the basic message # E84
1 Peter 1:3-5
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Praise, indeed. How often we take for granted the wondrous gift that God has so generously offered to each and every one of us. Have you ever bought an expensive gift and then went to bring it to a friend only to find that they’re not home? Did you leave the gift on the doorstep? Of course not, no one would leave a special gift outside. And so it is with the priceless gift of Jesus Christ. God won’t leave it on the doorstep. When he knocks at the door of our heart and asks if he may come in and deliver the gift, we must open the door and allow him entrance. Only then will we be able to receive the precious offer.
Romans 1:8
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.
When George H.W. Bush ran for President 12 years ago, he had a personal vision of “a thousand points of light”. I see tiny flickers of the light of promise all over the world. Sometimes they’re hard to see, but they’re out there. Have you ever been in a well-lighted room and stepped outside into the night? It’s pretty hard to see at first, but as your eyes adjust, the darkness becomes much more clear. Since we live in a dark world, it becomes easier to see the tiny points of the light of Christ. As Paul wrote to the Romans, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you”. I get quite a bit of email from readers, and about 75% is encouraging. I appreciate that very much, and guess what? I also appreciate the 25% that is negative. Why? Because sometimes a rebuke can be healthy. The proper type of rebuke can cause us to look inwardly at our own shortcomings. I can’t begin to ask the Holy Spirit to “fix” something in me until I know it’s broken. I’m coming to realize that I need to get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit do what he does best: search out blemishes on my heart and soul and then, by his Holy power, remove them.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore encourage each other with these words.
What words? The Good News of Jesus Christ. The Good News that we were given a Savior to take the heat for our sins. The Good News about our Lord who will one day come back for his little lambs that patiently wait for him. The Great Shepherd hasn’t gone away and left his flock. He has gone ahead to prepare a hillside far away where his lambs can graze in peace with no fear of the enemy. The Good Shepherd will elevate his protection of his flock to a level that we can’t even begin to comprehend. A place where there will be nothing but happiness, peace, contentment and pure agape love. I’d like to go there right now. How about you?