it’s a love story. The story is told through the lives of so many. From Abraham to David, and from Ruth to Esther; from Samson to Stephen, and from Rahab to Mary … Love is demonstrated by putting the needs of others ahead of your own.
A person can give without loving. But a person cannot love without giving.
Love is giving and God loves us intentionally. He did not give without a plan. He decided to give His best and He gave first. While we were yet sinners, before we even knew Him, He loved us. John wrote: We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Who is your brother? Jesus said: It’s the one who needs you and can probably never pay you back. Love is a gift … love is giving. (Luke 10)
It is God’s hope that when we understand Him, we will want to be like Him. I have witnessed so many of you doing this very thing. You have given yourselves to God, and given so much for others.
My
purpose this morning is to thank you. Thank you for loving and thank you for giving.
Thank you for sharing the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel with
people in need on purpose and intentionally. God bless you!
