“Let us not be weary in well-doing.” – Galatians 6:9

It is not enough for us to be doing, we should be doing good. We are redeemed and created for this purpose. Let us act as before God, for the good of man; let us communicate advice, encouragement, or relief, in the fear of God, and for His glory.

What is done well, is done in a good spirit, even the spirit of love – humility – and prayer; is done from a good motive, even the love of Christ; is done by a good rule, the commandment of the everlasting God; is done to a good end, the glory of Him who hath called and commanded us.

But we are prone to get weary of doing, especially if we are hasty – or meet with disappointments – or look at creatures – or consult our own case. But let us not lose heart in the work, neither let us give it over; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

This is sowing time, but reaping time will come; let us therefore go on in divine strength – with holy fortitude – with fixed determination – and resigning ourselves daily to God. We shall reap in due season if we faint not; for God is orderly – faithful – bounteous – gracious; He will not forget our work and labour of love; but will reward even a cup of cold water, given to a disciple in His name.

Put thou thy trust in God,
In duty’s path go on;
Fix on His word thy steadfast eye,
So shall thy work be done.    —James Smith

“Be sober , be vigilant ; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about , seeking whom he may devour :  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. “1 Pet. 5:8-9

Commenting on these verses, an article in “Senior Living” said, “One famous and effective tactic thieves often use to rob a store is to distract. They enter the store as a group. Then, one or two separate themselves from the group while the others start a loud commotion in another section of the store. This grabs the attention of the customers, as well as the store clerk.

As all eyes are turned to the disturbance, the accomplices fill their pockets with merchandise and cash, and then leave the store before anyone even suspects what happened. Hours, or even days later, the merchant realizes things are missing and calls the police. But it’s too late… the thieves are long gone.

This strategy is effective for stealing—as well as for tempting! You see, the enemy loves to seduce us into paying attention to the distractions of life, all the while causing havoc unnoticed in other areas. And if this tactic is successful, we don’t realize it before it’s too late and sin has already taken hold of our lives!

It’s crucial we check our spiritual pockets now and then to stay on-guard against Satan. It’s helpful to have others in our lives who can point out weaknesses in our defense as well. When you keep watch against the enemy, you’ll be better positioned to fight off temptation to sin and experience victory in your daily spiritual battles!

Pray that God would give you the soberness of mind to stay alert and identify when the enemy is trying to distract you from obedience.”

“This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven”   (Acts 1:11).

Many are celebrating our LORD’s first coming this day; let us turn our thoughts to the promise of His second coming. This is as sure as the first advent and derives a great measure of its certainty from it. He who came as a lowly man to serve will assuredly come to take the reward of His service. He who came to suffer will not be slow in coming to reign. This is our glorious hope, for we shall share His joy. Today we are in our concealment and humiliation, even as He was while here below; but when He cometh it will be our manifestation, even as it will be His revelation. Dead saints shall live at His appearing. The slandered and despised shall shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Then shall the saints appear as kings and priests, and the days of their mourning shall be ended. The long rest and inconceivable splendor of the millennial reign will be an abundant recompense for the ages of witnessing and warring. Oh, that the LORD would come! He is coming! He is on the road and traveling quickly. The sound of His approach should be as music to our hearts! Ring out, ye bells of hope!– Charles Spurgeon

“ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.“–John 1:14

Man has always had problems concerning what is important and what’s not. Considering that we live in a fallen world that is to be expected. We tend to get things upside down. I thought of that recently when I read this article from “Turning Point”:

“A man-on-the-street poll to determine the most important event in world history would reveal a variety of answers. But for Christians, the answer is clear: the coming of God to earth. To consider the importance of that event is to invite wonder and awe. And there is no shortage of ways to consider its importance for us.

For example, Christ lived in complete dependence on His Father and trusted in God’s will for His life (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:28, 42). And even though He was tempted (Matthew 4:1-11) and at times suffered (Hebrews 5:8), He never questioned His experiences; He was always confident that the Father’s will for His life was perfect and His to obey. Christ proceeded from the Godhead to earth, bringing the will of God with Him. He  was  the will of God—and He never faltered. Now, the apostle Paul says, all who believe in Christ are  in Him  (Colossians 2:9-10). Therefore, as Christ fulfilled, and continues to fulfill, the will of God, so do we who live in Him by faith.”

Considering that, I feel compelled to ask, “Just how much like Jesus are you?”. Christmas serves to remind us that Christ came to reveal unto man what man ought to be as God created him to be. Honesty forces us to admit that we fail miserably. We all have sinned and are in need of a Savior. The coming of Christ involved far more than just providing us an example, He was born to die. He came to us that He might die for us. He sacrificed His life that we might have life. He is Faithful and True, so you can trust His purpose, plan, and promises! By accepting God’s gift, provided by Christ, this can be your greatest Christmas ever. Trust Him today.

“For unto us a child is born , unto us a son is given : and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor , The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”–Isa. 9:6-7

700 years before Christ came Isaiah proclaimed that He would be born of a virgin (7:14), but as our text shows he predicted much more. So we need to look beyond Christmas when we consider the work of Christ. Pastor Greg Laurie wrote: