I absolutely love the New Year! I hope all of you had a fun New Year's Eve. I did. I was reading in bed when the new year was rung in by millions the world over...it was perfect! Of course, if you read my post from yesterday, you know that I had a root canal done on the last day of 2007. I thought it was great. I am sore today though, but I'm not complaining! :o)
I want to share with you some of my goals for 2008. Do you set goals or make resolutions? I should set up a poll asking that question. I love doing that every year. Even when I don't come close to achieving my goals, I feel better because I tried!
This is the month that fitness clubs, Weight Watchers, Slim-Fast and the like push to get people to join and/or buy their weight loss products. Their motto is usually "A New Year, A New You!" or something along those lines. Now, I was made a "new creature" when I was saved on June 12, 1993. I will not be really "new" until I get to Heaven and get my glorified body. If you are not sure of your salvation, then start 2008 as a child of God. Here's the four step plan:
1. Realize that all are sinners. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
2. Realize that your sin demands a price. Romans 6:23a For the wages of sin is death;
3. Realize that Jesus paid that price for YOU!! Romans 6:23b but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
4. Realize that you must receive Him. Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you believe what the Bible says, and believe that Jesus truly did die to save you, then you can call upon Him today and He will save you. And it's not just a salvation for today, it's for eternity. Remember, it isn't works plus Jesus, or being good plus Jesus, it's all Jesus! Won't you trust in Him alone to save you today? It will be the best decision you make all year.
Even though I'll never be truly "new" on this earth, I do strive to start fresh and new every year. I set goals for the year, and then I set goals for the month and smaller goals for the week, and so forth. I love making lists and checking them off!! I'll list my resolutions here and, Lord willing, I can let you know on December 31st, 2008 (If I'm not getting another root canal!) how I did on reaching my goals.
1. Read and study my Bible more this year than ever before.
2. Read at least 10 books.
3. Exercise at least 3 times a week. (Maybe even lose 10 lbs.!)
4. Lead at least one person to the Lord, but as many as God will allow me to. Be more faithful at my soul winning efforts.
5. Be more long-suffering with my children. (This is a sugar coated way of saying "CONTROL MY TEMPER!")
6. Work at being creative at home, with school and with Super Church.
7. Go to God for my needs or desires, before concocting my own plan to achieve them.
8. Take my worries to Christ, instead of my husband.
9. Find ways to ease my husband's ministry or work load. Be a better help- meet to him.
10. Be a more loving wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, aunt, niece, teacher and friend. I want to find unique ways to show my love for the above relationships.
Whether or not you make resoultions, you have been given another year. You made it through 2007! Praise the Lord! 2008 stretches out before us, fresh and empty. How will we fill the pages of this year's calendar? Will we waste soul winning opportunities? Will we fight and bicker with our loved ones? Will we let another year go without really seeing any change in our walk with God? (and no one has arrived in this area!) Let's not let 2008 go by without giving it our all!
I wish you all a happy and productive 2008!!
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Monday, December 17, 2007
Rahab Gives Me Hope
Rahab is not a pristine Bible heroine like Ruth, Mary or Esther. She was a woman of ill-repute, a harlot. She was not even a Jew. But I like her! Maybe because I can relate to her. No, I was never a harlot, but my sin condemned me to an eternity in Hell nonetheless. It didn't matter to God that my sin was rebellion, instead of fornication. All sin is wicked, and unless we accept God's free gift of salvation, we will all pay for our sins - no matter what they are - in a place called Hell. Because of this, I can relate to Rahab. Here are some things I like about Rahab.
1. Rahab was a sinner. She had a bad reputation. In Joshua chapter 2 we see that Joshua has sent two spies into Jericho. They go into the house of Rahab for safety. In verse 2-3 the spies are spotted coming into the city, and immediately the king sends his men to Rahab's house. Of course, I believe the king knew of Rahab's reputation, and figured that she perhaps enticed these men to her home. Rahab did invite them in, but not for the reasons the king had assumed. How often do we misjudge someone because of their past? "Well, you know how she is!" We say to one another. Maybe she's changed!! Maybe we should give folks the benefit of a doubt. I try not to assume anything bad about anyone. Even if I want to, I try not to! The king did it, and he misjudged Rahab.
2. Rahab had heard of the God of Israel, and she feared him. When I first heard of the power and greatness of God, I feared him too.
Joshua 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
3. Rahab asked to be spared, but she didn't just ask for herself. She begged for the lives of her entire family. When I got saved, I wanted to tell everyone, so they could accept this wonderful gift too. I want my friends, family, and even total strangers to know that through Jesus, they can be spared! They don't have to go to Hell. Rahab wants her Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, everybody - to be spared.
Joshua 2:13-14 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
4. Rahab is a beautiful picture of the Cross.
The spies tell her that they will protect her, she is to only hang a scarlet rope out of her window, and her home will be spared. This rope is a picture of the blood. When I got saved from sin, Jesus moved in. He placed His blood over my sin, and now, when God looks at me, He sees the blood. He doesn't see my sin anymore. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't sin anymore, oh no. I wish I didn't, but when I do sin, the blood is there to cover it up. What a blessing!
That scarlet rope is the spies way of escape. The blood is my way of escape, I have escaped Hell through Jesus blood! Hallelujah!
The thing I like best about Rahab is the end of her story. The spies kept their word. They spared Rahab's entire family. But it gets better. Rahab accepts the God of Israel has her God, she gives God her life, and she becomes part of the lineage of King David! Matt. 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Now that's a happy ending! Jesse was the father of David, and David was in the lineage of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus allowed a no- good, rotten harlot to be in his blood line. I find that amazing. It gives me hope. I'm no-good. I pretty rotten. But, maybe God can use me, too.
You see, God doesn't care how smart you are. He doesn't care how many "big name" people you know, or the size of your bank account. He doesn't care if you can sing, or play an instrument. He cares about one thing: your heart. Do you fear Him? Have you received Him as your Savior? Will you give your life to Him, to use as He will? He can do great things, just look at Rahab!
1. Rahab was a sinner. She had a bad reputation. In Joshua chapter 2 we see that Joshua has sent two spies into Jericho. They go into the house of Rahab for safety. In verse 2-3 the spies are spotted coming into the city, and immediately the king sends his men to Rahab's house. Of course, I believe the king knew of Rahab's reputation, and figured that she perhaps enticed these men to her home. Rahab did invite them in, but not for the reasons the king had assumed. How often do we misjudge someone because of their past? "Well, you know how she is!" We say to one another. Maybe she's changed!! Maybe we should give folks the benefit of a doubt. I try not to assume anything bad about anyone. Even if I want to, I try not to! The king did it, and he misjudged Rahab.
2. Rahab had heard of the God of Israel, and she feared him. When I first heard of the power and greatness of God, I feared him too.
Joshua 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
3. Rahab asked to be spared, but she didn't just ask for herself. She begged for the lives of her entire family. When I got saved, I wanted to tell everyone, so they could accept this wonderful gift too. I want my friends, family, and even total strangers to know that through Jesus, they can be spared! They don't have to go to Hell. Rahab wants her Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, everybody - to be spared.
Joshua 2:13-14 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
4. Rahab is a beautiful picture of the Cross.
The spies tell her that they will protect her, she is to only hang a scarlet rope out of her window, and her home will be spared. This rope is a picture of the blood. When I got saved from sin, Jesus moved in. He placed His blood over my sin, and now, when God looks at me, He sees the blood. He doesn't see my sin anymore. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't sin anymore, oh no. I wish I didn't, but when I do sin, the blood is there to cover it up. What a blessing!
That scarlet rope is the spies way of escape. The blood is my way of escape, I have escaped Hell through Jesus blood! Hallelujah!
The thing I like best about Rahab is the end of her story. The spies kept their word. They spared Rahab's entire family. But it gets better. Rahab accepts the God of Israel has her God, she gives God her life, and she becomes part of the lineage of King David! Matt. 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Now that's a happy ending! Jesse was the father of David, and David was in the lineage of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus allowed a no- good, rotten harlot to be in his blood line. I find that amazing. It gives me hope. I'm no-good. I pretty rotten. But, maybe God can use me, too.
You see, God doesn't care how smart you are. He doesn't care how many "big name" people you know, or the size of your bank account. He doesn't care if you can sing, or play an instrument. He cares about one thing: your heart. Do you fear Him? Have you received Him as your Savior? Will you give your life to Him, to use as He will? He can do great things, just look at Rahab!