“Cappuccino and Christ!”
July 15, 2008
“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness” (1Corinthians 1:23).
Under the picture of a coffee mug the following advertisement appeared in the religious section of a newspaper: “Cappuccino and Christ. Sleep a little later, throw on some jeans, have a hot cup of Joe, listen to some great music and get together for some wonderful fellowship. The User-Friendly Church invites you to join us for a unique service that offers an alternative. No pressures, no commitments, no guilt sermons, no hassle, we’ll make you feel good about yourself. All we ask is that you give us forty-five minutes of your Sunday.”
The whole point is to make the church “user-friendly!” A place where anyone can walk in off the street and feel good, where no one is confronted with their sin and their eternal destiny. How sad that many churches are catering to such an approach! May our church never be known as a “user-friendly” church but rather as a church that stands for the truth. Sorry, we don’t do Cappuccino but we do proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!
A Steward of the Treasury
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Choice Gleanings: “Dependence Day”
July 5, 2008
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made night by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).
Every July 4th, the United States celebrates Independence Day, when in 1776 we separated from Britain.
Adam and Eve ushered in independence from the King of Heaven when they chose their wisdom over God’s and ate of the tree He had commanded them not to.
One disobedient act separated us from God, and sin and death entered into the world. However the Lord Himself led us to another tree, the Cross of Calvary. There, by grace through faith in His sacrifice, we were taken from independence to dependence on Him again, and from death unto life. Hallelujah!
Choice Gleanings Devotional Calendar
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Choice Gleanings: “Heart Transplant”
June 7, 2008
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26a).
Dr. Christian Barnard performed the first heart transplant on December 3, 1967 in Cape Town, South Africa. It was touted as a medical miracle.
However, the great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ has been performing successful heart transplants for thousands of years. By faith, He has been taking sinful hearts and replacing them with new clean ones.
Dr. Barnard’s patient lived for 18 days but the heart that accepts salvation through Christ, will live forever.
Choice Gleanings Devotional Calendar
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Choice Gleanings: “What An Offer!”
June 4, 2008
“If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
What a generous offer. We have been given a blank check from heaven so to speak and all we need to do is “ask.”
Of course, our asking must be subject to certain conditions. We must ask in accordance with the revealed mind of God in His Word.
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
We must not ask for selfish reasons nor to satisfy our fleshly desires, and we must always ask with His glory in mind.
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight” (1 John 3:22).
Within the framework of these conditions God is willing to give us whatever we ask Him for. What do you lack, simply because you have not asked?
“Ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2).
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring,
For His love and power are such,
Thou canst never ask too much – John Newton
Choice Gleanings Devotional Calendar
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Choice Gleanings: “Exercise!”
June 3, 2008
“Exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).
The medical advice of today is lots of exercise to maintain a healthy physical body. But no matter what the physical regimen, our bodies soon experience the inevitable scourge of age and time.
This is why God says that bodily exercise profits only a little. In contrast, pursuing godliness has infinite value for its results will be eternal.
Perhaps you put lots of effort into “working out” physically. What are your plans for spiritual exercise?
“More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern. Spirit of God, my teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
Choice Gleanings Devotional Calendar
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