Seek After God

Matthew 7:7-11

Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

There is no way of describing the greatness of God. His mercy and grace are beyond all measure. His nature consists of generosity, love, kindness, patience, faithfulness, and everything that is good! In the beginning, He created a paradise for man, a perfection that cannot even be imagined, but when man turned away from God, all creation was tainted by sin. Amazingly, God never turned His back upon man. As a parent nourishes, cherishes, and comforts his beloved child, so God also cares for His children. Although we have no worth in ourselves, God gifts us with the righteousness of His very own Son. If we need Him, He is always there. If we are scared, He will lift us unto His high tower. If we are suffering, He will wipe away our tears. He is our comfort, our shield, our strength, and our shelter in every storm. But of everything that He bestows upon His children, the greatest of all is His love. He has given the ultimate love sacrifice - His life. And He gave it for such a sinner as you and me. He loved us before we ever knew Him. So call upon the God of Heaven day and night, in joy and in sadness, no matter what the reason, for He yearns to draw near to you!

To Follow Christ's Love

Matthew 20:28

"And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave - just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Love came in the form of a man (Matthew 20:28). Christ's love knows no limits or boundaries, it holds no prejudice or selfish gain; instead, love is kind, patient, honest but gentle, disciplinary but forgiving (1 Corinthians 13). Not just for men who are easy to care for, but also for those who may treat you unjustly or judge you unfairly (Matthew 5:43-45). Love forgives and saves a relationship. Love brings life and light to a matter and ends despair and hatred. Christ's love shines through the message of salvation; therefore, every believer can light the world around him by letting Christ's love live and shine through him as he lets the gospel message take hold of his heart every day and strives to show the world the love he experiences by the amazing grace of God (Matthew 5:16). Love is a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand in need, a listening ear in sorrow. God is all of those for us, isn't it time we followed His example?

Faith - A Life's Journey After Christ

James 1:22,25 
"But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves... one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."

In today's society it is common for many people to get up on Sunday mornings, go to church, listen to a sermon, pack up the kids, and go back home. Many people believe that there is a God, but often He is no more than just an idea, or an impersonal Being somewhere out there in the universe. Although they may say they have faith in God, what does their faith consist of?

What is true faith in God? Is it simply a belief that there is a God? James 2:19 states: "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." Not only do demons believe in God, they also have great respect and awe of His power. But demons are condemned to live a life of rejection and eternal separation from God. 

So what does faith in God consist of? Although there are many things that can be said about godly faith, it all comes down to three essential points:

1) Acknowledging that you have done/said/thought something that is contrary to God's Word, which makes you a sinner in need of God's mercy.

2) Trusting that the blood that Christ shed on the cross was the perfect sacrifice for our sins and that in confessing our sins before God and accepting His gift of righteousness through His Son Jesus Christ, He can forgive us completely of our sins.

3) Living out your faith with a genuine response of obedience to God's Word, not for means of salvation or merit in God's eyes, but in a desire to serve Him with every part of your life.

Faith isn't just belief, faith isn't a compilation of human works. Faith is a response to God's calling for salvation and a daily act of worship and service in the sight of God. A life lived for Christ will evidence His will and desires. We, as born-again believers, must let Christ's light and spirit of service shine through us. We are His hands and feet. We must run to those in need, and we must lift up those who have fallen.

So when you go to a church service on Sunday morning, remember that the sermon isn't finished until you have applied it to your own personal spiritual life. Live out your faith as you follow the footprints of Christ.