The Open Word (Audio)

God loves us. It may sound cliché but it’s true. He loved us so much that He made a way for us to be forgiven of our sin. He sent His only Son so that we might have an opportunity to have a relationship with Him, to be a part of His body, so that we could serve in His ministry. In His word, He has promised many blessings to those who love Him and keep His word. He has promised to never leave us. To provide for all of our needs and to be our ever present help. What a loving, merciful God we serve.

Oftentimes the God of the Bible is made out to be an ogre or an unreasonable tyrant. He is thought to be a God who’s cold and unloving but that’s not the case. If you are to read His scriptures, and have a relationship with Him you would know that He is not that way. God is righteous and yes He does have a standard that His children are to live by. But that standard is given to us for our good because He loves us. He’s kind and full of mercy. He wants to see us succeed in this walk of life.

In today’s message we will be reminded that we need to walk by faith. Sure, we’ve been saved by grace through faith and not by our works. But what happens after we’ve been saved? Does your walk of faith stop there? Certainly not! Believer it’s just started. Each and every moment we’re given a choice. We can choose to submit to God, trusting in His understanding, walking by faith or we can choose to trust our own wisdom and walk according the flesh.

The Scriptures teach us that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. In today’s message, Pastor David will remind us that God loved the world. He didn’t send His Son for just one particular people group. Jesus came to this earth to make a way for us to be cleansed and forgiven. To make a way for us to be restored. He did that for anyone who would turn to Him with a humble heart of repentance.

All of us have loved ones, friends and family that we desire to see walking in the truth of God’s word. We long for them to be saved but sadly many of them have rejected our Messiah’s teachings. They refused to listen to us when we try to share the Gospel with them, but don’t lose heart believer, just submit to God. Allow Him to work in and through your life. By His grace that produces the fruits of the Spirit, they will see His goodness without us ever sharing a word.

When we choose to live our lives according to God’s word there’s a good chance we will experience persecution. Just look at Noah, imagine the ridicule he endured while he constructed the Ark. Then take a look at Jesus He was mocked, rejected, beaten, and eventually killed. So believer, when you are taunted, teased and harassed when you make a stand for the name Jesus, don’t be discouraged. Understand that God is in control. Submit to Him. He will take care of the rest.

At Christmastime we spend a lot of time picking out the perfect gift for the ones we care for. It’s purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree waiting to be opened by those we love. Wouldn’t it be crazy if they handed it back to us saying they would open it later?! We know it’s something they really need and by now, so do they. Well, this is what’s happening with God’s Gift. At this point it has nothing to do with knowledge or faith, but instead allowing hearts to be changed by the reality of truth in the Gift.

We all know the story of Santa Claus. He is a universal icon, very popular, even though according to a catchy song, we better watch out, because he can see us when we’re asleep or awake and he only give presents to good boys and girls, for goodness sakes. We’ve embraced this myth, but as a culture we’re essentially trading it for the truth of Christ, who really does see all things but doesn’t withhold His Gift from anyone. Its available to everyone who will simply accept it. The best gift of all, eternal life.

Today we take a look at the first Christmas. We learn that things haven’t changed much since then. During that time, Bethlehem was a major hub for travel, crowded with chaos and people needing to connect with family. As the story goes, our Savior, our Gift, was born in a stable because the local inns were all sold out. We’re distracted now more than ever. We need to stop the busyness to realize the greatness of the Gift that we’ve been given, making this really the “most wonderful time of the year”.

Today Pastor David examines the words of a popular Christmas carol written during simpler times, describing this time of year as the “happiest season of all”. And we question as we hear the lyrics, “Where has all the happy gone?” Times haven’t changed since the blest birth of Christ. It’s a familiar story in reality for us now as we find ourselves consumed by the urgent things in life instead of the important things. Let’s remember the real reason for the season and find our happiness in the gift of Christ.