Today's readings are Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, & Proverbs 1:10-19

There are so many great things that we can pull from today's readings. First, we can look at the life of Noah that we read of in Genesis. We can see from his life that God is more than able to protect the righteous while destruction falls on the wicked. 

This is encouraging for us because we know that there is great wickedness in the Earth today, unlike that which has ever been seen before. It is easy to get consumed with fear as we see the destruction of the wicked before or eyes. We must remind ourselves that God will provide a way for us to escape the destruction taking place around us. Many things that are happening around us that can cause us to worry are things that we don't have to pay much mind to. We are inn Christ & not subject to wrath but salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What I really wanted to talk about today is something that John the Baptist said.

Matthew 3:8-10

⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ⁹ Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. ¹⁰ Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Our lives should be significantly different now that we are Christians. There are certain things that we should see in each others lives now that we have chose to follow Jesus. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car. 

Jesus said that people will know we are His followers by our love. Let me ask you a question today-- How is your love life?  I do want to clarify that because I don't want anybody to think that I'm being inapproprate. I'm not speaking about you sex life--I asking about your love life?

A lot of people are up tight all the time. They are always complaining & grumbling about something. Could it be that love is waxing cold in their life? Do you get agitated quickly? Do you tend to find fault in everything? Are you quick to criticize what others are doing? Do you demand that your needs come first? Do you still hunger to see souls saved or are other things more important to you?

You can gauge a persons love life by this one thing every time--how far will you go to reach the lost?

Jesus is our model. He is the exact representation of love. Considered how far He went to save the lost. He demonstrated His love by dying for us. He held back nothing. He poured out everything. 

There is an old hymn that says:

To be like Jesus
To be like Jesus
All I ask - to be like Him
All through life's journey
From earth to glory
All I ask - to be like Him. 

We sing it, but I think we often forget to consider what that would really mean. 

I leave you today with the words of the great apostle Paul in regards to love:

1 Corinthians 13:11

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

Pastor Richard

Lord, help us to grow in love.  Let us put away the childish ways & move to maturity, in Jesus name we pray.