One Minute with God

And she gave birth to her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling cloths
and laid him in a manger, because
there was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:7 ESV

The baby in that manger is God.

Also: Philippians 2:5-8

I’ve found this to be true:
Every conflict in life is settled
in the heart of the believer
by obedience to God’s Word.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

God so loves His children
that He longs to hear them say,
when they consider all the people
and possessions in their lives,
“I love God more!”

And [Jesus] said to him, 
“You shall love the Lord your God 
with all your heart and
with all your soul and
with all your mind.
This is the great
and first commandment.” 
Matthew 22:37 ESV

In suffering,
in sadness,
in trials,
in temptations,
in forgiveness,
in faith,
in humility,
in hope,
in rejoicing
in Jesus,
we press on.

Not that I have already obtained this 
or am already perfect, but I press on 
to make it my own, because Christ Jesus 
has made me His own. 
Philippians 3:12 ESV

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

God does not offer the gift of eternal life
as though a person can decide to accept it or not.
He graciously gives eternal life as a gift
to those who trust in Christ as Savior and Lord.
So we should not say in our gospel presentation,
“Will you accept God’s gift of eternal life?” But rather,
“Will you submit to Christ as Savior and Lord?”

For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 ESV

I keep Philippians 4:8 in my arsenal. Obeying
that verse is my best defense against the depression
that tries to seep into my soul every year, about this time.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 
Philippians 4:8 ESV

Also: Philippians 4:4

Repentance is the key
that unlocks the door
to eternal life–
belief opens it.

When they heard these things they fell silent. 
And they glorified God, saying,
“Then to the Gentiles also God has granted
repentance that leads to life.” 
Acts 11:18 ESV

For the whole story read Acts chapter 10 and 11:1-18.

The invitation is not,
the call is not,
the command is not
to take Jesus with us,
but to leave all
and go with Him–
to follow Him.

And going on from there he saw two other brothers,
James the son of Zebedee and John his brother,
in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets,
and he called them. Immediately they left the boat
and their father and followed him. 
Matthew 4:21-22 ESV

Also: Matthew 11:28-30

The temporary blessings God gives us here
are a mere taste of the eternal inheritance
that will one day be ours in heaven.
May every good gift here,
direct our attention there.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, 
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
from the foundation of the world.'” 
Matthew 25:34 ESV

Also: 1 Peter 1:3-9

It’s a medical fact that humans need sleep.
It’s a spiritual reality that humans need God more than sleep.

And rising very early in the morning, 
while it was still dark, 
[Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, 
and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35 ESV

God, through the Holy Spirit,
convicts, corrects and rebukes,
strengthens and guides,
teaches, reminds, empowers,
and produces His fruit
in the lives of His children–
that’s how we know we are His.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
that we are children of God. 
Romans 8:16 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 
gentleness, and self-control.
Against such, there is no law. 
Galatians 5:22

The Bible doesn’t say we are to choose
whether or not to accept Jesus as Lord.
It doesn’t say we should choose whether or not
to have a personal relationship with Christ.
It does not say to choose heaven or hell,
an abundant life or so-so existence,
joy or sadness, sickness or health. The Bible says,
“Choose you this day whom you will serve.”
One Master gives joy and peace, purpose
and direction, hope and eternal life.
The other has nothing to give, for he
is as doomed as those who serve him.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
Joshua 24:15 NKJV

When we follow Jesus,
He will enable us to do whatever He does.

Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me,
and I will make you become fishers of men.” 
Mark 1:17 NKJV

God’s plan is still unfolding.

And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book,
for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still;
he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous,
let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
Revelation 22:10-11 NKJV

May Jesus always be the center of our attention.

Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 
Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

All of eternity hangs
on whether or not
we have done two things–
repented and believed.

Now after John was put in prison, 
Jesus came to Galilee, 
preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, 
and the kingdom of God is at hand. 
Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:14-15 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 
John 14:6 NKJV

Aren’t you glad there is no “and” at the end of that verse?
It doesn’t say, No one comes to the Father
except through Me and good works,
except through Me and penance,
except through Me and church attendance,
except through Me and charitable giving.
But only, “Except through Me.”

For by grace you have been saved through faith, 
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 
not of works, lest anyone should boast. 
Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

No one knew the lengths to which God would go
to save His people from their sins–until the cross.

“For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
but have everlasting life.” 
John 3:16 NKJV

Our hope in trials,
our relief in pain,
our comfort in sorrow,
our confidence in death,
our joy in life–
our future with God.

“Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, 
And they shall sorrow no more at all. 
And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, 
says the LORD. 
I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” 
Jeremiah 31:12, 14, 33 NKJV

May we live every day
in the peace of God’s presence,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
mindful of our pleasures in Christ,
and for the purpose of His calling.

I press toward the goal for the prize
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, 
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
Philippians 3:14, Psalm 51:12 NKJV

Also: Romans 8:28-39