...to the Cross, a Crown!
The Comment Section is now open! You may share your encouragement and/or your testimonials based on today's Devotional! God Bless!
Scripture: "For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. " John 18:37
The end of another year. It was then when I anticipated that the Christmas Holiday was near. A season of visiting relatives; Church and Sunday school drama around the Bible story of Jesus and his birth; tree trimming activity; festive lightings; a nativity scene was a must have. Roasting peanuts and gathering tree nuts for the holiday snacking was among the routines of the season. Many, if not most of the nation’s people are caught up into cyber shopping, presents; lighting house tops, trimming trees, hosting parties, adorning lawns with a Santa Clause, snowman and a nativity scene.
The real Christmas message is hope for the human race. (We started) with the cradle and (let’s) work our way to the cross and a crown. I desire that you get a glimpse of all that God the Father orchestrated on our behalf through His begotten Son.
The Cross: Jesus Himself said, “For this cause I was born (John 18:37).” He came to sacrifice His life on a cross “to save sinners “ ( I Tim.1:15). The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (I Cor. 1:18). The blood of Jesus is omnipotent. There is power in the blood. God loves men (people) and delight in Mercy. God Commended His love to us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died on a cross (Rom. 5:8). His love is mercy and grace. He offers forgiveness- assurance of Heaven when we die. One sacrifice was accepted and the atonement is complete. Jesus died so that our sins could be forgiven. The cross itself is a symbol of Christ’s death on it. Those who turn to Him are delivered from both the penalty and the power of sin. All of our problems stems from sin or from the fallen world which we live. The solution to our problems center in the cross of Christ. “He bore our sins on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (I Pet. 2:25).
“The cross shows us the depths of our sins. We don’t know what sin looks like in the sight of God -- how it offends Him and separates us from Him.” (Billy Graham 2004). Jesus agonized and prayed in the Garden (Matt.26:39). “What did Jesus see in the cup? He saw sins of the whole world! Murder, adultery, lying, racial prejudices and fraud” (Billy Graham 2004). The correctional facilities, police forces, armed forces and the courts show us that there is dreadfully something wrong with human behavior. The Bible calls it SIN. The message of the cross to the world is repent or perish!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, We believers acknowledge that our sins caused such a stain that it took Your action plan to rid us of that stain. We were indeed hopeless. You sent Your only begotten Son. It was His blood at Calvary that cleansed us of all unrighteousness -- present, past and future. Your plan was sufficient for our problem. Our attitude should be that of gratitude. In Jesus, Amen.
By Novella D. Carpenter
The real Christmas message is hope for the human race. (We started) with the cradle and (let’s) work our way to the cross and a crown. I desire that you get a glimpse of all that God the Father orchestrated on our behalf through His begotten Son.
The Cross: Jesus Himself said, “For this cause I was born (John 18:37).” He came to sacrifice His life on a cross “to save sinners “ ( I Tim.1:15). The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing; but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (I Cor. 1:18). The blood of Jesus is omnipotent. There is power in the blood. God loves men (people) and delight in Mercy. God Commended His love to us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died on a cross (Rom. 5:8). His love is mercy and grace. He offers forgiveness- assurance of Heaven when we die. One sacrifice was accepted and the atonement is complete. Jesus died so that our sins could be forgiven. The cross itself is a symbol of Christ’s death on it. Those who turn to Him are delivered from both the penalty and the power of sin. All of our problems stems from sin or from the fallen world which we live. The solution to our problems center in the cross of Christ. “He bore our sins on the tree, that we having died to sins, might live for righteousness” (I Pet. 2:25).
“The cross shows us the depths of our sins. We don’t know what sin looks like in the sight of God -- how it offends Him and separates us from Him.” (Billy Graham 2004). Jesus agonized and prayed in the Garden (Matt.26:39). “What did Jesus see in the cup? He saw sins of the whole world! Murder, adultery, lying, racial prejudices and fraud” (Billy Graham 2004). The correctional facilities, police forces, armed forces and the courts show us that there is dreadfully something wrong with human behavior. The Bible calls it SIN. The message of the cross to the world is repent or perish!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, We believers acknowledge that our sins caused such a stain that it took Your action plan to rid us of that stain. We were indeed hopeless. You sent Your only begotten Son. It was His blood at Calvary that cleansed us of all unrighteousness -- present, past and future. Your plan was sufficient for our problem. Our attitude should be that of gratitude. In Jesus, Amen.
By Novella D. Carpenter
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
4 Comments
Amen. Thank you sister Novella for this encouraging devotional!!
We get caught up in the cuteness of Christmas. The Baby in the manger is tender and mild and our redemption. Glory to God. Thanks Sis. Novella.
Amen, Sis. Novella!
Amen!🙌ðŸ½