Sunday 3 February 2013

In Christ alone my hope is found...

To add what I said yesterday!
Today I went to Emannuel Baptist Church up in Barrie, Ontario and there message came from Romans 1:16-25.
Courtesy of Biblegateway.com:

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[c] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[d]
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised.Amen.

This is what I was talking about yesterday! I'm glad to know Jesus as my personal saviour and to have His free gift of salvation of my life. I know at times in my life when I begin to have a "foolish heart" and put God aside in my life and sin creeps in like a lion waiting to pounce, I am so glad that God does bring me back to Him. He could just as easily let me fall into the "sinful desires" of my heart but He is always calling me back and thankfully I do eventually listen, after all I can't help but be foolish at times. It's sad to know that in my past I have pursued my sinful desires at times on purpose and at times accidentally and it sucks that those decisions to sin or let myself be tempted to eventually sin have effected my life the way they did. The bad part is I've been hurt because of it and I know others have been hurt by it too, in which I am deeply sorry. The good part is that the God allows us to make those decisions so that we understand that God is better than what we sinfully desire. When we realize that exchanging God for anything is the worst trade imaginable, we smarten up and seek Him first! I myself in the past couple years thought I was doing alright and looking back now I "thought I was wise, but actually became a fool". I am so glad God has worked in my life to change me for His glory. At times I miss what I had but I know God will give me more than He has taken away.

Quote of the Post:
"If people change the truth of God into a lie and worship and serve the creature rather than the Creator, the whole order of nature is violated; for apart from the fear of God there is no power known that will hold the evil desires of the natural heart in check." H.A. Ironside

Heard this is church today and thought it is so true. If we don't trust and worship God for who God is, than we start to make up what we want God to be and that opens the doors to sin in our life and into our community.

Song of the Post:
This song was played today and I just love worshiping God with it. Powerful and beautiful words and music!

No power of Hell, no scheme of man. Can ever pluck me from His hand. Till He returns, or calls me home. Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
All the best and God bless!
John

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