What is your church doing? #2

Continuing on from yesterday,  looking at Acts 2:42-47. Compared to the early church, what is our church doing? Today we will cover the other 5 points of what the early church was doing to set the example for our churches.
Here is the scripture:

Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.


6. Attended church everyday: v.46 What? The scriptures say they attended the temple together day by day! Oh my! I thought Sunday morning was plenty! (wink,wink). Again the early church is setting the example for us...worship and fellowship is important and when the doors are open we should be there! Another proof for those who think they don't need church, scriptures say different. Are you at church with your family when the doors are open?


7. Eating together with glad and generous hearts: v.46 Not only were they eating as a family but many families gathered together to eat. More fellowship time and even more importantly sharing of food with each other. When is the last time we invited others to share a meal in our homes. I am thinking here, not our best friends but a family we know are in need. What a witness and that is doing what Jesus would do!


8. Praising God: v.47 I wrote a devotion on this point not long ago using different scripture. We ask God for things all the time but how much time do we just praise Him? The early church is setting the example once again here. Remember the early church was in major persecution at this time.....but the praised God! He is worthy! How much time does your church spend in praise?


9. Having favor with all people: v.47 This is all about attitude. When we are humble and loving like Jesus others see a difference and they want what we have which is Jesus! The early church is our example. Now remember some will never want Jesus and we have to stand strong when pressed against!


10. Lord added to their number daily! (saved): v.47 When we are doing as the early church did, folks will be saved by God's grace. So what were they doing?


1. Teaching God's Word-devotedly being taught

2. Fellowship of believers

3. Breaking of bread-Lords Supper

4. Praying

5. Meeting needs

6. Church everyday

7. Eating together-sharing

8. Praising God

9. Getting along with all

10. People being saved


This is the so called programs of the early church, and should be our priority in today's church! Let's get at it!


Tom

What is your church doing? #1

Heard a great sermon yesterday from my Pastor about what the early church was doing. all of our churches seem to have plenty of programs and ideas. We need to go back and look at the basics, what was the early church doing? This is what we need to be doing! So let's take a look at the early church see:

Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.


So lets pull several things that the early church was doing:


1. Teaching God's Word: v.42 This should be a priority in ALL churches. We see the early church was devoted to "apostles' teaching". The apostles were teaching them what Jesus had done and taught. If we are not learning the Word then we are not any where close where God wants us to be as individual believers and as churches.


2. Fellowship: v.42 For those who think they can be devout followers of Chrisy with our being involved in a group of believers, here is another example of what the early church was doing thus an example for us. Togetherness is a must for believers. Encouraging each other, bearing each others burdens, celebrating victories, and loving each other. Believers are to be there for one another, and to do the work of God. Fellowship is not an option it is a valid teaching of the bible. Get involved if you are not!


3.Breaking of bread: v.42 The early church celebrated the breaking of bread otherwise known as The Lord's Supper or communion. Yes this was a important part of the early church and should be with our churches. Remembering what Jesus has done for us as described here:


Luke 22:14-20

14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.


Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me." The early church did and so should the church now to be reminded of what Jesus did for us!


4. Prayers: v.42 Obviously praying was a big part of the early church. This is our communication line with God. Look at this verse:


1 Thessalonians 5:17
pray without ceasing,


We are to remain in an attitude of prayer all the time, as an individual and as the church! For needs and to reach the lost should be our main focus in prayers.


5. Met needs: v.45 This was a major purpose of the early church. Is it for us? This one may hurt a bit when we really think about it. We are greedy! We like our stuff, our money, mine, mine mine! But when we look at the early church this was not the way they operated. The Word says they sold all their stuff except what they needed to meet their own personal needs and then they met the needs of others! Wow! Now remember their needs are not their wants! Hmmmmm. Just think on that a while. If the universal church operated like this how would it change our world? How many lives would be reached for Jesus because others would see our love? We like our wants though don't we? Like I said this one hurts if we are honest with ourselves.


So are we living like the early church? What changes need to be made? Think about this and then act upon it! Tomorrow we will look the second half of the list.


Tom

At work? Share Jesus!

I watched this video over the weekend and it was a great reminder of what we are to be doing every chance we get, even at our jobs! Check it out!


He's One of Us Now from Tony Hudson on Vimeo.


Notice how the barber shared His faith! Wow this is awesome. This is the way a believers life should be, sharing our faith in Jesus Christ. Teaching others, helping others, and loving others! This is a picture of how the church(God's people) are suppose to live their lives!

Look at these scriptures:

1 Corinthians 9:23
I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

1 Thessalonians 2:8
So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

Hebrews 13:16
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

1 John 4:7
 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Acts 8:35
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus.

Romans 10:15
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Matthew 28:19

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,


This gets me fired up! How about you? Are you loving others and sharing the good news of Jesus? Folks get enough bad news every day! How about we start getting the good news of Jesus out! At work and every other place the day may take us!

Tom

Athletes check this out!

If you have not discovered the I am Second website you need to check it out. Great stories of faith from folks you know. This story that I am sharing today spoke to me in a great way. Knowing how sports grabs our attention these days, it is refreshing to see an athlete see a need for adjustment in his priorities. Wayne Simien has done in all in the realm of basketball. College all-american at Kansas, player of the year, won an NBA championship with the Miami Heat. He soon found out those things are not the most important in life. Check out his story here, share it with a friend!

http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/wayne-simien/

This is the verse Wayne shared in the video:


1 Peter 1:24-25

24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”


We are like the grass, eventually all our little bit of glory on the court or ball field fades and then what do we have left? Nothing but memories. But when we invest in God and His Word, it remains for ever! God tells us that everything on this side of heaven that is not for His glory will waste away but everything done for heaven will last forever!


May we all be like Wayne, and store up our treasures in heaven!


Tom

People can talk, your deeds are proof!

I found it very interesting the other day as I was reading of some things that were said about John the Baptist, and Jesus, check it out here:

Matthew 11:18-19

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”


The so called righteous of the day accused them of being of the devil, a glutton, a drunkard, and friends of sinners. Hmmm very interesting. People can say what they want and we can not do much to stop a mouth from running. But what we can do is be proven by our deeds that we are walking with Christ! Look at what Jesus said at the end of verse 19: "Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” In other words he is saying your wisdom is proved in your deeds. What you do consistently proves who you are on the inside!


Have you ever noticed Jesus did not seem to pay much attention to what people said? He may quote some scripture or give a reply for a teaching point for us but He did not spend a whole lot of time on what people said. Why? Because He knew what God's will for Him was and He was focused on completing that job! The same should go for us, it don't matter what people say, we need to focus on the job at hand, loving people (including sinners), spreading the gospel, and serving others!


So let your deeds do the speaking for you! Follow Jesus! Who cares what people say!


Tom

Take time to praise God!

So often as we journey through this life we often go to God in prayer asking for things. How may times do we stop to just praise God. Even for the simple daily things God does for us each and every day. God deserves our praise and we should make it a priority to praise Him often! Here we see the people of Israel dedicating a song to God after deliverance from Egypt. Here is a couple of verses:

Exodus 15:1-3
The Song of Moses

15 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a man of war;
the Lord is his name.
So today and everyday...praise our God! For He alone is worthy!

Tom

Boston, West Texas

With the events that have taken place this week. The bombing at the Boston Marathon and now with the explosion in West Texas, I just want us to spend some time in prayer for all those involved. Many lives have been lost and a large number have been injured in such a way that their lives will never be the same. Pray brothers and sisters pray!

A verse that came to mind for the Boston situation:

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

A couple of verses for both places:

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.


Psalm 34:7-9
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.


Philippians 4:19
And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus


Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

Tom

For abortion???? Check this out! Very Graphic!

This is the case not being covered! This is wrong...and so is abortion. Warning very graphic.

Murder is murder!

Don't know why this is not getting more coverage, well yes I do because we as a society think killing babies is ok. Check these links out:

http://cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/best...ations.cnn.html

Then read this post by Randy Alcorn. I agree 100% we are in the midst of of a Holocaust and are doing very little about it. Over 55 million babies killed in the United Sates alone!

http://www.epm.org/blog/2013/Apr/17/dr-kermit-gosnell

Now for a few scripture to back up what I am saying:

God speaks very clearly in the Bible on the value of unborn children. God's Word says that He personally made each one of us, and has a plan for each life:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.
—Jeremiah 1:5

Even before I was born, God had chosen me to be His.
—Galatians 1:15

For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mothers womb… Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
—Psalm 139:13, 16

Your hands shaped me and made me… Did You not clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life.
—Job 10:8-12

This is what the Lord says—He who made you, who formed you in the womb
—Isaiah 44:2

Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One form us both within our mothers?
—Job 31:15

Because man is made in God’s own image (Genesis 1:27), each life is of great value to God:

Children are a gift from God.
—Psalm 127:3

He even calls our children His own:

You took your sons and daughters whom you bore to Me and sacrificed them… You slaughtered My children.
—Ezekiel 16:20,21

The Bible says of our Creator,

In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being
—Job 12:10

God, the giver of life, commands us not to take the life of an innocent person:

Do not shed innocent blood.
—Jeremiah 7:6

Cursed is the man who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person
—Deuteronomy 27:25

You shall not murder.
—Exodus 20:13

Taking the life of the unborn is clearly murder—

He didn’t kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave.
—Jeremiah 20:17

—and God vowed to punish those who…

ripped open the women with child
—Amos 1:13

The unborn child was granted equal protection in the law; if he lost his life, the one who caused his death must lose his own life:

If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined …if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life
—Exodus 21:22,23

Life is a gift created by God, and is not to be taken away by abortion. God is “pro-choice,” but He tells us clearly the only acceptable choice to make:

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live
—Deuteronomy 30:19


We are not the givers or takers of life....God is!


Tom

God's plan for me or my plan for me?

Who runs your life? You or God? I have heard many folks say something like "nobody tells me what to do"! Well that is not the right way to look at life. When we get that kind of attitude with God and even others, God will not be able to use us. As followers of Christ we are to submit to our Lord and be obedient children which involves God telling us what to do because He knows best not us!

Now what gets our attention more....good times or hard times? As hard headed as we humans are it seems as long as things are going well in life we don't need God but when times are tough we call on God. We had a good example of this sadly yesterday at the Boston Marathon. So don't play the why me card when difficulties come but look for what God may try to teach you through the situation. Paul was a great example of this in the bible, check this out:

Philippians 1:12

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.


The things which had happened to Paul in this case was being put in prison. Paul tells us here the important thing in life is to spread the gospel. Is that the most important thing in your life? Paul realized God was in control and things that were happening were helping spread the Word about Jesus! God's plan not Pauls was being done!


Another verse from Paul:


Philippians 4:12

12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.


Wow! Don't miss this. Paul says here, no matter what situation he was in....hunger, warm, cold, prison, ship wrecked, snake bit, beaten(once left for dead).....all these he went through and he says he learned how to be content! Well what is the secret Paul? Doing God's plan! Thats it! Spreading of the gospel and God will meet your needs as he sees fit and you will be content!


Make sure parents you are directing your children as well as yourself in this manner. So many times we ask Johnny or Susie what they want to do when they grow up and do all we can to get them there but we never ask God what He wants Johnny or Susie to do with their life! His plan not ours!


God may we live your plan for our lives, not our own! May you receive all glory and honor for you are worthy!


Tom

Family Time!

Sorry I missed a couple of devotions last week. My dad came in from Michigan and we did some hunting and fishing together. Then this weekend my son, my dad, and I went turkey hunting on Saturday and we doubled! It was also my son's first turkey. It was a great day. I say all that to tell you make sure you are making it a priority to spend time with your parents and your children. Sadly time flies and we are only here for a short time on this old earth of ours. My kids are growing up fast and my dad is getting older, how many more times will we have together in the woods, cutting up, laughing, hunting, going to church, and eating together? Only God knows!

It is a great time to talk about God too! "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:5-8) Many things are important in life but nothing is more important than making sure God is the center of your families life. While we got to hunt, fish, and spend time together the most important thing we did is go to worship Jesus together at church! Nothing tops that!

I will close with this, the examples we set for our kids will most likely be the standards they set for themselves in their lives:

Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Oh Lord I thank you for my parents, my children, and my wife. May you bless all who read this morning and help them to apply it to their lives if they are not doing so already. After you Lord, family is of utmost importance. I love you Jesus and thank you for giving your all for me.

Tom

P.S. I thought the picture was pretty cool of my son and dad walking out of the wood Saturday morning after the Lord blessed my son with his first turkey and my dad and I were there to see it!

Moses had it figured out!

Moses in Exodus chapters 24 through 33 had some up and down moments to say the least. He was called by God to the top of Mt. Sinai to receive the law including the ten commandments. What a time huh? Meeting with God. Then he came down to Aaron and the people of Israel to find what? They had made a golden calf to worship! Wow after all God had done and it did not take long for them to turn away from Him. Moses went to make intercession for them but a major change was announced. They could continue forward but God would no longer lead them, He would send an Angel to lead them! That is major! His presence was taken away. God would only meet with Moses at this point.

This troubled Moses, that God would not lead them personally, so much that He told God this:

Exodus 33:15

15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.


Moses knew the importance of God's presence! We need to make sure we have this figured out like Moses! We need God in every area of our life. We don not need to make any decision, go anywhere, or do anything without God's direction and presence!


In the end , God forgave Israel and led them because of the intercession of Moses. We all need to make sure we desire God's presence for without Him we are doomed!


Tom

Have the faith of a little girl!

We make our faith very complicated sometimes don't we? I was reading in 2 Kings yesterday and come across the faith of a little girl and reminded me of how simple faith really is if we just have the faith of a child:

2 Kings 5:1-5



1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.”

5 Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”

So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.
A few things I want us to see here:

1. Naaman was a great man, honorable, a gentile, a commander of the Army of Syria, and the Lord had given victory in battle. Make sure you catch that God used and blessed a gentile here, not an Israelite! God had a plan for us gentiles all along too nit just the Jews!

2. A young girl from Israel had kept her faith even in captivity. She believed in God's power and recommended Naaman to go see Elisha!

3.Naaman must have had some belief or he never would have went to see Elisha or even take request to the King.

So you see our faith can have influence on others. Do you have the faith in your God as this young girl? Are you sharing you faith with others and telling them what your God can do? Oh may we all have a child like faith as said here:

Matthew 18:1-4

18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.


Tom

So we could look in.

On Easter Sunday we had a joint sunrise service with Pisgah Methodist Church here in J'ville. It was an awesome time to gather with other brothers and sisters in Christ to worship the King. Bro. David Sauer brought the message that morning (and did a great job I might add) and pointed out something I never had thought about and want to share with you this morning. Read theses verses:

John 20:1-9
The Empty Tomb

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.


In verse 5 we see the disciple looking into the tomb to see Jesus was not there. Now if you are like me I missed a very important point. The rock was rolled away so we could look in to see Jesus gone, not for Jesus to get out! You see Jesus did not need the rock to be moved, as He could have went through the walls with no problem. How can I say that? Read this:



John 20:19-20


19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.


Did you catch verse 19 "the doors were shut", Jesus stood in their midst and did not need the doors to be opened! He walked right in! So the rock did not need to be moved as Jesus could have walked right out, but it was moved so we could know Jesus is alive!!!!


How comforting it is to know Jesus is alive and well this morning at the right hand of the Father. Preparing heaven for you and I. One day soon He will return to gather the faithful, are you prepared for His return?


Tom

In all your conduct, be Holy!

God's Word is clear this morning, we are not to separate our lives into different areas. This one part God can have and this part I will run, ect. ALL areas are to be given over to God, therefore all our conduct is to be Holy! Read these verses:

1 Peter 1:13-16


13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is


written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”


No where does it say this will be easy. Matter of fact the Word tells us to prepare our minds, be sober, and put your hope fully at the hearing of God's Word! It goes on to tell us to be obedient, don't give into the former lusts or sin when we were ignorant before receiving the power of the Holy Spirit to flee from sin. God tells us as He is holy we are to be holy and don't miss this point...IN ALL OUR CONDUCT! Every area of our life is to be holy not just the ones we think we should give to God....all or nothing!


We have a bunch of folks today who are picking and choosing what they think is right and wrong, God makes that decision and has revealed everything in His Word. Get in it and find out. Majority doesn't rule, God does!


So are you holy this morning? You are if you are washed in the blood of Jesus, so live like it! Praise God!


Tom

Importance of the individual. #3

Continuing in Luke Chapter 15:

Luke 15:11-32
The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”


This parable should make you smile! It tells us how important each of us are to our Heavenly Father. Notice verse 17 where it says "when he came to himself". We all must come to our senses and realize how much we need God! Sadly for many of us we must come to the lowest point in our lives before we figure it out! Have you come to yourself yet?


Next notice verse 20...the father came running to the son and received him with open arms!!!! God is looking for you to come home to Him! His arms are open and He is waiting! Alos notice once again as in the previous devotions, a party is thrown when the lost is found!


Do you see how important you are to God? Each individual is of utmost importance to God. Come home God is waiting!


Tom

Importance of the individual. #2

Continuing from yesterday, we will continue in the same chapter of Luke 15.



Luke 15:8-10



The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”



You are important to God! The story above shows us how God searches thoroughly for each one of us. One thing we have to remember here is we have to want to be found! If we allow ourselves to be found by God, a party is thrown in heaven, as we repent of our sins and come to Jesus! WOW! That is God's desire for each one of us. He desires that none should perish!!!!



YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD! Don't forget that fact! He loves you more than you can comprehend.



Tom

Importance of the individual.

My Pastor Mark Warren preached a little different Easter message yesterday than the norm. It mad remember the importance of every individual with Jesus. It also reminded me He died on the cross for each of us. Read these verses:



Luke 15:1-7



The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.



In these verses Jesus reminds us of how important we are to Him. Each one of us. He is the great Shepard represented here. He comes after each one of us when we are lost and without Him. Oh my friends how He loves us. Then when He finds us He rejoices and a party is thrown in heaven!!! But notice verse 7 that there is a requirement on our part. We must realize we are sinners and repent of our sin, our wandering away from God in sin, and turn to Jesus! Walk in a new way of life, the way of our Savior!



Oh what an awesome Shepard we have, who loves and comes after us! You are that important to Jesus! Will you be caught?

Tom