Everything in heaven is in awe of the cross. Everything in hell is afraid of it. Only men on earth have the attitude of ignoring its meaning. Second day of the year is not yet too late to recognize what Jesus did for you. He loves you, and he thinks you’re worth it, and so you are! Happy new day!
Merry Christmas!
There will be no need for Christmas without sin. And there will be no Christmas without a Savior. Christmas is one of God’s greatest ways of telling us that though we are totally messed up, He makes ways. Ways that are worth following through.
God did not want us to fall into sin. But we did. Yes, we did. So don’t ask yourself whether God created sin or not. Because as far as sin is concerned, it is not really created. It is rather committed. And God cannot commit sin, because the very definition of sin is to miss the mark -which is God, the standard and the mark of all marks.
Sin does not leave us hanging. How I wish it does, but no! As a matter of fact, it won’t leave you at all! It will continue to pull you down, even up to eternity if you don’t know how to deal with it.
God was not powerless to stop us sinning, He was just faithful to Himself. God created us as free beings, and He does not coerce us to do the right thing when we choose to do the otherwise. Thus, we fall and make big mistakes that we can’t even fix.
But even though we’re messed up, He continued to be faithful to Himself. He provided salvation, Hence, Christmas -the answer. God’s sovereignty was clearly shown. His glory was completely magnified despite our sinfulness. And having known God’s sovereignty, It is indeed a Merry Christmas!
your weakness may be your strength
This entry does not mean aim for complacency, or don’t aim to change for good. Yes, for some extent they can also be the source of your strength, but this entry is not encouraging you to settle for the less.
You can also boast about your sins. You read it right, your sins. I do not mean boast about your present sins, or boast about it without repenting. I mean, repent -and boast about it.
Let me explain. It’s something new, and something people don’t usually do. Your sins might be your present weaknesses today. And if you really are repentant, God’s grace will flourish. Of course, the discipline is also in the process -but that’s the other side of the coin.
You actually don’t boast about your sins, rather you are boasting about God’s grace. Boasting not in a way that would make grace looks like a license for you to make another sin. It is the kind of boasting in a way where God’s grace is magnified. Where people will see that yes we are messed up -but it is the grace of God that qualifies us to pass the given standard.
Whatever weakness you may have in life, or you think you have. Boast about it -not in view of people. But in view of God’s grace. Not to please men, but to please God.
9But he said to me, ”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
What weakness/es you have in your life today that you think would magnify God’s grace in your life? Share your answer by leaving a comment!
Is Jesus the real Messiah?
Question: How sure are we that the gospels were not manipulated or the authors did not write it in a way to prove the fulfillment of prophecies about Jesus?
1. The gospels were written by four different people in different timeline, with different purposes, and at different places. And yet they still remain coherent with each other.
2. The historicity and accuracy of the gospels were supported by the epistles of Paul. Paul had direct mentoring with Jesus in Arabia. He also used to live with different values in life with other apostles. And yet, his writings match exactly to what the gospels say.
3. Luke was writing a biography of Jesus to “Your Highness Theopilus”, Dr. Luke can’t be wrong in his documentation.
4. History shows that the timeline of the killing of babies, and the Jerusalem’s burning is exact to what the Bible says -which also proves Jesus’ deity.
5. People die for what they sincerely believe, even if what they believe is wrong, thus they’re called sincerely wrong. The writers of the gospels will not make up stories and put their lives at stake for something that they do not sincerely believe is the truth.
6. The historicity of Jesus’ existence was proven by Jewish Historians who were not even Christians (Flavius Josephus, Cornelius Tacitus, etc).
7. The writers of the gospels were not rabbis. They didn’t memorize the prophecies of the Old Testament, it was revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.
8. The Prophecy in the book of Daniel regarding the date of the coming Messiah was exactly pointing to the time of Jesus. Dates cannot be manipulated.
9. John the Baptist existed according to the history books written by Josephus. John the Baptist was one of the greatest evidence for the fulfilment of the prophecies in the Old Testament.
10. Jesus is the Messiah. Because if he is not the Messiah, why were there so many people distorting the real person of Jesus?
Just a heads up
Dear friends,
I made a new blog. A blog that no one knows, probably no one might see. Just in case you don’t see me posting in new entries for the day, just assume that I am writing on the other one.
This blog aims to discipline myself to write everyday. At the same time, it aims to edify the believers. The other blog however is not for people, it’s for me. Kind of a “journal” thing. Every writer needs a place where he could put his ideas -yes even the crazy ones.
I hope you understand. God’s blessing be with you!
Jobet
When Jesus seems to be boring
If we find Christianity boring, it may be because it costs us nothing.
The paradox of Christianity: Salvation is given for free, but it costs your whole life. You don’t receive salvation by losing your life. You receive salvation and then you lose your life. It’s not dying, it’s actually living -”living sacrifice” to be exact.
Jesus said, count the cost. After doing that, decide to follow me or decide to follow me not. If you say you’re following him, that is a lifetime commitment. Lifetime commitment of becoming a living sacrifice everyday -that’s the cost.
You’ll know when you’re no longer faithful to the commitment you’ve made. When Jesus seems to be boring, it may be because it costs you nothing anymore. It may be because you’re no longer a living sacrifice.
