As another year comes to a close, three things are apparent:
Yet, man has reason to rejoice and that reason is life itself (Ecclesiastes 9:4). Man needs to be thankful and work to have a relationship with God, because only in life is that possible (John 8:20-24). Our relationship with God doesn’t happen by itself. Man must seek God and obey Him (John 6:45; Rom. 10:8-18; Heb. 5:9). Consider the words of Acts 17:26-28, “And he made from one, every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us.” Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Next Sunday will be “Christmas morning”, but we won’t be at home opening gifts from under a tree. Sure the holiday falls on Sunday, but we shall be at the services of the church—worshipping God (John 4:24; Matthew 4:10).
“But’s it’s Christmas,” someone may say.” “Yes it is”, will be our reply. However, God told man to seek Him first and all other things will be added (Matthew 6:33-34). So, God willing, we shall worship first and take care of the holiday second (Proverbs 3:9-10; Luke 10:27; John 4:24; Matt. 4:10). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Purposely being shot in the heart by your best friend. Having your mother steal your wallet. Being attacked by the one who is to protect you. All these shocking actions are “Betrayal.” In Matthew 26:21 Jesus said, “one of you will betray me” these chilling words sent shock waves though the hearts of the disciples.
If you really want to hurt someone beyond repair, just betray them. Once betrayed, a person is harder to win back then a conquered city. The lesson in all this is, don’t betray anyone. Trust is a hard thing to build up, it may take years to do so, and one evil act like betrayal can destroy it in a second. Imagine the shock on the face of the one that is betrayed—the unbelieving stare, the tears, the question: “Why? Why? I thought you were my friend?” Don’t do this evil deed to anyone! If you have people’s trust, keep it, don’t betray that trust! Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Someone will say, “I won’t go to that church because they are small and meet in a small building.”What would that person say, if someone from a bigger church with a bigger building, said the same to them. A person from a 100-member church may not want to visit a church with only 35 members, and that is wrong. But at the same time, what would that person do, if a person from a 500-member church looked down on their church with only 100 members?
Churches should not be chosen because of where they meet and how many people go there. Churches should be chosen because they teach and live the truth (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Keep in mind that Noah had only eight people in the Ark and everyone else drowned (2 Peter 2:4-5). Jesus said two or three meeting in his name will be acceptable (Matthew 18:20). Jesus also said that the road to Hell will be travelled by many (Matt. 7:13-15). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. |