Bible Blog: December 11

December 11

Amos4: 1-6:14

Revelation 2:18-3:6

Psalm 130:1-8

Proverbs 29:21-22

In Revelation, the believers in Thyatira were commended for growing in the works off good deeds. We as followers of Christ should not feel satisfied when our church only rejoices in the salvation of its members or in the comfort of gathering for worship but we should also  grow in love, faith and acts of service. Because the times are critical, we must spend our days wisely and faithfully. In revelation 2:20 we see a women who john may have used the name jezabel to symbolize her kind of evil she was promoting, sexual immorality. Sex outside of marriage always hurts some and it shows God that you prefer to satisfy your own desires instead according to  Gods word. Sexual immorality has tremendous power to destroy our families, churches and communities as it destroys the integrity on which these relationships are built. This is why we must have no part in sexual immorality, even if our culture accepts it.

We cannot hide from Christ he knows what is in our hearts, minds and he still loves us. The sins we try to hide from God need to be confessed to him.Christ says that those who overcome (those who remain faithful until the end and continue to please God) will rule over Christ enemies and reign with him.

Christ is the morning star and when the world is at its bleakest point, Christ will burst onto the scene, exposing evil with his light of truth and brining his promised reward. In the Church of Sardis we see the church was told to wake up as their wealth and comfort had lulled them to sleep, their self- satisfaction caused them to die spiritually, they were no longer growing in their faith or evangelism. They lacked compassionate service to others. This makes us think, Are we watchful and alert of what others around us are going through? Are we heading into a slumber?, let us be spiritually awake. If God has given us a place of responsibility to teach, lead or serve, use that position to encourage those around us to be morally prepared and spiritually awake.

So in the depths of despair, despair makes us feel isolated and distant from God this is a time when we need God  the most. Despair over sin should not lead to self pity, causing us to think more about ourselves than God. Instead we should lead to confession  and then to Gods mercy , forgiveness and redemption. When we feel overwhelmed  by a problem, feeling sorry for ourselves will only increase the feelings of hopelessness but crying out to God will turn our attention to the one and only who can really help. I have experience this the past two weeks as I have felt overwhelmed with School work, finals and work, I was constantly tired and I was running out of "gas" like in Pastor Scotts sermon on Sunday. This was until I called out to the one and only Yahweh and I felt relaxed and less stressed as I confessed my worries upon the Lord.

So  let us not build a wall of sin around us and talk openly with God, God doesn't keep a record of our sins he forgives and tears the wall down between ourselves and him. Let us realign ourselves with the word of God. When we pray, realize that God is holding nothing against you, his lines of communication are completely open.

Amen