“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2012/12/05/barriers-and-blessings/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

Galatians 3:27-28… For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (NKJV)

Yesterday I wrote about the Apostle Paul’s (and God’s) desire for the Christian to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Takenfrom…Romans 13:14)…

With Christmas less than 3 weeks away, Christians should be focused on the Lord, and what Christ went through with the shedding of His blood on the cross; to cleanse the sins of those who have come to Him with a repentant heart…  Only those unredeemed sinners who have turned from their sins, repented of them…and who have sought Jesus Christ to become their personal Lord and Savior by obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…will be graced with the free gift of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ…Ephesians 2:8-9…

Here is a link for this most important days writing about how God’s grace is received to become a Christian in God’s eyes, through obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ…https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/gods-group-thoughts-for-10202012-gods-grace-through-obedience-to-the-gospel-of-christ/

Today, in the last part of the opening scripture written by the Apostle Paul, we see very clearly that becoming a Christian, does not depend on a person’s race, color, gender, or financial status…  All humans were made by God, in His likeness…Genesis 1:27…

Wouldn’t it be a much more enjoyable Christmas, if all humans understood the love of Christ ??  Christians are told by the Lord, that they are to love all of those around them; even if some of these people would be considered to be their enemy…Matthew 5:43-44…   “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”  (NKJV)

We as Christians, in our own strength, will find it near impossible to love those that hate us…  But if we humble ourselves, to allow the Holy Spirit living with-in all Christians to control our heart, mind, and soul…His supernatural power and strength will allow us to find the “Christ like” love for those persecuting us, which Jesus tells us to do in the scripture above…

The Apostle Paul writes this truth in the following scripture…Philippians 4:13… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  (NKJV)

As Christians who should want to be living for the Lord, let’s make this a most joyous Christmas season by keeping the Christ in Christmas; as we first keep Christ’s love at full strength in our hearts… Others around us will see the glow we emit as Spirit filled Christians…and just might ask us about the hope that lies with-in us…

1 Peter 3:15… But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, I pray that all of Your children would confess any and all sins before You…1 John 1:9… Help us during this most joyous Christmas season…to be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-20)… Fill us Lord, with Your love, to be able to love even our enemies…  I pray for this God given strength for all of Your children…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills