GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN

As our world seems to be growing spiritually darker all the time plagued with anti-Christian fervor, moral reversals, injustice and terrorism abounding, the spiritual blessings of Christmas are brought to light in this carol - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.  (If you watch the YouTube version below, a great history is presented along with the full lyrics - even if the recording only plays 3 of the 4 verses written out with the text of the video.)  This particular song resonates with the heart that feels oppressed and seeks redemption and release.  The lyrics are about the spiritual oppression of sin and the release that God has wrought through His Son, Jesus Christ as the Bible so clearly teaches.  The minor key and happy rhythm reflect this oppression/freedom theme very well.  Indeed, the carol is mentioned by Charles Dickens in "The Christmas Carol."(1)  By the way, the link referenced below also includes far more verses than the YouTube video does.  They will bless you, too!

Do you ever feel like your sin has separated you from God?  Does He seem a long ways off?  Let this carol lift your hearts as you contemplate what God has done that first Christmas for you today.  He has paid the price, sent His Son, and redeemed you from your sin.  Satan has no more power over you if you will but allow Jesus to rule you instead!  Jesus has overcome Satan!  Let this be "Tidings of Comfort and Joy" - comfort for those times your feelings need reminded that Satan is powerless, and joy to last an eternity because of the freedom you now have been given through Jesus Christ!  

Now, as the Carol invites, sing praises to God for He has done this wonderful thing!  Praise Him for His love and care - and invite all you know to join in the chorus of praise!  Sing this carol together this Christmas and celebrate!

And that's Just A Thot for today!  Merry Christmas!!




(1)  From the Internet:  http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library_songbook/god-rest-ye-merry-gentlemen-history-fun-facts-and-lyrics-of-a-christmas-favorite.htm, 12/11/2015.

HOLINESS, NOT HAPPINESS

Contrary to popular opinion, God's greatest wish is NOT our happiness, it's our HOLINESS.  Jesus didn't die to make us happy, He died to make us holy.  He didn't forgive us so we could be free of guilty feelings, He forgave us so we would be free of the penalty for our sin - eternal separation from our righteous Creator. 

A change in our lifestyle, interests, and pursuits is in order.  Before salvation, we lived for ourselves, we did ungodly things, and we were unholy in our thoughts and our deeds.  We had no hope of being able to do or think rightly, godly, and purely.  But God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to pay our penalty on the Cross of Calvary.  God in His grace, offers this truth to all men, that those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ will learn to deny the ungodliness and worldly lusts and live for the godly, rightous, and pure ways of God.  There really IS a way out of much of the pain of living in this world - and it is by living for Jesus rather than self!

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV) ¹¹  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This means that the drug addicted, sex addicted, homosexual, rapist, murdering, abortionist, lying, stealing, bitter, lonely, drunken, judgmental, angry, hopeless, fearful, gluttonous, deviant persons in this world have hopes of being made pure and right with God forever.  The salvation that Jesus brings is a salvation from all these things, not a means of gaining happiness through them, or an excuse to continue. 

But before you try to reform yourself to obtain that salvation, you'd better think again.  It is not in the deed that the sin resides.  It is in the desire!  That means that you'll need to be made into someone you aren't!  And that is exactly what the grace of God is when applied to your life.  God makes you a new creature in Christ Jesus - complete with new desires, abilities, and purpose in life. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Suddenly, happiness is intertwined with holiness.  What will now make you happy is that God has made you holy!  And you will work alongside the Lord to grow in holiness.

Are you saved?  Is living for Jesus an act of gratitude for His grace to you by making you perfectly holy in God's sight (Your position in Christ)?  Are you living a more holy life today than you were yesterday (Your practice in Christ)? 

If not, will you take a moment and repent of your sins, and seek the Lord's grace of forgiveness and ask Him to make you new today?  Give yourself to Him, let Him teach you what is sin, and purify you from it - for the rest of your life.  You will not be disappointed when holiness is your aim.

That is Just A Thought for today.  May the Lord bless you and keep you as you practice these things.

LIVING IN THE SPIRIT

Romans 8:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. ⁶  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Sin's great origin is the nonspiritual mindset and the carnally minded heart. 

I find myself to be carnally minded, with my mind set on things of the flesh all too often.  Frustrations come when my fleshly mind is thwarted by events and circumstances.  My will is not done because the world stands between me and my desires too often. 

But when I set my mind on spiritual things, what happens to me here on earth is of little consequence.  Greater things are happening, a Greater God is in control, and my will is wrapped up in serving my Savior - come what may!  It is then that peace floods my soul, and fear, bitterness, judgment, etc. flee.  What a wonderful place to live. 

And this spiritual life is not what the world calls "spiritual."  It is what the Bible calls "spiritual."  The context of today's devotional passage reveals what the writer means by "spiritual."  He says this:  "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1 (NKJV)  The contrast of the spirit "in Christ" is clearly made over against walking by the "flesh."  There is no true "spiritual" mindedness outside of Jesus Christ.  All spiritists should be put on notice by this at this point.

In truth, there is a bit of a problem with the way our lives work.  Our mindset affects our heart, and our hearts affect our mindset.  When we set our minds on the things of the flesh - the ways of this world - our heart begins to value and follow the world.  When our hearts value and follow the world, our thoughts are directed toward what we value and follow.  Likewise, if we set our minds on things above - Jesus Christ - our hearts are transformed from valuing earthly things to become delighted with heavenly things.  And our minds will follow.  We are also told to take every thought captive to Christ (2Corinthians 10:5).  For then, our hearts will also be captive to Him! 

And that's Just A Thought for today!  May the Lord bless you as you keep your mind stayed on Him today.

Real Forgiveness

"Without the shedding of blood is no remission." -

Heb_9:22

There are many religions, but only one deals with sin. Christianity alone deals with the concept of man as sinful, needing the forgiveness of God. There is one exception - Judaism. The ties of Christianity to Judaism are forever knotted - for Jesus Christ was born a Jew. This verse alone indicates the Jewish ties to Christianity (or is it reversed?). The Jew offered blood sacrifices that God might forgive their sins. The Christian has the blood of Christ, spilt willingly for the sins of those who believe in Him.

The idea that a religion is a preference is silliness. What is true is unalterably true. The thought that men can choose their truth is stupid. Those that choose wrongly will face eternal consequences. The Bible says that there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood, and this is contextually pointing to the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The failure to take Jesus as one's personal and living Savior means there is no forgiveness of sins, and apart from that forgiveness is no eternal life. There is no hope of it. I for one, look with sadness, not disdain, upon those who blindly choose some other religion - or none. Their plight, however well-intentioned, is not good. It is a hopeless death to which they go, and a great disappointment they will face.

Oh, Christian, you may rejoice in this truth that Christ has shed His Holy Blood that your sins might be forgiven forever. How great a truth that is! Rejoice that you are, by your faith in the shed blood of Christ, in Christ Jesus! Your hope is certain because God dearly values the blood of His only Begotten Son. When that blood is applied to your sins by faith, God sees that, and will not forsake you.

Oh, Christian, you must tell others of this wonderful truth. Tell it clearly that they might not be confused, but believe and apply the blood of Christ to their sins. Tell it completely that they might trust not in their works or their religion but only in the blood of Christ. Tell it competently that they might seek no other pardon for their sins but the shed blood of Christ.

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Joy and Sorrow Mingled

Bible Reading: (Deuteronomy 33:29)

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD,

the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

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No stranger belief can be found than that faith called "Christianity." There is both joy and sorrow intermingled. The joy comes from above and cannot be overcome - squelched, perhaps, but not overcome. There is a peace that passes all understanding. This peace is unheard of in the world save in those who follow Christ. It flows through prayer, communion, and genuine fellowship with the Savior. It is expressed in humble confidence and willing sacrifice in love to others and the Lord. Fear is gone, yet sorrow still may be found - a sorrow over sin.

Sorrow over sin comes in two packages - sorrow over one's own sin, and sorrow over the sins of others. One's own sin becomes evident all too often in life. Yet, we may be happy in spite of it - for Christ is the remedy and the redeemer. Godly sorrow produces repentance and is good. Through repentance and faith in Christ, the joy of Salvation fills us full to overflowing. The sins of others break our hearts - and God's. We hate to see their pain, their suffering at the hands of sin. How different it could be if they would live a life of faith! So much sin destroys families, hardens hearts, and paralyzes people. Yet, we may be happy in spite of it - for Christ is the remedy and the redeemer. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Therefore, we take the remedy and redeemer to them in the form of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That joy, that happiness, and that peace that we have through Jesus Christ overshadows all sorrow, though. We may call out "Abba, Father" with confidence because fear is put away. We may consider ourselves rich because our treasure is in heaven - our home - for all eternity. Our enemies will receive recompense for their deeds because our Father is Just. Chastisement corrects us and is the sign of the Father's love. Can we who are in love with Christ be sorrowful knowing we are forever His? His inheritance is ours. There is none who can take it away, nor destroy our eventual receipt of it. We have a happiness that comes from confidence in the protection of the the Almighty, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit who walks with us along life's path.

No matter your situation, take heart, dear brother. "This is the day the Lord has made, Let us rejoice in it." (Psalm 118:24)

Bro. Greg

Morning Devotions

Bible Reading:

Mic_2:13

In ancient warfare, indeed in the King's era (1611), castles and cities were conquered by the use of "breakers" or battering rams. The commander of the ram sometimes was called a "breaker." In this case, the context seems to clearly show Jesus Christ as a "breaker" securing the victory over a prison of sorts, setting the captives free.

What is holding the captives? Not simply a city, for this seems very much to be poetical language, symbolic of something else. The great foe of man, according to the rest of Scripture, is sin and death. Both are conquered in Christ and by Christ. Christ, as Spurgeon aptly puts it, "has conquered every foe that obstructed the way." Any foe you face, Christ before you has opened the way. The enemy is defeated, his weapons rendered harmless and unable to kill you.

"All you have to do is divide the spoil." The battlefield is littered with the spoils of the enemy who is powerless to prevent your victory. "The gates of hell shall not prevail against [the church]." The breaker has opened the way, and the pickings are given to us.

What is the spoil?

• Peace that passes all understanding
• Power over sin
• Confidence in Christ
• Souls saved by faith
• Passage through death to life eternal

Such spoils cannot be had outside of Christ, and cannot be lost when one is in Christ. Blessed is he who follows the breaker through the walls of sin and death into Heaven! Forsake your sins which once bound you - for the shackles are loosed. Take heart over your fears - for the work of Christ has secured you. Step out and follow Him who leads victoriously and perfectly - never losing even a single soldier (you will not be the first). And smile - you are more than a conqueror through Christ, your Lord.

Bro. Greg