Thought for December 16, 2024

  •  1631: Mt. Vesuvius erupts killing about 3000
  • 1773: Boston Tea Party
  • 1811: New Madrid Earthquake
  • 1897: African American delegates gather at Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington DC to organize the Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention--a work that continues today to evangelize Africa for Christ.
  • 1908: First credit union in the US formed
  • 1930: Bobby Jones wins Sullivan Award as the best amateur athlete
  • 1946: Fashion House of Christian Dior founded
  • 1951: "Dragnet" premiers in black and white
  • 1953: First White House press conference
  • 1972: Dolphins complete undefeated regular season--14-0
  • Born: Catherine of Argon, George Whitfield, Beethoven, Jane Austen, Noel Coward, Margaret Meade, Arthur C Clarke, Frank Deford, Liv Ullmann, Don Meyer [Lipscomb], Yosemite Sam, Refrigerator Perry, 
  • Died: Wilhelm Grimm, Somerset Maugham, Colonel Sanders, Lee Van Cleef, Dan Fogelberg, Ray Price, 
Thought:
Reading 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 this morning. These verses both encourage and challenge me. Just join me in letting these words soak into your heart: You are a letter known and read by all men; a letter written by the Spirit on your heart. You might read along with this the message of Paul in Ephesians 2:10-we are Christ's poem/workmanship created in Christ for good works. 

Now think about what you have planned for today in light of these verses. Jesus is writing a letter to the world--a letter for all to see and know. A letter being written by the Holy Spirit. A letter from the heart to the heart. A letter intended to tell the world how much Jesus loves them and how badly He wants to have a relationship with them. 

We often think of ourselves as ambassadors for Christ. Nations send ambassadors to other nations to seek and maintain a relationship for and with the nation they represent. Ambassadors carry letters of introduction and commission from the sending nation to the nation to be served. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are letters from Jesus written to the world to express the love and grace of God to all men. Jesus wants me to understand my purpose for today and every day--I am a messenger carrying His letter to a lost and broken world--a letter of love, grace, mercy and an invitation to establish a relationship with Him. How does seeing your assignment for today as being Christ's letter change how you approach today? It challenges me to be an accurate and true message. Does the world correctly see and understand the message of Christ based on my life? 

Taking this a step further, I think about the old motto for the postal service--neither rain, nor snow, not dark of night can prevent the mails from going through. What do I allow to keep Christ's letter to the world from getting through? The answer should be nothing. I need to work on that starting today.

Blessings
Larry

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