“Until That Day”

Let’s be honest 2020 hasn’t been the year we all wanted or dreamed it would be. I’ve been down as many of us have! But, I’m encouraged today: What is encouraging to me is to know that God is still in control and He is still in the loving and saving business! 

Hurricane Laura came through the Louisiana area and hit the Lake Charles area hard! But God is good! As of 9-8, 49 professions of faith in Lake Charles area. Over 800 work requests. Long time deployment as no electricity and potable water in area. Massive destruction to area!! Still work to be done! 

Scientific Method 

1. God’s formula: Love God and Love People!

“Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭22:37-39‬ ‭NLT

The constant is Love! It doesn’t change!!

Proverbs 3:32 The more we trust God, the closer we get to Him.

The Toughest Race

Reminds me of 4 friends in Mark 12:1-12

Let’s talk about “Sanctification” 

“In its most basic sense, to sanctify something is to set it apart for God’s special use and purpose. God’s people are sometimes said to be sanctified because they are set apart for God’s special purposes in the world.”

It is so important that we grow in our faith everyday day!

       2. Our growth is not only important for us, but also for those around us!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Billy Graham once said: “Being a Christian is more than a an instantaneous conversion; it is like a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.”

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:1-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

3. We follow Christ by loving and serving those around us!

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“We have to make an intentional decision to pursue Jesus more and more every day.”–
God’s Not Done With You devotional Tauren Wells

If you are here living today, God is not through with you yet, and Until that Day we have a job to do. Paul says in Philippians 3:12-14 of just that:

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭3:12-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The worst or most wasted story is the one we refuse to tell!”