Gifts from Christ

I love good Christian music. Every time that I get in my vehicle, the radio is tuned into Klove. When I am on my way to work each morning, that is my time to get personal with my God. I listen to the music, sing to the top of my lungs, and sometimes just talk to Him. As I listen to these songs, I feel a sense of His presence and what it is that Christ has done for us. I started reading through the Gospels and looking at all the things that He went through and what it has done for me. I have come up with a few ideas that I would like you to entertain for just a moment. First and foremost His birth gives me Hope. God saw the shape the world was in. He knew that we needed an example to live by so that we could one day spend eternity with Him. Christ left the glory of heaven to be born on earth. He knew He would die, yet He came anyway. His baptism teaches me obedience. As we know with the Trinity, and many verses in the New Testament, Jesus is God. However, He still made a point to be baptized. Did He really need it? I don't think so. But He did it to show an example of obedience to the will of God. His time in the wilderness after His baptism teaches me that all men are tempted by Satan. Of course Satan knew who he was dealing with. He knew that Christ had a power over Him. Yet, he tried anyway to make Him stumble. That lets me know that Satan will keep attacking us, even when we become saved. More so as soon as we profess it and become baptized, when we are young in the Word. His life and teaching show me what true love really is. The greatest commandment as seen in Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Everything that He taught, the way He lived showed us the example of how to love each other, and how much He loved us. Because of His teaching, He had to die. His death saved me. He was the only true and acceptable sacrifice for my sin. He allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, and die, so that I could gain forgiveness for my sin, and go to heaven one day. If He had not died, salvation would not be available to us. When He was buried, He carried my sin to the grave. He bore my sin on that cross. He took them from me, and paid the price for my transgressions. When He arose, He gave me justification and a promise. I now have someone in heaven that will go to the Father on my behalf. And because He arose, I know that He will return. I do not know when this day is, but one day, a trumpet will sound, and I will be called up to meet Him in the air, where I will be with Him forever and ever. This is what Christ has done for us. These are the gifts that He gave. If you are reading this and have not given your life to Him, if you have not chosen to receive these gifts, I pray that you do so soon. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 reads "And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU,
AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION." Please do not wait too long.

Thanks and God Bless You all this week!