ONLY 364 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

2 Corinthian [NLT] 5:1-21

   For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

   So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

   Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

    So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

    And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

  Just think, only 364 days until Christmas!

  Do I hear a sigh of relief from some of you?

  For those that live in constant stress, anxious preparation for Christmas has moved far down the list. It has been replaced with Returns, Customer Service, bills to be paid, and possibly day-after decompression, blue funk or even depression. And then if and when such business is taken care of, there’s the still with us the troubles of family, friends, community, national and world scene.

  It’s a good time to remind ourselves of everyday applicable life facts noted in and by The Word:

·         Be careful in our relationship to others. Ecc.4:9-12; Pr.27:17

·         Life is not about cash and carry. Mt.6:24; 1Tim.6:10

·         God will never leave nor abandon His children. Heb.13:5

·         We can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

·         Remember those that live in Philippians 4:11-13 Pauline contentment. Think about their lives. Imitate their faith.

·         Jesus Christ, The Word, is the same yesterday and today-and forever! We are not to live willy-nilly silly as though God’s Truth is foreign to us. Heb.6:18; 13:8

·         As His children we are different, yet in this world but not to be of this world; accept it, live accordingly. Tit.2:14  “[Jesus] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” 1Pet.2:9 

·         Be thankful in word and deed. 1Thes.5:16-19 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.”

·         As His redeemed people, deciding to follow Him will not always result in pleasant experience this side of heaven. Rom.8:17; Phil.1:29; 2Tim.2:12; 1Pet.4:16-19

·         Christmas the holiday is past. Christ-mas (i.e. Christ worship) is moment by moment every day. Rom.12:1-3

·         His gift is not without serious responsibility. 1Cor.15:58; 2Cor.5:1-21

·         We must think eternal-wise. Rom.12:1-3; 2Cor.10:5

  “Now may the God of peace, who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good to do his will, accomplishing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ. To him be glory forever and ever! Amen.” (ISV Heb.13:20-21)  EBB4