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The love that God has for us could never be fully comprehended by our
finite minds. God's love for humanity is greater than we could ever think
or imagine because His love reached down from the heights of heaven to
become a man just like us, but with a much greater purpose. Because God's
love is so vast and because man's sin was so great humanity needed a way
to be reconciled with God again. We could never reach God's standard for
righteousness because of our sinful nature that was inherited from Adam and
Eve's sin. Knowing this, God found another way which was the only way, His
Son, The Lord Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice that mankind needed to be
reconciled with God again. (Romans 5:12-17) (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
The Lord Jesus willingly took upon Himself our sins and replaced it with
His righteousness. He took our name which was filthy and sin filled and
replaced it with His Name which is Pure, Holy and without blemish. We can
rejoice in our salvation because we have put off the old man and we have
put on the new man through Jesus Christ our Lord. Isaiah 61:10 declares
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for
He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with
the robe of righteousness.” God loves you more than you know. Rejoice in
this fact and be exceedingly glad that God did not see you for who you
were, but rather He sees you for who you can be in Him.
(Colossians 3:9-10) (2 Corinthians 5:17-21)
No matter what obstacles you face and no matter what challenge tries to
discourage your heart, know that you are more than a conqueror through
Christ who loves you. When the world tries to put you down, to discredit
you, to discourage and dissuade you know that you can rest in God's
strength because His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He is our
Comforter, our Encourager, our Redeemer and our Perfect Strength. The
Bible says there is no want in them that fear Him. I encourage you to
trust the Lord in every circumstance. Depend on Him in all things and
because you do you will never find yourself wanting.
(Romans 8:33-39) (2 Corinthians 12:9) (Psalm 34:4-9)
I hope this message encourages and inspires your heart to call upon Jesus
to be your Lord and Redeemer if you have never made that eternal decision
before.
TWO BABIES
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department
of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in
the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the
fire and police departments and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls
who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run
program were in the orphanage.
They relate the following story in their own words:
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear-for
the first time-the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary
and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple
went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.
Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as
they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp
every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of cardboard
to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut
from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available
in the city. Following instructions, the children tore the paper and
carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel,
cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she
left Russia, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was cut
from tan felt we had brought from the United States.
The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to
see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where
little Misha sat -- he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his
project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not
one, but two babies in the manger.
Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two
babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at his
completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.
For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he
related the happenings accurately -- until he came to the part where Mary
put the baby Jesus in the manger.
Then Misha started to ad lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he
said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and
asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have
no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could
stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to
give him like everybody else did.”
“But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had
that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that
would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep you warm, will that be
a good enough gift?'”
“And Jesus told me, 'If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift
anybody ever gave me.' So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at
me and he told me I could stay with Him -- for always.”
“As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that
splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head
dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The
little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him,
someone who would stay with him -- FOR ALWAYS.”
Author Unknown
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct thy paths.”
Psalm 20:6-9 “Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will hear
him from His Holy Heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some
trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of
the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and
stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.”
Psalm 37:23-26 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He
delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young, and now am
old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging
bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”
Psalm 8:3-6 “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon
and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful
of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him
a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put
all things under his feet.”
Psalm 46:1-3 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the
waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the
swelling thereof. Selah.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: WHAT IS FAITH?
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem118.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: WHAT A MIRACLE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony54.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
