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This month celebrates the first anniversary of this Newheart Commentary. Eighteen years ago I asked Jesus Christ to be my Lord & Savior. He gave me a “new heart.” Won’t you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord & believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead? This Romans 10:9 verse says that when you do, you will be saved…..Then you also can experience having a “new heart” for God.
In 24 days Christians around the world will celebrate the birth of our Savior & Lord, Jesus Christ. God in flesh. Born to take the sins of mankind. Don’t overlook the joy of Jesus’ birth: Hope for forgiveness of sins. Hope of eternal life. Hope in our daily life thru the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Hope is something we can have. We possess hope when we come to know the God who is the source and reason for our hope.
It may be Christmas season, but we are to look to the cross. That’s where Jesus paid it all. Jesus was separated from God the Father for that moment in time for you and for me. Jesus agonized that separation when He said in Matthew 27:46 “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” He paid our sin debt in full. He washed us white as snow. Now that’s the real hope of Christmas.
Titus 3:4-7 nicely explains why Jesus came: “When God our Savior revealed His kindness & love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace he made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” [bctt tweet=”What is the state of your heart, your soul? Is it halfhearted? Hard hearted? Humble Hearted? Fully committed? Loyal? Impure? Troubled? Grateful? Ungrateful?” username=”LibertyCF3″]
What is the state of your heart, your soul? Is it halfhearted? Hard hearted? Humble Hearted? Fully committed? Loyal? Impure? Troubled? Grateful? Ungrateful? The condition of man’s (non-physical) heart is sinful from birth. The psalmist in Psalm 42:5-6 says “Why are you down cast, O my soul”? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.”
Perhaps your heart is downcast because you’re putting your hope in things which lack a sense of certainty. Life can be disappointing and you can become discouraged & hopeless. But Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy & peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Make this Christmas season the season of opportunity. The opportunity is now to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The opportunity is now to share the gospel message of why Christ came. Tell others when you open gifts that Christ IS the greatest gift to all mankind. Tell others when you sit among beautifully lit trees & homes, that Jesus IS the light of the world. Make this your Newheart Christmas and join me and so many others who have “new hearts” for Jesus. (“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…”)
Join us at LCF this Sunday. Be liberated in hearing God’s Word preached line by line by Pastor Earl Wallace. [email-download-link namefield=”YES” id=”189″]
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