Advent: Monday, December 4, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 1:10-20

We see here that the Lord condemns just going through the motions. He condemns, just "playing church." God doesn't want false sacrifices. He wants us to wash and really be made clean. He wants us to really change. He wants us to be obey. He doesn't want us to act Christian, He wants us to be Christian.

And how did He make this possible. He gave us His only son in the form on a new born baby, to grow into a man that would show us what life was supposed to be. Jesus Christ showed us how to love, how to serve, how to obey, how to live. And then, He died upon the cross for our sins and rose from the dead for our victory. Today, don't go through the motions of faith, really live faith. Don't just do what you've always done, do something great for Jesus. He gave us life and wants us to truly live it!

New Testament Lesson

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

We see in this passage that when the people of this church were saved, it came with power. What does this mean? Could they fly? Did they have x-ray vision? What does it mean to talk about this power?

It means that they were able to do more than they thought. They were able to do things that they didn't think were possible. They were able be more for God than they ever thought they could be. they could do more for God than they could ever imagine. Through God and His power, we can do great things. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God can use us in great ways. Through Him, we can know these things.

But first we must know Him and His salvation. Today, have you taken that first step?

Gospel Lesson

Luke 20:1-8

We see here that Jesus was preaching the good news, and the teachers of the law came, trying to set a trap for Him. Here He was, teaching, sharing, preaching, and loving. And the religious leaders could have joined in and helped Him. Instead, they tried to stop Him. They could have been part of what God was doing, or they could work against what God was doing. They chose to work against it.

Today, you will see things God is doing or things that God wants to do. Will you choose to join into what God is doing? Or will you work against it? Only in following God and following His spirit and plan will we know new life. Today, will you join into God's work, or will you choose to stand there on the sidelines?