MEDITATON MONDAY
It is about the cross! I thought about it yesterday...I've thought about it more today. I plan to keep the two videos posted throughout the week. What a blessing the words and pictures of this new song to me have been.
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Yesterday morning, I was so blessed to be part of the assembling of the saints at the Pitman church of Christ. The singing was amazing! The prayers and communion hit the mark! The sermon tag team by Steve and Dan was very eye opening. But for today, I want to focus on the Bible class.
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In Bible class, Mike led our focus to verses in the Bible where GOD or a messenger of GOD tells different ones not to be afraid BECAUSE GOD would be with them. It's so easy for us as christians to forget that GOD is always with us. It's so easy for us as christians to become anxious...to be afraid...
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Yet, this week as we look at the coming of our LORD to the earth, we will also look at the "cross-life" that He modeled for us and called us to live. If we focus on what He has called us to...then, it can become scarey...but if we focus on Him and His words, "Do not be afraid" and "I will be with you always" then we can keep things in perspective.
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If fear is part of your battle, then please know that I found 47 "Do not be afraid" verses in the New American Standard Bible. That's almost one a week for a year. Yet, using verses like those that say "do not tremble" or "fear not" gives you plenty for one a week for a year. Here are a few that we talked about in class:
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Deuteronomy 31:5-6
COMMAND: "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them...
PROMISE: ...for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
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Joshua 1:9
COMMAND: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed...
PROMISE: ...for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
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Isaiah 41:10
COMMAND: 'Do not fear...
PROMISE: ...for I am with you...
COMMAND: ...Do not anxiously look about you...
PROMISE: ...for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
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Isaiah 43:5
COMMAND: "Do not fear...
PROMISE: ...for I am with you..."
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Luke 1:28-33
PROMISE: "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be...
COMMAND: ...And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus....
PROMISE: ...He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end."
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GOD knew that we would need this type of enCOURAGEment, so He even gave JESUS a name that means "GOD with us" to remind us of His PROMISE! Read the account:
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Matthew 1:20-2:1
COMMAND: "...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit....
PROMISE: "...And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which translated means, "God with us."
COMMAND: "...And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus."
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It's about the cross, my friend!
JESUS was born to die!
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So, join me as we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross...let's consider this, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart."
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