Dear Precious Friends,
On this beautiful new day, this TGIFF...(Thank God I'm Forgiven Friday) this gift from God, we are so grateful for the forgiveness we have received through Jesus loving us so much that He came, He showed us how to live, He took on our sins and died the most horrible death imaginable out of His deep love for us.
Here is a wonderful point on Luke Chapter 3 our daily reading for the month of December for those who are reading a Chapter a day. Please share your thoughts as we are all needing each other's thoughts.
As Luke begins in Chapter 3 John the Baptist is preparing the way for Jesus. Luke begins with telling the story of Jesus' earthly ministry in the Gospel of Luke and the story of Jesus' heavenly ministry through the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts, he comes back to this question again and again,
"What should we do?" This is THE question Luke wants all of us to ask. The people were coming to be baptized by John so they could escape eternal punishment, but they didn't turn to God for salvation. Confession of sins and a changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead. Luke is looking for more than just, "What must I believe?" God uses Luke to speak to our times when goodness and godliness are sometimes associated with only what we feel or what we think. Change has to change more than just what goes on in the gray matter between our ears. Yes, God wants our hearts, minds, and souls to be thoroughly convicted and passionate. Yes, without faith and love, all action is hollow and vain. But, the Bible makes clear that faith is not genuine if all it does is change what we think. Real faith leads us to action. Faith is always displayed in action based upon trust — it is never just mere wistful thinking or good intentions. When Jesus enters our world, he changes it. When Jesus enters our lives, He changes us forever.
I love in verse 22 that Jesus Himself was baptized by John... and as He was praying the heavens opened up!! The Holy Spirit descended on him in the form of a dove and a voice from heaven said, You are my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with you... Jesus was the perfect human who didn't need baptism for repentance, but He was baptized anyway on our behalf. We are beyond belief in awe of how Jesus' life always shows us how we are to live.
So the question of each day, the ultimate question of faith, is this: "What, Lord, should I do?" Why not begin each day by asking Jesus that question?
O God, guide our steps, lead our hearts, and form our character.
We want our faith to be all in. We want our love for you to be displayed in what we do and how we do it. May we still our hearts for you to speak to us, may we find a way to listen to you that it will stay with us. May we be with those who are struggling and respond and help those in need however we can. Show us your way and give us faith to walk in it.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen
Source, God's word, Holy Spirit, Heartlight devo
