by Pastor Cecil | Nov 16, 2017 | Colossians
Colossians 2:7
“- – rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
As we continue in this passage from Colossians 2, we read the words rooted – established – abounding. It reminds me of watching crew members on the International Space Station eating red lettuce that they had grown in space. It was the first time they had been able to grow edible food in space. I guess they could honestly say that the taste was… OUT OF THIS WORLD! (OK, that was bad!)
In our walk as Believers we are called upon to be rooted. That means we are to base our growth on the Word of God. It is not the wisdom of God that will allow us to grow, but our willingness to be rooted in that wisdom. When we rely on human wisdom and reasoning we will lack the life-giving spiritual nourishment.
From being rooted in God’s Word we will become established in the faith and will abound in it with thanksgiving. That is a fantastic truth that is made evident in and through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the time to evaluate your personal life. After accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, are you rooted deep in His will for your life? Are you being established in Him to the point of abounding with thanksgiving? If not, now is the time to begin this thrilling walk with the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 15, 2017 | Colossians
Colossians 2:6-7
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Yesterday I shared God’s plan for our salvation by quoting from Ephesians 2:8-9. It is by God’s grace and our faith in believing and receiving His provision of eternal salvation for all who trust in Him alone.
When we place our trust in the completed work of Jesus Christ we begin our walk as new believers. It is at this point that much confusion exists. All too often we are led to believe that we are kept by our works. We can no more be kept by our good works than we can be saved by our good works.
Notice in today’s Scripture that Paul writes that just as we received salvation by grace through faith, we are to walk with the Lord by grace and through faith. In order to be strong and productive believers we need to live in victory. We do that by constantly walking by faith as God’s own dear children.
As adoptive children of the God of the universe we have received a new name and a new identity. There is nothing we can do that will keep us saved any more than we could do anything to deserve it in the first place. We just live as believers!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 14, 2017 | Ephesians
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Do you think you can be good enough to make it into heaven? Do you think that your good deeds need to outnumber your bad deeds to make it into heaven? What does the Bible say about being made right with God?
I am glad to supply the answer. Actually, today’s Scripture supplies the answer. It is more important to read what the Bible says about the matter rather than rely on the supposition of our human reasoning.
Isn’t it great that God has done for us what we could never do for ourselves?! God did it by sending His precious Son, Jesus, to provide eternal life through His shed blood on the cross.
If you have lived your life under the false assumption that you merit heaven by being good enough — think again! I invite you to pray this prayer right now. “Lord Jesus, I come to you as a lost sinner. I can never be good enough to earn entry into Your heaven. I invite You to come into my heart and make me Your child. I want to live for You and serve You. I pray this in Jesus’s name. Amen!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 13, 2017 | Psalm
Psalm 83:14-15
“As the fire burns the woods, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire, so pursue them with Your tempest, and frighten them with Your storm.”
One of my favorite things in the fall and winter months is to sit in front of my woodstove and watch the flames consume log after log. I purchased my little woodstove several years ago after an ice storm left us without power and heat for almost a week.
When I chose the stove, I picked one that was small enough to comfortably fit into our living room, yet large enough to heat the entire house of just over 1400 square feet. I also wanted a flat top so it could be used to cook in an emergency.
As I watch the flames through the glass door, I am reminded that this is fire under control. It is useful and efficient. The wildfires that destroyed homes and businesses last summer and early fall were destructive because they were fire out of control.
The fire of God must always be under His control. That is why it is imperative that we stay close to Him and spend quality time in His Holy Word. It is not that we burn brightly for ourselves, but that we let the fire of God glow through us.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 10, 2017 | James
James 4:8
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
As I write the words of this Daily-E-Votional, my mind reflects back to the memory of my precious Dad. I cherished every moment I spent with my Dad. He was an encourager and was always there to insure that I was striving to be the man God wanted me to be. He stressed that after he was gone I would hold fast to the gospel and point people in the direction of the cross. I yearn for the day when I will see my Dad once again, but even more so I yearn for the day I will meet my Savior face to face.
In the early years of the 20th Century there was an outbreak of diphtheria in the U.S. that claimed many lives. In 1903, Cleland McAfee was chaplain and choir director at Park College in Parkville, Missouri. As the epidemic swept the area, two of his nieces died from the dread disease and the others in the house were quarantined. In Cleland’s hour of grief he wrote the hymn NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD and had the college choir sing outside the house.
If you are passing through the valley of the shadow of death right now (I know that each of us do at some time in our life), let these words bring that quiet assurance we need.
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
Refrain: O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God.
Hold us who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
To access Near to the Heart of God, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/neartotheheartofgod in your browser or click on the image below.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
— Pastor Cecil
