2020?

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away."  Matthew 24:32-35  NKJV

These words, of course, are probably some of the most recognizable which were spoken by Jesus during His ministry concerning the future of the nation of Israel.  Most scholars understand and agree that the fig tree, when used in scripture, is an idiom for the nation of Israel and this passage is no exception.  We are told that the “generation” which witnesses the events previously spoken of as signs that the end is near will witness firsthand the return of the Lord.  Is it any wonder, then, that with all the signs we are seeing and the fact that Israel celebrated seventy years of being a nation in May of 2018, leads many to believe we have only a very short time before our departure?  If this proves to be true, the most important question we can ask ourselves is what are we to do in these last days?

Have you ever experienced, along with me, the embarrassment as a child of being the last one picked to be on a team?  Makes you feel special doesn’t it? I think at a very early age we begin to realize the good feeling that accompanies being singled out or chosen above others for anything at all.  At least for me, I can definitely remember the point in time where my physical abilities finally emerged and I began to be picked earlier rather than later.  If you are reading these words today, however, I want you to understand that you are part of a very special generation, chosen by God Himself to witness the completion of His plan for this world, and as such, consider His expectations for us at this very special time.

In this passage from the book of Matthew, Jesus is responding to a question by His disciples about the end of the age, and when they could expect to see it.  Obviously they wanted to see it themselves, and were excited at the prospect of witnessing the coming of our Lord’s kingdom.  Jesus, however, explains that it would be the generation which sees the signs He has been speaking of which would see His coming at the end of the age.  What the disciples did not realize is that the nation of Israel was to be removed from their land a second time and scattered among the nations until the final regathering spoken of by the prophets of the Old Testament.

"It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea. He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth."  Isaiah 11:11-12  NKJV

"I will bring back the captives of My people Israel;They shall build the waste cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them; They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them,” Says the LORD your God."  Amos 9:14-15  NKJV

In May of 1948 the nation of Israel was reestablished in their homeland in a stunning fulfillment of the scriptures written thousands of years ago.  When it did, it began a countdown to the end of this age which Jesus Himself declared would only last for one generation.  While some have argued that Jesus either meant the generation He was speaking to, or the nation of Israel as a whole, neither of those interpretations linguistically makes sense, especially in light of the prophecies of Israel’s scattering and regathering as a nation.  The most logical and reasonable interpretation, and the one accepted by most Bible scholars, is that from the point that Israel was regathered in 1948, the generation which then began will see these things come to pass.

“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”  Psalm 90:10  NKJV

When I first understood and accepted this conclusion, I found it hard to explain the excitement I felt knowing that I could possibly see these things come to pass in my lifetime.  Events that occur in the course of world history, which unbelievers might easily pass off as naturally occurring, take on a whole new meaning given the perspective of knowing where we are on God’s timeline.  When I am asked the question, as I often am, as to why I choose to teach prophecy and the end of the age, I typically will use two passages to explain my motivation for studying eschatology.  The first is something Mordecai said to Esther when she hesitated to approach the King.

“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  Esther 4:14  NKJV

Have you ever wondered why you were born at this particular time in history?  Do you believe it was just random chance or is it possible God ordained you to be part of this generation?  Esther was asked that question and it would seem circumstances answered it for her as she believed and made the decision to approach the king with her requests.  As we see the day approaching, have you considered the possibility God put you here right now to tell others about what we are seeing occur all around us and explain what it all means?  I certainly do, which leads me to share the second passage that motivates my teaching.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.”             Matthew 24:45-46  NKJV

The phrase “due season” in the Greek is just one word, "kairos", and is defined this way; “a fixed and definite time, the time when things are brought to crisis, the decisive epoch waited for.”  Would you agree with me that the generation which Jesus said would see the end of the age might somehow qualify as the “epoch” we have been waiting for?  As wise servants I believe we are called to share the good news of the salvation offered to mankind especially right now as we see the day approaching.  Events in this world have been described by many as a crisis the likes of which we have never seen.  As part of this chosen generation, what better time to tell others of God’s salvation than right now?

If you have watched this world and the seemingly unexplainable events that are happening and wondered what it all means, Jesus made it very clear that those who watched would recognize the signs of His imminent return.  May 14, 2018 was the seventieth anniversary of Israel becoming a nation once again and in His own words, Jesus said, “this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place”.  The passage from Psalm 90 describes a generation as anywhere from seventy to eighty years.  That being the case, does this not tell us just how short the time is before the rapture of the Church takes place? Is it possible that this next year will bring the fulfillment of prophetic events on a scale we have only hoped for? If we subtract the seven year duration of the tribulation period from the eighty year length of the generation which will end in 2028, it is obvious that the window for what has been prophesied to occur is quickly closing.

If you have never made the decision to accept Jesus Christ into your heart and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered you by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Faithfully Watching

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."        Luke 2:1-16 NKJV

I wrote this post a few years ago but thought I would repost it for you today.  For the record, I don't consider myself a wise man, but I still desire to faithfully watch for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  My prayer is that you are a member of God's family and join me in watching for His return.  Have a Merry Christmas.

I’m sure most of us are familiar with the Christmas story and have either read or heard it preached on for many years. Being raised in a Christian home my earliest memories of Christmas are filled with images of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, finding no room at the inn, and Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in the manger.  Of course, like most of us, as I grew older I began to study and learn about the “stories within the story” and of those, the one that has always fascinated me concerned the wise men who followed the star, and exactly how they knew to do so.

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found [him], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."      Matthew 2:1-12 NKJV

The answer as to why the Magi came in search of Jesus is contained in the single phrase, “ Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east”.  Obviously, the Magi had been told that a future King of the Jews would be born one day and a star in the east would not only herald His birth, but lead them to Him.  The Magi were priests and advisors to the rulers of Parthia, a kingdom whose roots go back to the Babylonian Empire of Nebuchadnezzar.  Their knowledge of the prophecy of a coming King came from the teaching of Daniel, and his revelation of the message he received from the angel Gabriel spoken of in Daniel 9:24-27.  The result was that these Magi had been “faithfully watching” for over 600 years for the sign they had been told to watch for.

Believers too, have been given the task of faithfully watching for the return of this King, Jesus, for His bride.  We have been given signs to watch for and they are all around us today.  The most important question is, though, are you prepared to go home with Him when He calls?

My prayer is that all of you have a joyful holiday season remembering that Christmas is all about the most precious gift of all, the gift of God's Son to die for our sin so we may spend eternity with Him. I hope you have received that free gift by praying to our Father and accepting the salvation He has offered.  As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I hope we remember that He was born to die, so that we can live. While we celebrate His birth by giving gifts to one another, may we never forget that it was His gift to us, the ultimate sacrifice, which allows us to make the choice to accept Him as our Savior and become one of His own.

If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered all of us by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

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Wouldn't it be Nice?

“Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given [them] to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of My Father's hand. "I and [My] Father are one."       John 10:22-30 NKJV

As we talked last week about the Jewish celebration called Hanukkah, I thought I would continue today sharing even more of my thoughts surrounding this holiday and the conclusion many have come to that it will most certainly be a time to watch. There is an old Jewish saying that I have read many times over the years which says simply that “coincidence isn’t kosher”.  I don’t recall when I first read that, but it is something that I have always remembered when I study the Word because of my personal belief that God intended every word, and even the very punctuation to be placed exactly where we find it.  I believe this is exactly what Jesus was referring to when He made the following statement to the disciples in what we know as the Sermon on the Mount.

“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”  Matthew 5:18  NKJV

It is because of this that I have become very sensitive to the structure of God’s Word as well as the content, and one of the things I habitually do is look to see where and when certain words are repeated in scripture and how they are used in order to better understand the meaning of what I am reading.  I recall as a parent using certain words, and often repeating them at times, when I wanted to make a point to my children in the hope that they would remember whatever it was that I was trying to convey.  I believe God has done the same thing in His Word to us, which is why I always take a closer look when I find certain words which are repeated.

Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, is considered to be one of the minor holidays in Israel, and is not one of the seven major feasts instituted by God in the Old Testament.  Yet we do find it mentioned in the New Testament in this passage from John, and when we read these verses we find that it plays a rather important part in the life of our Lord.  I have always found it curious that throughout His early ministry, Jesus seemed to go out of His way to avoid stating specifically that He was the Messiah, the Son of God.  It almost seemed as if He was waiting for a particular, appointed time to do it, and on this particular day, the Feast of Dedication, we find that Jesus was asked this very question as He walked in the temple.

Since Jesus answered this question the way He did, this was obviously the day He was waiting for. Yet it is not the fact that Jesus answered the question plainly and unequivocally that caught my attention, but rather His use of a particular word in His answer which I find not only interesting, but rather intriguing considering we know He chose His words carefully and deliberately.  You see, twice in this passage Jesus uses the word “snatch” when referring to His “sheep”.  Now as I have said, repeating a word always gets my attention so I first of all wanted to look closer at the original Greek, and also look to see if it is used elsewhere in the Word and the context in which it is used.

When I did this, no surprise, I again was reminded why studying the Word is so much fun to me.  The word for “snatch” that Jesus uses here is “harpazo”, meaning, “to seize, carry off by force, to claim for oneself eagerly, to snatch out or away.”  I’m also sure most of you recognize this as the very same word used by Paul in Thessalonians to refer to the rapture of the Church.  The word rapture simply comes from the Latin translation of “harpazo” and this is the event that we as believers are all looking forward to with great anticipation.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”                1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  NKJV

Obviously my first thought was that this is not a coincidence, but rather an intentional use of the same word.  Unfortunately though, the next step is to try and come up with an explanation as to why?  This is where most of us could probably come up with our own, and probably very different explanations.  Many have speculated in the past, however, that Hanukkah would be a perfect time for the rapture of the Church for many different reasons.  Of course, although I might agree, I also firmly believe that the rapture could occur on any given day and is not restricted to any of the Jewish holidays.

Was Jesus trying to tell His believers when He would return for His bride?  I certainly couldn’t say that was the case, yet looking at the state of the world in which we live and examining events in light of what the Word of God has revealed to us should give all of us who believe pause for thought.  Have you ever considered that Jesus is eagerly awaiting the Father's permission to snatch His bride from this earth?  It seems more than obvious to many that we are rapidly approaching the time of our deliverance from this earth, and with Hanukkah just over a week away, wouldn’t it be nice if Jesus were to call us home then, coincidently while we celebrate His birth at Christmas?

Today, while many eagerly wait for Christmas to arrive, may we all remember to give thanks to God for His gift of salvation to us through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.  If you have never made the decision to accept that free gift I encourage you to do so today.  Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him.  You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  NKJV

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Hanukkah; A Time to Watch?

“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, “and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.”   Ezekiel 38:2-4  NKJV

The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is just around the corner, and with it come some very interesting facts which many believers may not be familiar with.  In fact, there is a distinct possibility that we are told in the scriptures that it will play a very important role as a signpost for the fulfillment of one of the most interesting prophecies of the end times, and one which many believe is about to occur.  That belief is evident in the number of times the subject of this invasion has been mentioned recently in the news, especially tin the Middle East and Israel. The following is an excerpt from an article written by Dr. Steve Elwart. 

"The above passage describes an invasion of Israel from the north. Later verses describe its destruction once they reach the area of the mountains of Israel. To fully understand the prophecy, one needs to identify the major players in this divine drama. 

In verses 1–4, Gog is first mentioned. He is described as the leader of the land of Magog. He is the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. This leader was as unknown to Ezekiel as he is to us today. We do know “Gog” is not a proper name but a title for the ruler of Magog, just as the terms “pharaoh,” “kaiser,” and “czar” were titles for rulers and not proper names. 

The tribes identified as Magog, Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal can be identified by Scripture and other ancient writings as peoples who once occupied the areas of modern-day Russia. Magog, Meshech, and Tubal were between the Black and Caspian Seas, which today include parts of Iran, Turkey and southern Russia.”

Russia; Looking for Spoil by Dr. Steve Elwart  
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2016/1256/

I think that any believer familiar with Biblical prophecy can see and understand the times in which we find ourselves today.  The signs are all around us that point to the fulfillment of prophecy in our immediate future, including the rapture of the Church that we have all been waiting for.  While it may be disappointing to see certain dates come and go without hearing the trumpet blow and the voice calling us upwards, we still have God’s promise that it will be done.  How I personally deal with disappointment is to continually read the promises we have in His words to us that while we may not know the day, He has said it will be done.

There are, however, prophetic events which sound scholarship can apply dates to with a reasonable chance for accuracy.  One of these is the Gog Magog War.  This conflict is believed by many to occur before the tribulation period begins, in essence laying the groundwork for the enforced peace between Israel and its enemies that the antichrist proposes.  While many have tried to set dates for the possible rapture of the Church, I believe this is the event that we all should be watching for as it appears that the rapture precedes it, and as Chuck Missler was fond of saying, “when you see the Christmas decorations going up, you know that Thanksgiving is near.

Many of you are familiar with the name Grant Jeffrery.  He wrote many wonderful books before his passing a few years ago, and one of my favorite was Armegeddon; Appointment with Destiny. In this book, he spends some time discussing this conflict and one of the more fascinating conclusions he comes to concerns when he believes the Bible tells us this war will occur.  If he is right, then the current moves we see happening today in Syria above the Golan, along with Russia positioning itself in the Middle East and Iran making it's threats to attack, should be a warning sign no one should ignore.  What does all of this have to do with Hanukkah?  This is what Grant Jefferey wrote;

“Although Scripture does not indicate the year in which this future invasion and defeat of Russia will occur, the prophet Haggai gives us a strong indication of what the actual day may be. Haggai reveals that on the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (Chisleu) of the Jewish calendar, the day before Hanukkah, God will deliver Israel as He did twice before on this day: (1) the defeat of the Syrian army and recapture of the Temple in 165 b.c. and (2) the British capture of Jerusalem from the Turks in 1917 during the closing battles of WWI.

The prophet Haggai declares:

"The Word of the Lord came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month [Chisleu], saying, Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother" (Haggai 2:20-­22).

This description by Haggai, and the exact language of his prophecy, is uncannily like the language of Ezekiel 38 and 39 that describes Russia's defeat. The interesting point is that Haggai names the exact day of the year on which this will occur. Since so many other prophecies have been so precisely fulfilled to the day, there is a strong probability that this prophetic event will also occur on its appointed anniversary date of the biblical calendar. "Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this is the day whereof I have spoken" (Ezekiel 39:8). God's appointment with Russia is set; it will not be postponed.”

http://www.grantjeffrey.com/article/rusisrl.htm

“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ”   Isaiah 44:6-8  NKJV

Every week we are treated to more and more signs that our deliverance is close at hand.  While this Hanukkah might not be the one where we will see this prophecy fulfilled, it would certainly appear that we will very soon, and let's not forget that the rapture of the church will occur before it does. If you have never made the decision to accept the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ I urge you to do it today.  Simply tell God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life over to His control.
 
Father, I know I am a sinner in need of salvation. I believe you sent your Son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin, and I ask you now to forgive me of my sins. I want to receive your gift of salvation so please come into my heart and help me to live and follow you as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Thanking the Father

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.  Luke 10:21  NKJV

In light of celebrating Thanksgiving this past week, it seems appropriate to ask, “what are you thankful for?”  How many times have you heard this question, especially around this time of year when many gather together for the sole purpose of giving thanks?  I’m sure that over the years most of us have thought about this and made mental lists of all the things we are thankful for, and more than likely if we compared our lists we would find that a great many of us are thankful for many of the same things.  As I thought this week about thankfulness, I began to wonder if it would be appropriate to consider what it might be that God is thankful for, and to consider what, if anything, He would put on His list of things to be thankful for.

There have been times in my life where I wished I was a lot smarter than I am, yet truthfully all I have to do at times like that is read this passage from Luke and give thanks that I am a simple minded soul.  I understand the simplicity of the Gospel and the need I have for salvation, so it makes perfect sense to me that God created me, loves me, and has provided a way for me to spend eternity with Him.  The one question I continually seem to ask myself, however, is I can’t help but wonder if God is thankful that He made me, especially when I think about all the times I have failed Him?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”    Jeremiah 1:5  NKJV

Something God tells Jeremiah in this passage applies equally to all of us, and that is that in His omniscience God not only knew us before we were conceived, He also was the one who formed us in the womb.  Before He ever made me, God knew exactly how I would turn out, the decisions I would make that would hurt Him, and especially all of the times I would disappoint Him.  God still chose to create me.  I think the question “ is God thankful He created me?” was answered when He made the decision to do so.  My response should be to do everything in my power to please Him in thankfulness for what He has done for me.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: “I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. “O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”    John 17:20-26  NKJV

In this passage Jesus is praying to the Father just before He is to suffer the agony of the cross.  Yet His prayer is for us, those who have made the choice to accept the sacrifice He is about to make on our behalf, and not for Himself.  Have you ever thought about the fact that the Son of God has prayed for you?  That His concern in the last moments of His life on earth was for us, and not Himself?  Just thinking of that gives us all something to be eternally thankful for and something we should never forget.  Of all the things we might consider giving thanks for, Jesus Christ loves us.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.                            John 15:13-15  NKJV

Sharing the message of the Gospel of Christ with others is the reason we are here, and the way in which we can thank God the Father for what He has done for us.  As we arrive at the time of the year for giving thanks, and giving presents, may we never forget the greatest gift we have been given, and the reason we have to give thanks.  May we all commit to look for ways to share this joy with others in the short time we have left in which to do it.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  James 1:17  NKJV

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