November 27, 2022

Greetings my friends. It is Sunday November 27TH 2022, and this is the day that our LORD has made. Let us rejoice. Let us be glad in it. Let us celebrate this great new day of believing, following, trusting, loving, and being more like our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. Let us love our neighbor as ourself.

It’s the first Sunday of Advent, and a common reading on this Sunday is the 122ND Psalm. I occasionally greet my church family with the first verse of that Psalm – I was glad when they said to me – “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” It’s an appropriate verse for me this morning especially, as I return to my church family after a week away. I’m looking forward to celebrating these next 6 Sundays with my church family – the 4 Sundays of Advent, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.

You know my church family also includes you. Some of you are loyal readers of #SundayScripture, and I appreciate you. I am honored to bring you God’s Good News each Sunday morning, and I hope that it is an inspiration for you to open the Bible and read it for yourself. In this 17TH year of salvation for me I am reading and studying the Bible more now than ever before. It goes where I go (via iPhone app).

After a one-week break last #SundayScripture I continue presenting my September 18TH 2022 sermon – “Good & Evil” – in its original written form. It’s based on 1 Peter 3:8-4:8, and it effectively wraps-up my First Peter message series which I began in 2021. Here’s Part 7:

You can’t repent your sins after your natural life here on earth is done. Those who didn’t know God – those who didn’t accept Him while they were still living and breathing in this world – that’s the end of it all for them. It’s too late for them.

But those who repented to Him, and those who were born again while they were still living and breathing – they will live forever with God in the Spirit.

My Dad passed on 12 years ago in 2010. He was never close to God. He didn’t really know God. He wasn’t really sure if He was real. But in his final days – on his death bed – in the hospital – consumed by the slow but deadly effects of Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) – he finally acknowledged our God. He accepted our God into his heart. He repented to our God. He was born again – shortly before he passed on. It was not too late for my Dad. Now he’s living forever with God in the Spirit. I believe that he’s cheering me on today.

There you go again Chris – talking about repentance and salvation. Yeah – guilty. Eternity is at stake here. I want to live forever with God in the Spirit. I want you to live forever with God in the Spirit. I want everyone out there to live forever with God in the Spirit.

I’m reminded of Christ’s words – in red letters – as told by the Apostle John – when He predicted His death. He said “Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me – because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me.” (John 12:25-26)

(End of Part 7)

If you wish to learn more about the God I know then stay tuned to #SundayScripture. The best is yet to come !

Thank you for reading my blog for this day, and may:

The LORD bless you, and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. AMEN.