by Pastor Cecil | Jan 28, 2016 | Romans
Romans 5:1-2
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Back during my college days there was always a lot of stress as we waited to get the results of work that we had submitted. As I recall there were comments that sounded like this; “I hope I did okay.” It was not a confident expectation, but a lot of unknown.
In Scripture the word hope is used frequently. In fact it is used well over 100 times. It is interesting that both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the word denotes a voice of confidence or expectation.
It is common for us to use the word hope in times when we doubt that it will happen. Advertisers announce a huge drawing in which a large amount of money will be given to some lucky winner. It could be us and we may hope it will be, but our chances are slim to none!
The hope that we read about in today’s Scripture is a confident expectation. God says and He is always true to His Word. Our hope is the kind that rejoices before it happens because we know it will. Confident expectation! That is our hope!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 22, 2015 | Romans
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Back in the dark ages when I was attending college, I supported my family by working as a police officer. I worked 48 hours a week and my salary, as I recall, was $120 per month. When I received my paycheck it was not a gift — I had earned it!
There is a vast difference between wages and gifts. Wages are paid for performing a service as required. Gifts are not given on the basis of performance, but rather as an expression of love. The most precious gifts are those into which a person has poured their heart and soul.
Above my desk hangs an 18” x 12” wall plaque that is one of my most precious gifts. It was given to me by our oldest daughter, Brenda, shortly before her death in 1991. It is a counted cross stitch of Isaiah 40:31: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
In order to enjoy that precious gift, I had to open the package. The joy on Brenda’s face when she watched me open her gift was priceless! It brought her joy just to see how much it pleased me. It brings joy to the Lord when we open His gifts. Please do not leave God’s greatest gift unopened!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 9, 2015 | Romans
Romans 14:7-8
“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
A man decided to fence in his back yard so his dogs would have a place to run and play without being on a leash. As he was digging the holes for the posts, his neighbor came storming out and demanded an explanation; he claimed that the posts would be on his property.
It turned out, after the expense of a survey, that the posts would have encroached one inch onto the neighbor’s property. It was a petty squabble that damaged the relationship between the two neighbor’s who had once been friends.
Determining ownership of property is a small thing compared to determining the ownership of our lives. To whom do we belong? Who holds the title deed to our life? Paul sums it up for us very well when he says, “. . . whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
If we are the Lord’s, it is time we start living like it. That means letting go of the things that are temporary and grasping the things of eternal value.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 27, 2015 | Romans
Romans 14:8-9
“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
You may have heard or even use this expression: “I’m just dying to try that!” — or “I’m just dying to go there!” When we stop and think about it, we know that the things of this earth will never be achieved by dying. On the other hand, heaven or hell can be accessed only through death.
I do not want to start this issue of “Blessings From the Heart” with a discussion about death, but about life! Many of us live in areas where it becomes very easy to live for Christ. In other parts of the world, however, to even name the name of Christ carries with it a death sentence.
I have heard stories about individuals that had a lackadaisical attitude toward spiritual values until they were confronted with a choice of either denying Christ in order to live — or dying for Him. I think of the first martyr, Stephen, who chose the latter.
We may not be confronted with a life or death situation, but we all are challenged to live for Christ each and every moment. As you sincerely evaluate your life, are you living for Christ or are you living for self? I want to live for Christ!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 23, 2015 | Romans
Romans 5:6-8
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This year, September 23, 2015, is designated as Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is the most sacred day for Jews. A day for confessing the sins of the people as well as their individual sins. The solemn day is marked by deep contrition and fasting.
Unfortunately, most Christians pay very little attention to the seven Feasts that were established by God and given to Moses. This is one of those days. As we read today’s Scripture, we realize that Jesus is our atoning sacrifice.
What does atonement mean? Basically we can say it means paying a price for sins that have been committed. We can never pay the steep price that is required for our sins. There is no way we can be good enough or to accomplish enough good deeds that merit the atonement for what we are guilty of. Jesus paid the price!
Even though Jesus is our atoning sacrifice, it is important that we go through our memory banks and recall the things that we have done that are displeasing to God as well as hurting others. Let us purpose in our hearts to ask forgiveness for anything that we have done that is displeasing to the Lord. If restitution is required, so be it! If confessing our faults to others is required, so be it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 7, 2015 | Romans
Romans 7:21-24
“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?”
There is a word that describes the process of looking within. It is the word . . . ME! There are many counselors who try to sell the concept of thinking well of ourselves first, but I have a difficult time buying into that concept.
It has been my experience that crushed feelings focus more on us than others. If we go through tragic loss or devastating injury, we have a choice. We can either get our eyes off of our own situation or we can crumble into a heap of self-pity. To be honest I do not find self-pity to be pretty!
Pride and covetousness are also attributes of focusing within. It led to the first sin when Adam and Eve thought they could be like God. It was what THEY wanted rather than trusting God to provide them with what they needed . . . HIM!
In the next few days I will try to direct our attention to seeing things the way God desires for us to see them. It is essential that we begin the process of seeing that the world does not revolve around our emotions. God has called us, as believers, to go out into the world with a message of deliverance. That will not be accomplished by feeling good about ourselves, but by being obedient to His Word!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
