Tag Archives: Jesus

Nov 18

What Will You Give Me?

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Photo Credit: Victor1558 via cc

I once asked one of the little kids at church to do me a favor. I just needed her to walk across the auditorium and tell someone not to leave before I had the chance to talk with him. I was tied up talking to someone else at the moment, but I really needed to talk to this other person as well. What happened next caught me off guard. She looked at me and asked, “What will you give me?” This little girl was willing to do whatever I asked as long as she got something in return.

Before Judas ever betrayed Jesus, he went to the chief priests and asked them, “What will you give me if I deliver him (Jesus) over to you?” (Matt. 26:15). Judas did not betray Jesus for no reason at all. He betrayed Jesus to get something in return.

It is easy for us to look at Judas and think, “What was he thinking? How could he betray his friend and Lord?” We are even so bold to think we would never do what Judas did; we would never betray Jesus for something like silver. However, I’m afraid we have more in common with Judas than we realize. While we might not betray Jesus for a certain sum of money, we betray Him in other ways.

Every day we wake up Satan comes after us with some type of sweet looking deal. He promises to give us happiness, fame, pleasure, riches, popularity or acceptance if we will just betray Jesus and bow down to the devil and his ways. Sadly, many of us do this without even realizing what we are doing. We give up a faithful and obedient relationship with Jesus just so we can enjoy whatever Satan and the world are offering us at that moment.

Friends, as we go throughout our daily lives, be careful about betraying Jesus for the mortal things around us. Let’s not stop and ask, “What will you give me?” because things of the world are never truly worth it in the end…just ask Judas.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

 

 

 

 

Dec 24

A Gift Worth Giving

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It’s only a few hours until Christmas! Most of you will probably be up bright and early in the morning with your children gathered around a Christmas tree. Your purpose: unwrapping all those presents. Christmas is such an exciting time. I can still remember the excitement I had as a child when it came time to open the presents. Going back and watching the home videos is rather embarrassing now. I would get super excited over everything, including clothes. Yes, I loved opening gifts regardless of the contents inside.

Although the excitement is still there when I unwrap a present that was picked especially for me, I get more joy out of giving presents now and watching the excitement on other’s faces. It is always a great joy to watch as those I love open the gifts I chose just for them. If you have children, you no doubt understand this. Watching them open their presents is probably one of your favorite parts of Christmas.

Christmas is an exciting and wonderful time; one I enjoy thoroughly. However, this year, I have been thinking about the types of gifts we give the ones we love.  Consider this: “Why do we enjoy giving physical gifts to those we love, but we neglect to share the greatest gift of all, that which is spiritual?”

The greatest gift anyone could ever receive is salvation. For without it, we would be hopelessly lost. God loved mankind enough to give something so dear and precious to Him, His one and only son. He did this so that we could be saved from the pits of torment. He is the greatest gift of all, and yet, sometimes we are reluctant to share Him with others. One of the final requests Jesus made to His disciples was, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20). If I’m willing to go all out and spend lots of money on gifts that are perishable, why not take time to share with those I love about an imperishable gift that is absolutely free?

This Christmas, I hope you will be reminded to share the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. I challenge you to make it a point to take time to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with your loved ones. After all friends, this is one gift worth giving.

Now that’s Something to Think About!

Dec 20

That One Gift

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It’s that time of year again. Christmas is only a few days away. If you have kids, they probably already have given you a long list of the things they hope to receive come Christmas morning. With most kids though, there is always one gift they desire more than any other. As long as they find that one gift under the tree on Christmas morning, they are happy.

If you are honest, you may have to admit that you were the same away when you were their age. We probably all pestered our parents at some point about that one gift that we just had to have. I remember various conversations around this time of year that went something like this; “But dad, I just have to have it. I don’t know if I will be able to live without it. It’s all I really want for Christmas; nothing else matters but this one gift. Please!”

As you go about doing your last minute Christmas shopping looking for that one gift your child thinks he or she can’t live without, I hope you will remember the greatest gift available to us all. We truly must have this one gift. None of us can ever live without it. This gift is the gift of salvation, and God offers this gift to us.

God sent His son into this world in order for Him (Jesus) to “Save His (God’s) people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Do you realize God desires one thing above all others?  He wants all people to repent of their sins and come to know Him (2 Peter 3:9). This is the very reason why God sent His son to die upon Calvary’s cross (John 3:16). Friends, this Christmas unwrap the one gift that can last for all eternity: salvation. This is truly THAT one GIFT mankind must have!

Now that’s Something to Think About!