LUKE

Today is Thursday and I am back at home.  I enjoyed teaching through the book of Judges last night and look forward to a full day "catching up".  Here are some thoughts for to share with you today: 1) CHRIST'S PURPOSE IS STATED-Luke 19:10  "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost".  This is Jesus Christ's declaration of purpose.... He came to save the lost.  That was us and now we too are to be seeking the lost.  Thank God for Christians who will obey God's call upon their lives to share the Gospel. We need to be soul conscious all the time.  2) PRAYER PROMOTES PURITY-Luke 22:40 says "Pray that ye enter not into temptation."  and verse 46 says: "rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."  The Bible teaches we should avoid temptation, not just sin.  The sin starts when we get around the temptation.  Purity is avoiding temptation not avoiding sin.  We are to be wise concerning good and simple (not knowlegable) concerning evil. If we avoid only the sin, we are made aware of the sin by the temptation.  If we avoid the temptation, we can be simple concerning the evil.  If we never enter a tavern, we don't know what sins lurk within because we have avoided the temptation.  If we keep ourselves pure, it will not because we are strong enough to avoid sin, but wise enough to know we are weak enough, so we avoid the temptation altogether!!  3) EXALTING CHRIST-John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."  John the Baptist said that and that is good advice from a good Baptist.  Exalt Christ!  That is our mission everyday.... to exalt Christ through our lives, our words, our actions, our very being.  Let self diminish and let Christ be exalted in our lives.  Praise God!! Well, just a few thoughts for today.  Hope you have a blessed day in the LORD.   Pastor Mike Mutchler