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Finish

Finish

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

There is something satisfying about finishing what you start. Just this week I completed a building project started at home three months ago. It is good to be finished with that, but I also realize there are much greater works to be done, works done in the Lord.

God created us in Christ Jesus for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) Now, as I’ve said many times at Church, good works won’t save you, but you will do good works because you are saved. James tells us faith without works is dead, and dead faith is not saving faith. So as saved believers in Jesus we all have God given Christian work to do.

God certainly gave Paul a lot of work to do, and it was hard work. He spent years walking from city to city, spreading the Gospel and planting Churches. He faced much opposition to that work and was persecuted heavily, suffering much. Still, there came a day when Paul said, “I have finished the race.” Paul finished the work God gave him to do, and he must have felt great satisfaction in that.

But that brings us to a question. When this life is over, and we go home to meet our Savior, will we leave a lot of the work He’s given us unfinished? Are we going to be able to say, “I have finished the race,” or will we quit before we hit the finish line? I encourage you, whatever work it is that God has given you to do on His behalf, do it until you finish it.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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The Man

The Man

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…

Scripture’s clear that Jesus is both fully God and fully man. God came down to Earth to live with us. Now, think about what that means. Jesus experienced everything we do.

It’s cold here and although the weather is usually milder in Israel than it is here in Tennessee, they do have cold weather. Lows this time of year run in the low 40s and occasionally they have snow in the higher elevations. So Jesus knows what it means to be cold. He witnessed around thirty winters during His time here on Earth, so He knows what that feels like. He knows what it’s like to come in from the cold to a warm fire. Jesus understands the need for warm clothing.

It’s because of these experiences that Jesus understands us. Jesus was like us in every respect. That’s why He is a merciful High Priest; He suffered just like we suffer. His hands and toes numbed to the cold just like ours do. His face stung in a cold winter wind just like ours does. Jesus was tempted just as we are tempted. The only difference is that He never sinned whereas we do.

Yes, Jesus understands. He understands our weaknesses, our infirmities, and our shortcomings. He even understands what it’s like to be cold. I’m sure if Jesus was here on Earth with us today, He’d be looking forward to Spring.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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Discerning the Signs

Discerning the Signs

Matthew 16:2-3 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

The weather folks are predicting a “significant snowfall’ this coming week. They have access to a world of modern technology that allows them to forecast these events well ahead of time. Although less accurate, the men of Jesus’ days here on Earth made similar predictions based on what the sky looked like the previous morning or afternoon. They predicted future weather events based on the signs they saw in the sky beforehand, but Jesus called them hypocrites.

Now, a hypocrite is a fake, a phony, a person who says one thing and does another. The men Jesus spoke to claimed to be men of God, but they were fakes. They could discern signs regarding the weather, but they couldn’t discern the signs regarding the coming of Messiah, the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Jesus did miracle upon miracle. He performed mighty works and wonders, and He spoke with a wisdom no one had ever heard before. He did all that openly. Yet, those who saw Him and heard Him were unable to discern those signs.

Things haven’t changed all that much. People still cannot discern the signs today. Everything Jesus said would happen before His return is happening now. (Luke 21:7-28) The world is filled with hypocrites, people who claim to be believers in Jesus yet cannot discern to signs of the times. It’s time for God’s people to open their eyes and minds and see the signs around us for what they are. We don’t need a Doppler Radar to tell us Jesus will come again.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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New Beginnings

New Beginnings

John 3:7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

So, here we are at the beginning of a brand-new year. Many see these days as a chance for a fresh start, a chance to put the old year behind and move forward, a chance at a new beginning, and that’s good. It’s good to have a fresh start with a new outlook, new goals, and a new life.

But isn’t that what Jesus offers us?

There was a day when an old Pharisee, a man whose whole life revolved around stale traditions and old rituals, came to Jesus seeking something more, something better. His name was Nicodemus. This man had been in a religious rut for years and he was looking for a way out of it. He was looking for a fresh start, a new beginning, but he was shocked when Jesus told him, “You can’t enter the Kingdom of God unless you’re born again.”

Nicodemus was looking for a new start, but he didn’t expect to go that far. He asked Jesus, “How can a man be born again? Can he climb back into his mother’s womb and start all over?”

And Jesus answered, “You must be born of water and Spirit.” He said, “What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” What did Jesus mean?

He was telling Nicodemus, and us, that to enter eternal life in Heaven you must receive the life changing, indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the only way to do that is to have saving faith in Jesus.

You see, when you put your faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit comes into your life and changes you into someone other than who you used to be. You get a fresh start, a new beginning. You are born again.

Happy New Year, and Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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The End

The End

Revelation 22:12-14 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Everything comes to an end, but with each ending there comes a new beginning. Movies conclude with a screen that says, “The End.” Books come to a final page that states, “The End.” This mortal life will end, and this year is quickly coming to an end. But movies often have a sequel and books sometimes come in series. The dead are raised into new life, and people are already shouting, “Happy New Year.”

Jesus says He’s the beginning and the end. The world was created through Jesus and the world will end after Jesus returns. Jesus is the beginning of everything and the end of everything, and just as with movie sequels, book series, new life, and new years, the end of creation will be followed by a new creation. In the book of Revelation John, the Apostle, says, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,” and Jesus says, “Behold, I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

So, as this year comes to an end and the new year begins, let’s remember there is a day coming when all things will end, a day when, “…there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” A day is coming when all things will be made new.

Have a God Filled Week and a Happy New Year,
Brother Donnie

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Christmas Angels

Christmas Angels

Luke 1:26 …the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth…

We often hear of the part angels played in the Christmas story, especially the angel named Gabriel. Angels basically played two roles. They announced the coming of Christ and they praised God. They proclaimed and they acclaimed. Angels made announcements to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds watching over their flocks by night. Much of what the angels said had already been said in the Old Testament by the Prophets and in the Psalms. The angels know the Scriptures well, and if you know the story of Christmas, you know what the angels said. But how much attention do you give to what the angels did?

Luke 2:13-14 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

What did the angels do? They praised God, and we should follow the angels’ example. On the day the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the Son of God was born they proclaimed His birth, but they also praised God. Yes, the story of Christmas is amazing, and the words the angels spoke concerning the birth of Christ were astounding. But let us not be so caught up in the story of Christmas that we neglect to praise the One who sent Jesus into the world in the first place. Let us give glory to the One who authored a plan for our salvation. Like the angels, we should praise God for sending His only begotten Son to be born, live, die, and resurrected for us. This Christmas let us proclaim the Good News of salvation in Christ and give glory to God in the Highest. Let this be a season of peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

Have a God Filled Week and a Merry Christmas,
Brother Donnie

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History

History

Luke 2:1And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

A few days ago, I was listening to a preacher named Alistar Begg preach a Christmas message on the radio. He said, “This is history with the emphasis being on the word ‘His.’ This is His-story.”

I love that perspective. We often try to sentimentalize Christmas, to make it a celebration of emotion. Every year people struggle to find the “Christmas spirit,” to acquire the “proper mood.” But in truth, we need to understand that the story of Christmas represents much more than warm fuzzy feelings. No matter how you “feel” about Christmas, you must acknowledge that “in those days” God was born of a woman in the form of a human baby. The most important event in all human history occurred when “…the days were completed for her to be delivered.” (Luke 2:6) Who was this Child? An angel said, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11) The anointed Savior and Lord of all people was born that day in Bethlehem, the city of David.

You see, Christmas is not just another feel-good-story. Christmas is history, an especially important part of His-story. And when you understand that you will feel the greatest of all the emotions Christmas brings. This history—His-story—consists of, “…good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)

When you know His-story you will feel Christmas joy.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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Blood Kin

Blood Kin

Matthew 12:47-50 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”

Family is important. I grew up believing blood is thicker than water, that being “blood kin” means something. As Christmas approaches family gatherings are common, and that is a good thing. Family should be together, and family should stick together, but just as Jesus explains in the verses above for Christians there is a family that goes beyond family, beyond blood kin.

We belong to the family of God, but just as a genetically similar blood binds us to our earthly family, our Christian family is united by a common blood. We are unified as the family of God by our common faith in the sin cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. We are Jesus’ brothers and sisters, blood kin to each other, because we are in Christ and Christ is in us. And as our families gather at Christmas, do not neglect to spend some time with your Christian family.

This year the day before Christmas falls on Sunday. What better time could there be to gather with your Christian brothers and sisters than Sunday, December 24th. I encourage you as my brothers and sister to come to our family gathering that Sunday morning. After all, we are “blood kin” and I would love to spend some time with you. Family should be together, and family should stick together.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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The Miracle of Birth

The Miracle of Birth

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows…

My wife and I have birthdays this time of year as do several of our family members, so the idea of birth has been on my mind a lot lately. You see, birth is a miracle from God, and all living things are born. Consider the birth of a bird as it emerges from an eggshell, or a calf born in a field. Even plants are born from seeds as they burst from the soil. No matter the kind of birth, when new life comes into the world it is a miraculous event. That especially applies to human life since we are born in the image of God.

Every time a child is born, the image of God is painted for the world to see. Perhaps that is why remembering our birthday is so important. It was on that day that God revealed His image through us, and that is a miracle.

But there was one birth that was especially miraculous. His birth had been foretold years before the event, and holy angels proclaimed His arrival. He was born of a virgin, the Son of God, Immanuel (meaning God with us.) His name was Jesus who is the Christ—the anointed One of God. He was born to save us from our sins.

We were born in the image of God and that is a miracle, but when Jesus was born God was born into the world to take the sins of the world upon Himself that who-so-ever believes in Him will not parish but have everlasting life. That is a miracle beyond all miracles.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Psalm 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

I once had an invitation from an old friend, a man consider to be a mentor and a role model, to go out and eat and to celebrate Thanksgiving. But Howard (my friend’s name is Howard Johnson) Howard called it a Non-turkey Thanksgiving, and I agree with his point.

Why do we only give thanks one day out of the year. Does our thanksgiving have to revolve around a turkey? Are the provisions and blessings God provides for us every day worthy of only one day of thanks? Does our thanksgiving end when the last drumstick is devoured?

In the book of Palms the psalmists sing psalms of thanks to God over twenty-two times. Jesus speaks of thanks four times in the book of Luke alone, and Paul mentions thanks over twenty-five times in his epistles. So Jesus, David, and Paul would all tell us giving thanks to God once a year simply isn’t enough. On top of Turkey Day we should be celebrating Non-Turkey Thanksgiving Days every day.

So don’t just give thanks on Thanksgiving Day, give thanks every day. Let today be a thanksgiving day…and tomorrow…and the day after…

Let every day be filled with thanks to our sovereign God for all He has done, is doing, and will do.

Have a God Filled Week,
Brother Donnie