Prophesy of the coming of Christ

VERSE:

Isaiah 9:6

6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

LESSON:

Jesus was no accident. He was not someone that was merely elevated to "God Status" by his followers. Jesus was the one that was specifically foretold far in advance of his actual coming. (Isaiah wrote this verse around the year of 700 B.C.) The Jewish people had been waiting for him for a time period that seemed to them like waiting forever. This verse tells us what God inspired Isaiah to say about what Jesus would be like. "...Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace..." The word "Advent" means "...waiting for the arrival...", especially awaiting something or someone who is very important. Read over again the description of Christ. He is well worth waiting for!

God of Love!

VERSE:

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

LESSON:

God loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world to mend the broken relationship with us in a way that only God could do. As we look forward this Advent season to celebrating the coming of Christ into the world, we need realize that God gave us the gift of his Son...because he loves us so much. This verse calls us to "...Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good...". It also gives us something to remember each and every day. "...His love endures forever...".

Proclaim his name!

VERSE:

1 Chronicles 16:8

8 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

LESSON:

As we look forward this Advent season to celebrating the coming of Christ into the world, we need to slow down enough to contemplate all of the things that Christ has done for us. Once we contemplate this...we should then be led to share our faith and our beliefs. This verse reminds us that we should in all things "...give praise to the LORD...". We should boldly "...proclaim his name...", and we should "...make known among the nations what he has done...".

Overflowing with thankfulness!

VERSE:

Colossians 2:6-7

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

LESSON:

This verse reminds us that we have a lot to be thankful for, in Christ. We have been "...rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught...". Because of this...we should be "...overflowing with thankfulness...". Take some time this Thanksgiving...to be "...overflowing with thankfulness..."!!!

Peace and thankfulness!

VERSE:

Colossians 3:15

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

LESSON:

Thanksgiving is only a few days away, and this verse calls us to again be thankful. When you do have difficulties in your life, how can you put yourself into the right frame of mind to be truly thankful? This verse gives us a very important clue. "...Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts...". In spite of difficulties, challenges, and even tragedies in our lives...through the "...peace of Christ..." we can find reasons not only to be thankful...but even to feel joyful. In this special Thanksgiving and Christmas season...seek the "...peace of Christ...", and you will also find a sense of thankfulness!

Take time to be Thankful!

VERSE:

Psalm 95:1-2

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

LESSON:

If we slow down long enough to think about all of the blessings that we have received in life, we should all feel very thankful. With Thanksgiving day less than a week from now...I strongly recommend that you try to take a few moments each day of this coming week to count the many reasons that you have to be thankful. I am sure that we can each think of at least one blessing each day. If you can think of even more than one each day...then break out into song and with music as today's verse recommends. It tells us ..."Let us come before him with thanksgiving...".

So...who you hanging with?

VERSE:

Psalm 1:1-2

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.

LESSON:

This verse calls us to carefully examine the people that we associate with, and to be careful about the influence that they may have on our thoughts, our words and our actions. We are all "social creatures", and we all want and NEED to have friends. For the Christian, carefully examining the people that we choose to spend our time with may affect your possible future in this world...and in the next. This verse is NOT calling us to be judgmental about others...but rather to be honest and discerning in how we choose our friends. Seek out those who also "...delight in the law of the Lord...". This verse encourages us to avoid those who "...mock..." the word of God, or willingly choose to live the life of a "...sinner", or chose to continually think, speak, or act in a "...wicked..." way.

Do you have a light?

VERSE:

Psalm 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

LESSON:

This verse is another verse that calls us to learn to understand the true value of what has been written in the Bible. Do you want to know what book can "light your path in life"? It is the Bible. Do you want a "lamp" in life so that your feet are not tripped by something unexpected or unseen? The answer again is the Bible. The Bible is a "lamp" and a "Light" for your life. Make sure that you have a "light" in your life!!!

Open your eyes!

VERSE:

Psalm 119:18

18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

LESSON:

Can you look towards something...and still not see it? This verse seems to say so. It calls upon the Lord to help us to "...see wonderful things..." What wonderful things? The things written in the Bible that were put there for our benefit. The Bible is much deeper than many people may at first assume. This verse acknowledges that fact and asks God to help "...Open my eyes that I may see...". My prayer for you is that you will work as hard to see the true meaning in the Bible...as you do for any other book that you may ever read in your life.

Knock...Knock. Who's there?

VERSE:

Psalm 84:10

10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

LESSON:

How would you like to be a doorman? In this verse the writer says that he would rather be the doorman in the house of God...than dwell in the tents of the wicked. In slightly different words, what the writer is really telling us is that he would rather work hard to follow God's direction (even if it is sometimes very tough to follow), than hang around leisurely with evil people.

Are you having a "Bad Day"?

VERSE:

Psalm 119:143

143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight.

LESSON:

This verse reminds us that Life is not easy. It reminds us that all of us can face difficulty (..."troubles and distress...") in our lives. The "Good News" is that if you turn to God's "...commands..." (The Bible)...Gods words will refresh and support you in a way that this verse describes as "...your commands give me delight...". Even in times of trouble (or perhaps especially in times of trouble), take time to read the Bible each day!!!

Are you in the RED?

VERSE:

Isaiah 1:18

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

LESSON:

Whether we want to admit it or not...we have all sinned. This verse tells us that our sins stick out to God as if we were painted RED. What color do they use to attract a BULL in a Bullfight? RED. Hard not to notice that color. Ever hear of "snow blindness"? When things are all "white", they tend to blend in with each other and can even make your eyes blurry...as you are trying to focus on something, but all white colors are very hard to focus on. It is almost as if you are staring at nothing. This verse tells us that our Sins, although they are as obvious as the color RED, are to God like they have been washed white. God no longer sees them. (In this verse white is described as "...they shall be like wool..."). What a wonderful and colorful comparison, and what a wonderful promise from God. Although our sins should be hard NOT to notice, God says he will take NO notice of them any longer. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God.

Which God will you choose to serve?

VERSE:

Joshua 24:15

15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

LESSON:

Whether we want to admit it or not...we are surrounded by many Gods. It could be that we put money first, or other material possessions, or what we want to do in life, or collectables, or music, or sports, music, movie or TV heroes. You name it, there are thousands of things that we can put before God. In this verse...the writer tells us that each of us must make up our own minds of who (or what) we will worship...and whom (or what) we will serve in this life. It is my prayer that you can truthfully and forcefully say "...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD..."

What should we pray for?

VERSE:

1 Timothy 2:1-4

1 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

LESSON:

In this verse, we are told that "...petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people...", including "...for Kings and all those in authority...". It further tells us that praying in this way "...pleases God our Savior...". What I find interesting about this verse is that in the rest of this final sentence...it explains "Why" these types of prayers would please God. It is because he "...wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth...". So God does want us to pray for things that would lead persons "...to be saved..." and "...to come to a knowledge of the truth...". When you pray, it is great to pray for the physical and material needs that you feel others may have...but after reading this verse...please do not forget about the spiritual needs that others may also have.

Are you a "lazy" Christian?

VERSE:

Hebrews 6:10-12

10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

LESSON:

In this verse, we are told that God notices...and "...he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people...". It tells us that helping others...in God's name, is very important. It encourages us to be diligent, not to give up, and not to become lazy in our service to others. It is not all about us. It is about serving others. What a wonderful world we would live in...if everyone thought about the needs of others first...and did something about it each and every day.

What does it mean to be a Good Christian Citizen?

VERSE:

Romans 13:1

1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

LESSON:

In this verse, we are told that we are to "...Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established...". It goes on to say that "...The authorities that exist have been established by God...". Regardless of whether your candidate(s) won or lost the election yesterday, this verse calls us to be "Good Christian Citizens", by following what our elected leaders suggest or direct us to do. This is easy medicine to take when our candidates win and are in power, but to many seems like "poison" when our candidates lose or are not in power. If we are truly Christians, we can not ignore verses like this one that we don't agree with. Sadly, members of both major political parties (as well as many of the new "Tea Party" members), many of which claim to be Christians, have shown that they blatantly ignore this verse by their words and their deeds (or by their inactions). It is not for us to judge others...it is for God to judge, but all Christians must take note...that "Good Christian Citizens" are a rare find these days based upon the mis-application of this single verse alone.

You are special!

VERSE:

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

LESSON:

In this verse, we are told that, as Christians, you are special. How so, do you ask? You are special as you "...may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into this wonderful light...". Who may that be? J-E-S-U-S!. You have been designated as "...a chosen people...", "...a royal priesthood", and "...a holy nation...". You are "...God's special possession...". Don't let anyone in life tell you anything different.

A prayer for you!

VERSE:

Ephesians 1:17-19

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

LESSON:

In this verse, we read a prayer given by Paul for the new Christian believers in Ephesus (and to all believers everywhere). Yes, this even includes you and me in the year 2010! It was written to strengthen and encourage the church there...and to encourage believers everywhere. In this life, and especially in the world of 2010 that we live in,...we are faced with daily experiences that might shake our faith...or at least bring into doubt some of the things we have been taught and the things that we believe. This verse is a wonderful prayer for the believer. Read it carefully, and try to fully understand the things it is praying for you. I also encourage to offer this prayer for those that you know who are strong believers...but also those whom you may know who may have had their faith shaken by the experiences of life.

Turn right, or turn left?

VERSE:

Joshua 1:7-8

7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

LESSON:

In this verse, we are told that in following the teachings of the Bible "...do not turn from it to the right or to the left...". What is this verse saying? It is saying that we should "just do it". Do what the Bible says. Do not alter it one way or another from what specifically has been written. (Do it God's way...not our way). What might this mean for you to follow the Bible so strictly? This verse tells us that if we carefully obey Gods word "you may be successful wherever you go" and that "...then you will be prosperous and successful". In others words...following God's word...will be good for you.