Glorious Tidings

"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins"- Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV).

Christians should be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving, just as God forgave us (Ephesians 4:32). That old Deceiver, the devil, loves conflict between believers. Let's not give him the satisfaction. Instead, consider inspiring each other to love and to do good works (Hebrews 10:24). The church needs unity; to be one, just as the Godhead is one: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The perfect unity, between each other and with the Lord, helps the world believe that Jesus was sent to save the world and to proclaim that God loves us, just as He loved His only begotten Son (John 17:21-23). This perfect unity is only possible because of the One who gave Himself in our place; He saved us from this world and our sins. We are forgiven. This is glorious tidings and all according to the will of our Heavenly Father (Galatians 1:4).  

His Church

"Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves"- Matthew 21:12 (NIV). 

Matthew, Mark and John tell the story of Jesus being unhappy with the activities within the church and taking action to stop it. There are churches bending to the will of today's culture, but we, His church, aren't to conform to this world. We are to seek and discern the will of God to find out what is good and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:2). His church is intended for teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5:42). We are to bring our hymns, lessons, revelations, and gifts when we come together to glorify God, to strengthen His church (1 Corinthians 14:26). We know how the household of God ought to behave. We are to remain a pillar and buttress of the Truth in today's world (1 Timothy 3:15). Watch for those who may cause divisions, who create obstacles contrary to sound doctrine, and avoid them (Romans 16:17). Christ will not sit by and watch. He will, again, drive out those of His church who choose to conform to this world. 

Light Protection

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"- John 1:5 (NIV).

You can't walk in darkness if you have the Light. The two are incompatible. Darkness is sin; Jesus is light (John 8:12). If we choose to walk in the Light, we share fellowship with each other and the Light makes us clean from all sin (1 John 1:7). Then the Light that is within us shines before others. They see our transformation and the results of walking in the Light (Matthew 5:16). But, if anyone rejects the Light and continues to walk in darkness, he will stumble (John 11:10). The devil isn't going to just sit by or let you go. He sends out evil forces to lure you back into the darkness (Ephesians 6:12). Stick close to those who have the Light within them. Being yoked with fellow Christians is Biblical and has purpose. It's for your protection, because light cannot have fellowship with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).