January 13, 2013

DJ

1 Samuel 15:22 Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

One of the biggest differences between living now and living in the times before Jesus was born is the fact that men had to offer sacrifices for their sins. Could you imagine having to kill an innocent animal just so that something innocent could take your place?

God would much rather we obey Him than sin and have to have something or someone innocent pay for our sins…
Someone willing has already done that for you; they died for you…

January 12, 2013

DJ

1 John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

How can you tell when you have learned something? You know how to do it… Ok that is a bit obvious but that is the same for so many things in life, including knowing God and knowing about Him.

When we know about Him we don’t always want to do what we know is right; but when we do know Christ, then we want to be able to do what is right and that means keeping His commandments, following His rules and trying to please Him.

That is also how others can tell if we know God – it is very easy to spot the truth…

January 11, 2013

DJ

Proverbs 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.

Have you ever thought about who you affect by doing something to others? First you affect yourself. Then you affect them. Then you affect the people around you… But you also affect God!

God always watches us and sees what we do to others. He does not like it when we are not nice to others; but when we are nice to others, we will see that God will be pleased with us and will show us that He is happy with the way we are now living. But when we are horrible to others we should not look for a reward from God!

January 10, 2013

DJ

1 John 3:11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another.

If we want to start acting like Christians then we need to understand why we should act that way. Jesus gave us a simple commandment to love one another, not as the other people “love” each other but as God has commanded us to.

That love means opening your heart to others and allowing them into your life. That love means sharing because you can. That love means caring because you see a need. That love must not be “switched off” like the world does but should always be available like God’s love is to us…