December 5, 2017 Luke 24:46-48 New Life and Suffering

Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things."

Luke 24:46-48 NKJV

"If you yield to Satan in the least, he will carry you further and further, till he has left you under a stupefied or terrified conscience: stupefied, till thou hast lost all thy tenderness. A stone at the top of a hill, when it begins to roll down, ceases not till it comes to the bottom. Thou thinkest it is but yielding a little, and so by degrees are carried on, till thou hast sinned away all thy profession, and all principles of conscience, by the secret witchery of his temptations."

- Thomas Manton

We suffer for the Name and reputation of Jesus. We will not yield to temptations and sins, nor begin down a pathway that will lead to destruction.

Knowing Jesus and knowing the strength His Spirit gives us to lead holy lives, we declare His goodness and the freedom found in His Name alone to all the world. Begin at home: keep your appointed times with Jesus in bible reading and prayer. Speak at work of your faith and hope in Jesus. Tell of His greatness when you gather with neighbours. There is no greater topic of conversation than sharing the Good News of Jesus.

Jesus, re-awaken my conscience and soften my heart to the plight of others. Forgiveness my stubborn unwillingness to endure suffering for Your Name's sake. All around me people are marching towards an eternity of torment and hell. Break my heart with grief and renew the urgency of soul to speak to them and call them back from the abyss. Spirit of God as I live with my eyes fixed firmly on Jesus, help me then to declare the forgiveness of sins He brings and share the glorious vision of new life as sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. Amen.