I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life.
—Deuteronomy 30:19
In John 16:8, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would "convict and convince" the world about sin and righteousness. He didn't say anything about the Holy Spirit bringing condemnation. He said He brings "demonstration . . . about sin and about righteousness." The Holy Spirit reveals the results of sin and the results of righteousness so people may understand which path to follow. He makes clear distinction between right and wrong, between blessings and curses, between life and death so people can ask God to help them choose life.
People who live in sin have wretched, miserable lives. I occasionally run into people I knew years ago and haven't seen in quite some time. Some of these people have not been living for God and the rough, rugged lifestyles they have chosen have taken a toll on them. The sour, sad, miserable choices they have made are visible because sin has left them looking sad and often older than they are. They are unhappy, negative, and discontent individuals often filled with bitterness because their life has not been a good one. They fail to realize that their life is the direct result of bad choices they made.
The result of sin may be observed everywhere. The line between those who love and serve God and those who don't is becoming quite clear. God pleads with us to make right choices, ones that will lead us into the life He desires for us to enjoy. There are two paths before each of us; a broad path that leads to sin and destruction and a narrow path that leads to life (see Matthew 7:13-14). I encourage you to choose life today and every day.
The Sending of a Saviour
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
1 John 4:9–11
A pastor once told me the story of a couple who separated after having tremendous marital difficulties. The wife moved out, and at first the husband didn’t even attempt to locate her. However, the pastor and his church family were able to lead the man to Christ and he began to realize that he had not been a good husband. Finally, after a prolonged search, he found his wife two counties over.
He wrote her letters for several months, but she did not respond. As Christmastime approached, he decided to go to the motel where she had been living and ask her to come home. To his delight she agreed to go with him, and they began to work on repairing their relationship. He later asked her why she agreed to go with him. She said, “Before, you just sent letters. This time you came personally.”
If God had not taken the initiative to bring about our salvation, no one would be saved. Paul wrote, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). But God’s love was so great that He sent His Son to be the sinless sacrifice to purchase our redemption. This is the foundation of our salvation. Jesus left Heaven and came to find the lost so that we could have a restored relationship with Him.
1 John 4:9–11
A pastor once told me the story of a couple who separated after having tremendous marital difficulties. The wife moved out, and at first the husband didn’t even attempt to locate her. However, the pastor and his church family were able to lead the man to Christ and he began to realize that he had not been a good husband. Finally, after a prolonged search, he found his wife two counties over.
He wrote her letters for several months, but she did not respond. As Christmastime approached, he decided to go to the motel where she had been living and ask her to come home. To his delight she agreed to go with him, and they began to work on repairing their relationship. He later asked her why she agreed to go with him. She said, “Before, you just sent letters. This time you came personally.”
If God had not taken the initiative to bring about our salvation, no one would be saved. Paul wrote, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11). But God’s love was so great that He sent His Son to be the sinless sacrifice to purchase our redemption. This is the foundation of our salvation. Jesus left Heaven and came to find the lost so that we could have a restored relationship with Him.
Today’s Growth Principle:
God did not wait for mankind to come to Him—instead He sent His Son to seek and to save us.
Let God Lead You to Life
by Joyce Meyer - posted December 18, 2016I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life.
—Deuteronomy 30:19
In John 16:8, Jesus said the Holy Spirit would "convict and convince" the world about sin and righteousness. He didn't say anything about the Holy Spirit bringing condemnation. He said He brings "demonstration . . . about sin and about righteousness." The Holy Spirit reveals the results of sin and the results of righteousness so people may understand which path to follow. He makes clear distinction between right and wrong, between blessings and curses, between life and death so people can ask God to help them choose life.
People who live in sin have wretched, miserable lives. I occasionally run into people I knew years ago and haven't seen in quite some time. Some of these people have not been living for God and the rough, rugged lifestyles they have chosen have taken a toll on them. The sour, sad, miserable choices they have made are visible because sin has left them looking sad and often older than they are. They are unhappy, negative, and discontent individuals often filled with bitterness because their life has not been a good one. They fail to realize that their life is the direct result of bad choices they made.
The result of sin may be observed everywhere. The line between those who love and serve God and those who don't is becoming quite clear. God pleads with us to make right choices, ones that will lead us into the life He desires for us to enjoy. There are two paths before each of us; a broad path that leads to sin and destruction and a narrow path that leads to life (see Matthew 7:13-14). I encourage you to choose life today and every day.
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