“O LORD, I GIVE MY LIFE TO YOU (Merry Christmas Lord). I TRUST IN YOU, my God…No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced…O LORD; point out the road FOR ME TO FOLLOW. LEAD ME by your truth and TEACH ME, for you are the God WHO SAVES ME. All day long I PUT MY HOPE IN YOU.” (Psa. 25:1-5)
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps even dying because of faith in Me].” (Matt. 16:24) Jesus went on to say to those who would follow Him, “I have told you these things so that you will be FILLED WITH MY JOY. Yes, YOUR JOY WILL OVERFLOW! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE for one’s friends.” (John 15:11-13)
This is a way we can really honor God, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for GOD BOUGHT YOU with a HIGH PRICE. So you must HONOR GOD WITH (the gift of) YOUR BODY.” (1 Corin. 6:19-20)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham