The Three Gifts

These gifts are symbols of Jesus' ministry. He is sinless Prophet, the sacrificed Priest and King of Kings.

Truth!

You can tell the truth without love, but you cannot love without telling the truth.

"Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"
I Cor. 13:6

The Bible word for the highest form of love is charity. Charity is described in detail in
I Corinthians 13.

True charity starts with loving God--trusting His Way. This love for God is possible because He first loved us.

I John 4:9-10
In this was manifested the love  of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Hearin is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin.

In my own power I cannot truly love. I will be selfish even with my "good deeds". Love is received only when I have accepted the free forgiveness of sin through Christ's shed blood at Calvary. Faith in the death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus changes my heart.

Then, in the strength of God's grace, charity reaches out to others--under the umbrella of Truth. Jesus is the Truth, the Life, the Way.

I John 4:11
" Beloved if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."

Love and forgiveness for others is only possible once I recognize my own need for love and forgiveness.  I claim God's promised love to me and want others to share the same joy.

The Christmas angels told of this joy to the shepherds: a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord

Luke 2:10-11
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Epe. 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Thanksgiving!

Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:45-46

"For ye are bought with a price..." I Cor. 2:20a

"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely give us all things?" Ro. 8:32

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." II Cor. 9:15

God values each person! He gave everything to redeem (buy back) lost sinners. Such infinite love and grace cares for me! If this were the only thing I had, I could be thankful; however, He daily loadeth us with blessings!

He leaves the choice with us: Will you trust His Word not your own way? Will you receive the gift of Jesus' love evidenced in the shed blood of the cross? Do you realize how much God values you?

I like knowing that God paid so much for my salvation! When you pay dearly for something you take care of it. I can trust and not be afraid!

I John 5:16

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."

This verse can be somewhat confusing. Some things to remember:

1. A person is born of God when they acknowledge that they are a sinner that deserves punishment then believe that Jesus took that punishment with His shed blood, was buried, and rose again to atone for those sins. They call on the name of the Lord to save them. This is an individual decision--no one can believe for another person. (John 3, Ro. 10:8-10)

2. Sin is to "miss the mark" or fall short of the glory of God (Ro. 3:23)

3. Christ hit the "mark" and glorified God for us (Ro. 5:8)

4. We, in Jesus, no longer "miss the mark"! (Ro. 8:1-2, John 15) This does not mean that we never transgress or disobey, but that we should " follow after" our Saviour. (Phil. 2:12-21, Heb. 12:1-4)

5. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God

    (John 3:16)

6. He made Himself responsible for our keeping. The name "Jesus" means "Jehovah will save". He is the only safety or refuge, our success and victory, our Comforter and Avenger. (John 10:27-29, Psalm 23)

7. The Wicked One cannot touch Him 

   (I John 4:4, 5:1-4)

8. Frantic fear does not come from God--it is a tool of Satan to distract us from God's character. (II Tim. 1:7)

Other helpful verses:

Ps. 31:14-24

Ps. 33:8-22

Ps. 32:7

I John 2:25-26

Phil. 3:13-15

Ps. 119

I John 1:9

The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

Don't Go to Ono!

Morning Glory!