Merry Christmas! Relational Gifts and the Gift of Jesus – Purity 1538
Purity 1538 12/25/2024 Purity 1538 Audio Podcast
Purity 1538 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of a row of Christmas trees, created by the skillful placement of Christmas lights, illuminating the darkness just off of Waite Road comes to us from yours truly as I captured this display created by my countryside neighbors back on December 9th, 2022.
Well, it is Christmas morning and I am rejoicing this morning because of the gifts I received last night and because of the anticipation of the ones yet to be opened later this morning.
While the material gifts I received last night at my parent’s place are appreciated, I was more thankful for the relational gifts that I have in my parents, my brother, and my kids. Although I might not be skillful in expressing it and may be quick in my goodbyes, I really appreciated the time I had last night with my family because of the love that was expressed in our gifts to one another and in our gathering. As we age and life moves us through different transitions, we may not always be together but we were last night and I am thankful for it. I love my Mom and Dad. I love my brothers and I love my kids. And we were all together. We should never take the gift of our families for granted.
Prior to the Christmas Eve gathering at my parent’s house, My wife and I attended Starpoint’s candlelight Christmas Eve service (Facebook) where the message of the gift we have in Jesus was preached. It was a good service and I am sharing a link to the video on the blog today for those who want to check it out or for those who couldn’t make it to church. The opportunity to worship the Lord freely is another gift we shouldn’t take for granted.
I would share more, but it’s Christmas so I think I will just relax. I pray that anyone who hears or reads this message will have a very Merry Christmas.
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For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
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Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Scripture-Reference-Counseling-Kruis-ebook/dp/B00CIUJZT2?ref_=ast_author_dp )
This morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Humility (Pride).
Proverbs 16:5 (NASB) Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
Today’s verse is the second of five passages of scripture that fall under the first point of our counseling reference guide resource’s section on Humility (Pride).
1. Humility is a virtue most pleasing to God. Pride is a grievous sin in his sight.
Today’s Bible verse warns us of the dangers of pride.
The whole idea behind Christmas is that we need Savior. When we are proud, we become an abomination to the Lord because we mistakenly think that we did or possess something that wasn’t given to us by God. Our pride can blind our eyes and harden our hearts to the One person who can give us life everlasting.
There are no self-made men and if we are deceived into believing that we can take care of ourselves and deny the need of Jesus as Savior and Lord our arrogance and ignorance will not go unpunished. So if you know Jesus as Lord, thank God and stay humble.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “Day by Day Along the Way” By Jay E. Adams.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Adams’ books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 37
If we walk in the Light as He is in the Light … – 1 John 1:7
You need not walk alone! So long as you continue to walk in the light, you will be walking with Jesus. He never walks in darkness, but always in the light. If you desire his fellowship, you must walk where He walks. As we have seen, light in the Scriptures stands for truth, righteousness, and life. These are the things that characterize your Lord; they are His concern. So long as your roads are also His, you will have fellowship with Him; you find agreement with the Lord. But if you walk in darkness, you leave the pathway of light and leave the fellowship of the Lord. Darkness typifies sin, error, and death. As one who has been enlightened by the Light of the world, you have no part with darkness. Darkness is the realm in which the world walks; all its roads are dark. You are of the light and are privileged to walk in light. There is nothing on the dark roads but those things that hinder a Christian’s spiritual growth, testimony, and service. They lead only to stumbling, falling, sin, and despair. Avoid them, and walk in fellowship with the Lord. He beckons you.[1]
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Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
[1] Jay E. Adams, Day by Day along the Way (Cordova, TN: Institute for Nouthetic Studies, 2020), 45.
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