Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Galatians 6:1
​Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

The word of God tells us that if a man is overtaken in a fault, or sin, then those which are spiritual go and restore him. The scripture is not speaking of being spiritual in attitude, there are way too many of those. It is speaking of those that are walking in a spiritual relationship with Christ. God doesn't use those who are prideful and full of their own selves more than they are full of the Spirit. There is no possible way that we can restore someone back into Christ when we ourselves need restoration. When we spend more time on our relationship with Christ and keeping ourselves filled with the Spirit, then we can help others in restoring their relationship with Jesus.

Look at how God tells us that it must be done. He says first of all, it must be done in the spirit of meekness. Being meek does not mean to be weak or passive about sin. It means that we must be humble. Humble enough to realize that it could be us in that situation. Which is the second thing He tells us. We must consider ourselves! We should look at them as though it were ourselves. We should treat what they have fallen to as if we ourselves have fallen to it. God is telling us that if we are to help in the restoration process that we can not do it with pride!

Last of all He says that we also could be tempted in this same area. Why should we be meek and consider ourselves?...lest we also be tempted. The word of God says that pride cometh before destruction. That when we think ourselves to be something or above something to beware because our fall is on its way.

So I ask you this today. Are you a restorer or a destroyer? Are you a helper or a hinderer?

A Forgotten Gift

2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Remember in the Christmas Story movie, the gift forgotten? Ralphie's dad said, "What is that over there behind the desk?" What about the Christmas Vacation movie? Remember when Clark is in the attic trying to hide those special gifts and finds one for Mother's Day? What if those gifts were left missing? Never to be opened by anyone. Just like this morning, all the presents that were under the tree are all opened. There was not a kid or adult that left one. When we see a gift with our name on it, it must be opened.

In John 3:16, the Bible tells us that God has wrapped a beautiful gift for you. Actually for everyone who will believe. The scripture says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever...THAT'S YOU... believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."  The gift is right there with your name on it. Why would you not open it?

Some have tried to hide this special gift. We should not hide this gift like Clark or Ralpie's dad, we should share it with everyone. Remember it's not just to us, but to everyone...to the whosoever.

Thank you Lord for your unspeakable gift. Thank you that you included my name on the wrapping. Thank you that Jesus was born, was crucified, and is forever alive. Thank you for your unspeakable gift. Sometimes I don't have the words to speak my gratitude. I love you Jesus.

The Negativity Scene

1 Timothy 6:6
But godliness with contentment is great gain.

As I think of the scene of the Nativity, my first word to describe it would be grace. Now I'm almost sure the scene wasn't that of peace and quietness in the beginning. But I'm certain it ended up that way. Let's look at it this morning.

Joseph is searching and searching for a place to stay for the night. Mary is about to deliver the baby Jesus from the sitting position on a donkey. The town is full of people grumbling and complaining about tax season. Yes, there are people everywhere with their negative attitudes. "Why must we travel all the way back to Bethlehem?" You can hear them say. "We could have just mailed ours in..." All the time never fully realizing why they were there and why it had to be done this way.

Now we arrive at the scene of the birth, the Nativity. Maybe it was just like our scenes in the yard, or possibly like the ones on our coffee table. Either way it really doesn't matter because one thing we know for certain. It was not called the Negativity Scene. When I read of the scene I think of contentment. Joseph was content with being his earthly father. Mary was content while she pondered His birth in her heart. The shepherds were content to bow down and worship this child as their Savior and Lord.

You may be tempted to say, "Those tax payers were the negative ones."  But you would be wrong to say it was all the tax payers. See, Joseph was there for the same reason. He journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay his taxes. But because of his contentment in God he was blessed.

Think about it, if anyone could have chosen for this place to be called the Negativity Scene it could have been Joseph. But His servant heart, and contentment with whatever God wanted to do with him, was greater. So many people will allow this time of year to become negative and bitter. Even scholars and Christians will spend these days debating and arguing over His birth instead of praising God for it. There will be some children and adults that will complain and whine about the gifts they received. There will be crying over what they didn't get. They will turn it into a Negativity Scene. Well not you! Today, and everyday after, be content. There is so much to be found in contentment and God.

The Day Before

Luke 1:26-28
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Have you ever thought of what was happening with Mary the day before the angel visited her? I wonder what she was doing in her life? Maybe she was preparing for her wedding. She could have been out drawing water and probably doing the everyday routine of her life. Hanging out with her friends and talking about the events for the next day. Preparing for bed, she could have talked with the Lord and told Him that she was willing to be His servant. Then she closed her eyes to await for the next day.

Then it came! The Lord had graced her with another day. I wonder what it was like that morning? Sunny? Rain? I wonder what was on her agenda for that day? What was Mary doing when the news came? Because all of the sudden the angel of the Lord appeared unto her and told her the news. News that changed her life and ours forever. He told her that she was highly favored among women and was chosen by God to bring His Son into the world. His Son that would save the world from their sin.

Just the day before Mary was a follower and today she is vessel. Yesterday she was a willing vessel and today she is a conceiving vessel. She was known by her family as being faithful to God yesterday but today she is known as birthing the Son of God.

Today could be a normal day with normal plans, but it could also be the day before the greatest day ever. The Bible teaches us that we don't know what a day could bring to pass. Maybe today, or maybe tomorrow, He could have great plans for you. Today you must be a willing vessel in order to be a filled vessel tomorrow.