More of Joy's Thoughts

Throughout life we have to meet many qualifications to be successful. We come into this world and initially no one has any expectations of us. We eat and sleep at our own discretion and everyone around us tends to our needs. This stage of life doesn’t really last so very long. Within a short amount of time we have to learn to share, obey, do chores, and fit it with our family setting.

In order to qualify for kindergarten one must be a certain age and be able to meet certain expectations. This is only the beginning of meeting qualifications in life.

As life progresses to a different level we finish high school, go to college, get married, get established in a career, and have a family. There are certain qualifications required to do all of these things successfully.

As one moves on through life there is retirement and again qualifications are to be met. Do we have enough money saved to retire? Do we qualify for Social Security, a pension, do we meet the age requirement for Medicare? Life is full of things that to be successful we must qualify.

One of the biggest things we should consider is this question: what must be done to qualify us for eternity. Once we have lived out our years on earth and we die what will happen then? My friend, this qualification is the very most important one to meet, as it is the matter of eternal life or eternal death.

Before the creation of the world or one living soul, God the creator knew that man would not be able to meet the qualifications of a holy God. God is holy and cannot abide where there is sin and we are a people who are born in sin thereby unqualified and spiritually dead. But, because of his great love for us God provided the means through which He would qualify us for eternal life, that means was through his Son, Jesus Christ. We must however place our trust and faith in him to meet the standard.

Christ has done the work needed to give us eternal life. He died upon a Roman cross and shed his blood as the perfect and permanent sacrifice. We read in the Bible that without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin. Christ was the only acceptable sacrifice as he was holy and without sin. One that was sinful could not pay the price.

You may ask then, how can one have their sins forgiven and meet the qualifications for having eternal life. This is what you must do: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that He is the substitute taking your sin upon himself when he died on the cross. This is how you become qualified to share in the kingdom of light. God gives you his righteousness in exchange for your sin.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 14:6 Jesus answered “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Colossians 1:12-13 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

My question is this: Are you qualified to enter the kingdom of light? Have you applied Christ’s payment of sin to the debt you have acquired? Please consider today taking this step, asking Christ to forgive your sins because of Jesus' payment on the cross and enter into a personal relationship with God as your Father, who qualifies you for the kingdom of His dear son.

Christmas Thoughts

From eternity past God's plan for our redemption was in his mind. Such an amazing thought to think that even though God knew there would be a price to pay for our salvation He created us and still longed to have a relationship with puny mankind. When the time was right God executed his plan.

Galatians 4:4
But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

God planned every single detail of His son's miraculous birth. The young virgin Mary, Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, Zachariah the priest, Anna and Simeon, the innkeeper, Herod, the star of the east, the census, and the wisemen with their gifts. He did all of this because we were in his mind.

At a later point in time God planned that his dear son would hang on a cross and shed his blood for the one time, all sufficient payment for sin.

At another point in time God revealed himself to me. It is through Him that we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisom and understanding.

As I ponder the birth of the baby in the manger I do not have words to express the wonder of that gift. Thank you dear Lord for your grace lavished upon me and for your love to bring to completion the work you are doing.

Until the time that God brings to fulfillment all things in heaven and on earth under one head I give you the praise and the glory.

Reflecting

It is the beginning of the Thanksgiving week and traditionally this is a time to reflect on the blessings we have recieved. God has been good to provide abundantly for our daily needs but how he has provided for our spiritual needs is even more awesome.

• He knew and loved me before creation and desires a relationship with me. Ephesians 1:4
• He planned my redemption by sending His son to be the satisfactory payment for my sins. Ephesians 1:7
• He has promised to never leave or forsake me. Hebrews 13:5
• He has promised to work all things together for good in my life. Romans 8:28
• He will complete the work that has begun in my life. Philipians 1:6
• He has promised to supply my needs. Philipians 4:19
• He has given me everything I need for life and Godliness. 2 Peter 1:3
• He has promised me a mansion in heaven with Him. John 14:2
• He has promised victory. 1 John 5:4-6
• He has sealed me with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

These and many more are the great and precious promises that have been given to those who believe. If you know Christ I hope that you will rejoice with me in all of God's goodness. If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I pray that God will work in your heart and bring you to a knowledge of Him. There is nothing greater than to know God.