by Pastor Cecil | May 2, 2017 | Romans
Romans 12:9
“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”
I once attended a Christian counselor’s conference where one of the speakers related a sad but humorous antidote. It seems a wife was seeing a marriage counselor and complained that her husband never told her he loved her. When asked about it, the husband said he told his wife he loved her when they were married thirty years ago; he had never withdrawn that statement, therefore, it was still in force. RIGHT!
Pure love is a sacrificial love. It is the act of being more concerned about the object of our love than satisfying our own desires. The greatest example is the love Jesus Christ demonstrated in giving His own life in order that we may inherit eternal life.
We need to show our love by the words of our mouth, but much more so by the things we do. If we say we love God yet never spend any time reading the Bible or praying, our inaction speaks for us. It is phony love.
It is time for an honest examination of our love for God. Is it a phony love that we have for the Lord who loved us enough to die for us? We can show our pure love by turning away from evil and clinging to the goodness of God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 30, 2017 | Romans
Romans 15:5-6
“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I hate to admit it, but sometimes when I am talking on the phone with a representative from some business, I voice my displeasure in a short-tempered manner. I know they are doing their job, but sometimes I let my attitude show … and it is not pretty. In other words, my attitude is showing.
Before the call is over I find myself asking the representative to forgive me — and also asking the Lord to forgive my short and unchristian responses.
It is not just in church or with other believers that our attitude needs sanctifying. If you are like me, a good part of your prayer life tends to be asking God’s forgiveness for something we have done, attitudes we have shown, and thoughts we have allowed to permeate our mind.
Our outward expression of snippy responses or unkind words reveal that we need to walk closer to the Lord and respond as He would respond. I desire to be more like Jesus with each and every passing day. I want His attitude, not mine, to shine forth.
Blessings dear hearts!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 21, 2017 | Romans
Romans 8:5
“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.”
As a young man I was often faced with a choice: Go to the library and study OR go for a walk in the park with a beautiful girl I had fallen in love with (I usually chose the walk!).
I am always amazed at how simple the things of God are … and yet they are so difficult that it seems impossible to ever attain them. Paul expresses his own frustration with trying to fulfill God’s requirements when he agonizes, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24). His answer was, and still is, Jesus.
What we set our minds to achieve are the things that become the magnet for giving direction to our life. We will find the direction from the Lord when we choose to follow after the Lord.
Paul sets before us two ways of behaving: God’s way OR the way of the flesh. When we are honest we know the ways of the flesh lead to death, here and for eternity. God’s way leads to eternal life. I choose God’s way!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 7, 2017 | Romans
Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
As a father of three I heard these words all too often: “But everyone is doing it!” I heard the same words when I was a probation officer, a Christian counselor, and even as a pastor. Those words always seem to be a justification for unacceptable or inappropriate behavior.
Perhaps one of the greatest problems that humans face, especially Believers, is being conformed to the behavior patterns of this world. A brief study of human history will reveal that it has never been wise or prudent to do what the rest of the world is doing. Remember in the pre-flood world that the vast majority of the millions of people on the earth were doing what everyone else was doing … except Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives.
God’s Word is very clear on what we are to do as well as what we are not to do. We are not to conform ourselves to this world, but we need to be transformed. I think we all remember the popular Transformer toys that could be changed from harmless trucks or cars to threatening robots. God wants us to be transformed/changed into His image in order to discover the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Have you discovered that in your own life? If not, I urge you to bow before the Lord and allow Him to show you the way.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 12, 2016 | Romans
Romans 8:13
“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
You may have heard the humorous anecdote about a young man in by-gone days who was writing a love note to his sweetheart: “My dearest darling, I would climb the highest mountain for you to show my love. I would swim the widest river to show just how much I love you! P.S. – I will see you this Saturday if it does not rain.”
In Matthew 21:28-31, Jesus tells the parable of the two sons: “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.Which of the two did the will of his father?”
There are so many if’s in our world that I hardly know where to begin. We often are hesitant to commit ourselves and so we place a conditional if on our response. The Lord is anxious for us to obey His Word regardless. No IF about it!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 3, 2016 | Romans
Romans 10:9
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
You may have heard this expression: The only things you can be sure of in life are death and taxes! What a dismal attitude that statement reveals. Unfortunately, there are many people who seem to have this outlook on life.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the GOOD NEWS! It is not a myth or a man-made contrivance. It is the wonderful gift of God who loves us enough to provide us with everlasting life.
There are many “Sinners Prayers” that have been shared to assist a sincere seeker of salvation to come to know the Lord. They can be as different as night and day. The thief on the cross was saved by merely asking Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into His kingdom. Bam! “Today you will be with Me in paradise!” That is about as quick and easy as it gets.
The sincerity of the heart is the determining factor. We are to open our mouths and confess “Jesus is Lord.” This comes from our heart that truly Jesus is the risen Lord who lives eternally. If you have never taken that step, please do so now!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
