WORD From The Woods

     Hey Brothers and Sisters, I just wanted to take a moment this morning to thank you all for your prayer and support for us last week as we were at the Oregon Logging Conference. It was another awesome time with many great opportunities to share the Gospel and encourage other believers in our industry to stand up and be bold!  I want to share this devotional from a past study we did through Ephesians. It was Paul’s call to the Ephesian Christians to be bold and prepared to stand for Jesus Christ! 


Ephesians 6:10-20 
    "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”


     This is the last and probably most important passage in Paul's letter to the Ephesian believers. After Paul has spoken about how we as believers should conduct ourselves in all the different relationships in life, he tells us how to put on the "whole armor of God" so that we can stand against the trials of this life. There are really only two forces at work in the world, the forces of good which is almighty God the creator of the universe, and the forces of evil which is Satan and his fallen angels. As human beings we are either following one or the other whether we realize it or not, ultimately it all comes down to good or evil. As believers we will encounter resistance from the evil one in the form of many different kinds of trials, I'm sure that no one needs to be convinced of this! Paul says to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the schemes of the devil, not part of the armor, but the whole armor of God.  First, is the belt of truth, the belt was a key part of a soldier's armor in Paul's day and without it, the whole armor would come apart, without truth our lives would fall apart from lies and deception. Second, is the breastplate of righteousness, the breastplate would cover a soldier's vital organs and protect them from injury and certain death. The righteousness of Christ is just like a breastplate that covers us as believers, we are still sinners but we are covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, without it we are exposed to the enemy and will surely fall on the battlefield of this life. Third, are the shoes of readiness of the gospel. A soldier would always be ready to go into battle, in the same way, we are always to be ready to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost and hurting world.  Fourth, is the shield of faith. A well-equipped soldier would always carry a shield to protect himself from arrows, and many times even flaming arrows. When we encounter the flaming arrows of satan, we must always rely on the shield of faith, we know that as true believers we are protected and covered by God, we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and we know he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world! We must have faith in that fact when we are being attacked by the enemy. Fifth, is the helmet of salvation. A helmet is designed to protect a soldier's head, which houses the brain, and the brain is the central control system for the entire body and if it gets injured the whole body is shut down. In the same way, Salvation is the central part of our entire being, without salvation, we are already condemned to hell and nothing else matters! Lastly, is the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. Remember when Christ himself faced temptation from satan He quoted scripture! We need to understand the power and importance of God's written word! The Bible has everything we need to face the various trials of life and the more of it we study and memorize, the more armed we will be when we face the enemy in battle. Paul says at the end of the passage that we should pray at all times. A good soldier is in constant communication with his commander so that he knows what's going on over the whole battlefield. We must be in constant communication with our commander who is The Lord God almighty! We all need to learn how to be better prepared for battle by learning how to put in the whole armor of God. 

God bless and have a great week! -Terry-

​WORD From The Woods


Psalms 113
“Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!”


As loggers, we get the opportunity to see some of the most glorious scenery! I captured the attached photo awhile back as I was processing logs up high on a mountain top in southwest Oregon. The valleys below were all covered in a thick layer of fog as the early morning started to break into the darkness with a host of brilliant colors. I could still see the planet Venus shining bright, high in the southeastern sky. I’ve probably seen thousands of those kind of sunrises, and they still take my breath away, leaving me in awe of the creative power and glory of our Lord God, the creator of Heaven and Earth. It was another living testimony to His greatness and power over everything. The words of the this psalm of praise came to my mind as another new day sprung forth in worship to the Lord. But, this psalm points us to something far greater, and more glorious than such a brilliant sunrise. When the psalmist wrote that the Lord raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, he’s pointing us to the most glorious thing in the history of the universe, which is, the gospel! The awesome reality that Christ came to die on the cross as a ransom for His lost sheep! The fact that He redeemed us rebel sinners is the most unimaginably spectacular thing that has ever happened! It’s so incredible, that the created world around us even praises and worships Him for it! So, when you see the glory of God revealed to us in things like an amazing sunrise, I hope you’re reminded that it’s just a small glimpse of the greatest of God’s accomplishments. The victory of our Lord and Savior that He accomplished by conquering sin and death when he died in our place on the cross, was buried, and broke death’s curse as He rose again on the third day! That is something that should drive us to praise the great name of the Lord our God and hit our knees in worship before Him! And if you have never placed your trust in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, and confessed Him as Lord, my friend, please do so right now.


God bless, and have a great week! -Terry-

​WORD From The Woods


Philemon 1:17–25
“17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.   21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.  23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.   25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”


     As we wrap up this series on Philemon, it feels like we’ve reached the heart of Paul’s message, and it’s bursting with gospel truths. In this passage, we see a clear and deep representation of the gospel. Paul’s plea to Philemon “Forgive him and charge his wrongdoing to my account”, mirrors Christ’s grace towards us. Just as Jesus took Philemon’s and Onesimus’s sins upon Himself and gave us His own righteousness, Paul asks Philemon to extend the same grace to Onesimus.  
It’s easy to read a passage like this and think, “Wow, that’s powerful!” because it is notable, only to quickly move on with life. We do this because the Christian walk, in which we try to abide in Christ and strive towards Christ's good works, can be exhausting, difficult, and humbling. Thoughts creep in, like:  
·         “I was wronged, and I need justice.”
·         “They’ll only learn if they face consequences.”
·         “If I keep forgiving them, I’m just enabling them.”
·         “Forgiving them will cost me something—maybe even financially.”
Paul knew thoughts like these were likely running through Philemon’s mind. Paul is poking at the wickedness and sin that can so easily overtake us in moments like this.
1 Corinthians 6:7 comes to mind: “To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?” Paul originally wrote this in the context of believers in the Corinthian church actually taking each other to court, but the sentiment applies here. Yes, Philemon had the legal right to hold Onesimus accountable for any losses he incurred. But Paul is calling him, and us, toward something greater: reconciliation.  
Paul echoes this in Colossians 3:12–14:  
“12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. “
Paul doesn’t stop at calling for forgiveness. He highlights its broader impact with the statement, “Yes, I want some benefit from you. Refresh my heart in Christ.” Paul emphasizes that this act of grace won’t just benefit Philemon and Onesimus, it will refresh himself and the church as a whole. Obedience to Christ and rejoicing in the Law of the Lord (Psalm 119:14-32) provides us meat and drink in abundance, like the bread Jesus spoke of in John 4:32 “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
This not only pertains to us from a spiritual perspective but also as loggers and foresters. We all know, full well, that this industry is small and we see the same people over and over again our entire careers. Whether it’s truck drivers, log yard workers, harvest managers, or others in the supply chain, we can all bring someone to mind who has wronged us, caused us harm, or simply makes our blood pressure rise when they enter the room.  When you think of that person, remember this, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also MUST forgive.”(emphasis added) This is not just my challenge to you, it’s a command from the Lord. Don’t be like the wicked servant in Jesus’ parable, who was forgiven an enormous debt by the Master of the house and turned around demanding immediate repayment of a much smaller debt from his fellow. Forgiveness and reconciliation like this are only possible through us walking in step with the spirit and daily abiding in the patient, steadfast love of the Lord. 
So here’s my encouragement for the week: seek out those who have wronged you. Pray for them. If possible, reconcile with them. Humble yourself before the Lord and remember the depths from which He has graciously lifted you and “Bear one another’s Burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
 
Have a blessed week!  -Ethan-

​WORD From The Woods


Philemon 1:12-16
“12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”


    This passage beautifully reflects the fragrance of Christ-centered, intimate relationships. We see this in Paul’s relationship with Philemon, where Paul, despite his authority as an elder, chooses to elevate Philemon above himself in humility. Then there is the relationship between Philemon and Onesimus, a bond once strained but is now full of the potential for renewal through the bonds of Christ. Finally, we witness the deep connection between Paul and Onesimus. While the duration of Onesimus’s time with Paul is unclear, it was significant enough for Paul to describe Onesimus as his “very heart.” This powerful statement reveals the profound depth of their bond and offers insight into Paul’s heartfelt affection for him.
One of the most intriguing qualities about Paul was his ability to cultivate such deep bonds with people, especially other believers, wherever he went. A glance at the names listed at the end of each of his epistles showcases the great affection he felt for others. Of course, it’s important to consider the context of Paul’s time. Life in the first century often involved traveling with groups of people for days or weeks depending on where they were going, and in Paul's case, maybe months. Such prolonged interactions naturally fosters closeness and affection. So, it should not surprise us too much that Paul had many close relationships. He not only consistently traveled with people, but he also stayed in certain cities for years, preaching the gospel, starting churches, and knowing the people well enough to be able to appoint elders in those churches, from among their own, who are devout and filled with the Spirit. These are not tasks that can be undertaken flippantly or without intention.
Paul’s emphasis on relationships is also evident in his teachings. The epistles contain over 100 “one another” statements, underscoring the importance of living in close community with other believers. Consider these examples:

• Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love; honor one another above yourselves.”
• Ephesians 4:2-3: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
• Galatians 5:13: “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”
• Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

How can we fulfill these commands without intimate relationships with fellow believers? While today’s culture often makes it difficult to nurture such connections, the challenge does not diminish their value but bolsters it. Hard things are often the most rewarding.
For example, this past weekend, I helped my grandfather fill his elk damage tag. At almost 80 years old, his physical capabilities are waning. After he successfully shot a cow elk (400 yd shot), the real challenge began. The elk was 300 yards down a steep clearcut with no road access at the bottom. Due to my grandfather's waning health and growing age, I had to clean and quarter the elk, a task I had never done alone. My 10-year-old daughter was with me, but understandably, she couldn’t contribute much. The process was overwhelming and physically taxing, leaving me sore for days.
Yet the difficulty of the task brought immense rewards. My grandfather was deeply blessed to experience another hunt, knowing the forthcoming hunts are very limited, my daughter had the invaluable experience of being part of a harvest with her dad and great grandfather, and the meat would fill both his freezer and mine. The effort, though exhausting, was profoundly worthwhile.
Similarly, building deep relationships often involves awkwardness, inconvenience, and effort. Sometimes, exhausting effort. Yet, these relationships allow us to confess, repent, encourage, and exhort one another, reaping benefits far beyond what we can imagine. Such connections have eternal significance, shaping our faith journeys and helping us become more Christ-like.
My encouragement to you this week is to take an intentional step toward cultivating a meaningful relationship. Seek out a friend and invest time in building a deeper connection. Remember, relationships take time to grow, but they are essential to your spiritual walk and growth in Christ.


Have a blessed week! -Ethan-

WORD From The Woods


Philemon 1:8-11
8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)


This passage marks the opening third of Paul's appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. As I reflected on verse 11, I found myself pausing. What could Paul mean when he describes Onesimus as "formerly useless" but now "useful"? Perhaps this comes easily to mind for some, but for me, it required deeper thought. After diving into several commentaries, the answer became obvious—and I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Of course!” If you’ve wrestled with this verse as I did, let me share my learnings that reveal not just how Onesimus became useful, but how we all undergo a profound transformation in Christ.
Outside of Christ, we are all spiritually useless, separated from God, and incapable of fulfilling His purpose for our lives. But in Christ, we are made new creations. This truth isn’t groundbreaking new revelation as it is foundational, but it raises an important question: How does being made a new creature make us useful?
Consider Onesimus. The only change we know of in him that would cause him to be useful is his conversion under Paul’s influence while in prison. Through this transformation, he moved from being a child of wrath to being a child of God. Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:30 resonate here: "Whoever is not with me is against me" (paraphrase). This shift in allegiance, from opposing Christ to being with Him, redefines our purpose and usefulness.
As followers of Christ, our priorities change. No longer are we consumed with serving ourselves; instead, we seek to glorify God in everything. Our desires align with His will, and we embrace servanthood by preferring others above ourselves. The Gospel doesn’t make us better, it makes us vessels for God’s glory. The Holy Spirit, now residing in us, is equipping us to serve others and bring honor to His name.
Matthew Henry offers his reflection on this transformation:
"What happy changes conversion makes—of evil good! Of unprofitable useful! Religious servants are a treasure in a family. Such will make conscience of their time and trusts, promoting the interests of those whom they serve, and managing all they can for the best."
Paul’s argument to Philemon follows this reasoning: Onesimus, once unreliable and unprofitable, has been changed by the Gospel. Philemon can now expect Onesimus to be a dutiful and faithful servant, qualities that stem from his newfound identity in Christ.
This transformation isn’t limited to Onesimus. As believers, our lives should reflect this same change. In everything we do, whether eating meals, raising children, changing logging roads, or loading trucks, we aim to glorify God by working with excellence. Matthew Henry reminds us that "religious servants are a treasure."  As ambassadors of Christ, we honor Him by striving to be treasures wherever we are: in our families, workplaces, churches, and communities.
Let us embrace this calling and seek to glorify God in all we do. May our actions reflect the life-changing power of the Gospel, making us useful and faithful treasures in every area of our lives, bringing glory to God through our service and excellence.


God bless! -Ethan-

WORD From The Woods
Philemon 1:1-7
1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.[a] 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
    One thing that stands out to me in this passage is Paul’s consistent thankfulness for Philemon. He writes, “I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.” It’s easy to skim over verses like this, but they hold valuable insight and application. Coming from a Pentecostal background, I often heard people speak about the amount of time they would spend in their “prayer closets” each morning. Some would share how they prayed for one or two hours before ever leaving the house, and I always admired this as a mark of deep devotion to the Lord. Yet, if I’m being honest, that felt unattainable for me. The various demands of life, whether it was kids, work, mental distractions, or sheer exhaustion, kept me from spending this amount of time in prayer. It left me having a constant sense of guilt.
Looking back, I realize I had turned prayer into a legalistic task rather than a means of genuine communion with God. I thought about making prayer journals to help me track requests, stay focused, and spend more intentional time with the Lord. While the idea might work for some, it didn’t for me. My busy schedule and frequent fatigue made it hard to stick to it, and I felt guilty about falling short of that too. But when I read this passage, I notice something important: Paul didn’t mention a strict prayer routine or a journal. He said, “when I remember you”. When Philemon came to mind, Paul thanked God for him. This makes me think of the long hours Terry puts in logging. Just thinking about his long hours makes me tired! I work in Forestry, so I put in long days too but not as often as he does. For many of you in the industry—logging, trucking, forestry— early mornings and late evenings are normal things, and like me, you might feel anxious about not having time to read the Word or pray as much as you think you should.
My encouragement to you is this: Relax. Think about the Lord throughout your day. When someone or something comes to mind, pray. When you have time, read the Word. Strive to make a concerted effort because there is life and grace given to us through praying and reading. But don’t beat yourself up over missed sessions. God hears you when you call on Him, and He is faithful to answer.
Colossians 3:1-3
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


Have a blessed week!
-Ethan-

WORD From The Woods

​     This is the first installment in a new series though the book of Philemon. This week is an introduction, and next week we’ll jump into the text .
     Philemon is a fascinating book of the Bible. It is written by Paul during his imprisonment, and addressed to Philemon, a host of a house church, regarding his runaway slave. While hosting a house church doesn’t necessarily mean Philemon was a leader, it does suggest he was a man of some wealth. After all, he not only owned slaves but also had a home large enough to be the meeting place for a congregation of indeterminate size. This church was likely located in Colossae, as we can infer from the letter to the Colossians, where both Onesimus (Philemon’s slave) and Archippus—who are mentioned in Philemon—are referred to as members of the church there.
The focus of Paul’s letter is a heartfelt appeal to Philemon, asking him to welcome Onesimus back into his household, not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. Paul urges Philemon to show mercy, minimize any punishment and assures him that he will personally cover any debts or damages Onesimus may have caused.
     When we read books of the bible, it’s natural to imagine ourselves as one of the characters. However, this tendency can often lead to misinterpretation, as we might place ourselves in the wrong role distorting its original meaning and our understanding of it. In this story, however, I think it is proper to put ourselves in Onesimus’ shoes. We are the sinners, the offenders, the ones burdened with guilt. Like Onesimus, we often find ourselves in a mess of our own making—struggling to fix things in our strength and only making them worse.
Now, the text doesn’t tell us why Onesimus fled or how he came into contact with Paul, but we can infer a few things: Philemon represents the “Law,” and Paul acts as a stand-in for “Christ.” Onesimus, as the offender, is subject to the Law, which could demand severe consequences for a runaway slave—ranging from a beating to death. Yet, Paul steps in, much like Christ does for us. He pleads Onesimus’s case, offers to cover his debt, and asks Philemon to extend grace.
Likely Onesimus is the one who delivered the letter to Philemon. Can you Imagine that?! It would have taken immense humility and courage to ask for forgiveness. Picture him standing at Philemon’s door, head bowed, tears streaming down his face, silently presenting the letter that held his plea for mercy. We don’t know exactly how this scene unfolded, but we can easily relate. How often have we wronged someone—at home, in the workplace, or elsewhere—and struggled to admit our fault?
     For loggers in the Pacific Northwest, these themes are strikingly relevant. The tough and often stoic nature of the men in this profession can make moments of humility and reconciliation particularly challenging. Admitting wrongdoing to a crew or crew member at the start of a workday, for example, might feel almost impossible. Yet, just as the Holy Spirit empowered Onesimus to seek forgiveness, He also enables and empowers us to reconcile with our neighbors in the same way He reconciled us to God.
     Philemon may be a short book, but it’s incredibly profound. It vividly illustrates the gospel message as we are sinners in need of Christ's intercession for us. As we explore this book further, we’ll continue to see this beautiful truth unfold again and again. 


Have a blessed week! -Ethan-

​WORD From The Woods


Isaiah 53:1-5 
   “Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
 and like a root out of dry ground;
 he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
 He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
 smitten by God, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
 and with his wounds we are healed.”
Matthew 1:21
  “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 


    Well, Christmas is almost here! The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is coming to and end. As you gather together with family and friends this week, or however you plan to celebrate, I hope and pray that you won’t forget reason we celebrate Christmas. I hope that you will be mindful that the reason for the incarnation of Jesus Christ is for the salvation of sinners. The very name Jesus, embodies salvation. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua, meaning “Yahweh Saves.” The entire bible is God’s unfolding plan of salvation from the fall in Paradise to the promise of Paradise restored. This coming year I hope that you won’t forget the reality that God has chosen you and I as the means through which the free gift of the water of life is dispensed to a parched and thirsty world, and the world needs it now more than ever! Perhaps you yourself are thirsty! If so, the concluding words of the last book of the bible have direct application to your life, “And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” (Revelation 22:17). If you haven’t put your trust in Christ for salvation, don’t let another Christmas pass without without really knowing the true reason for the season! And if you do truly know Christ, don’t miss this opportunity to share the good news of the true Christmas story with your family and friends. The gospel is really the greatest and most valuable Christmas gift that has ever been given! Here’s a great and clear way to share the gift of salvation through Christ this Christmas. 
    First, you need to realize that you’re a sinner. If you don’t realize that you’re a sinner you wont recognize your need for a savior. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
    Second, you must repent of your sins. Repentance is an old english word that describes a willingness to turn from our sin toward Jesus Christ. It literally means making a complete U-turn on the road of life. It’s a change of heart and a change of mind.  It means that you are willing to follow Jesus and trust Him as your Savior and Lord. Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). 
   Third, to demonstrate true belief means to be wiling to receive. To truly receive is to trust and depend on Jesus Christ alone to be the Lord of our lives here and now and our Savior for all eternity. It takes more than knowledge, the devil knows about Jesus and trembles at the thought. It takes more than agreement, the devil agrees that Jesus is the Son of God. What it takes is knowledge, agreement and trust in Jesus Christ alone. The requirements for eternal life are not based on what you or I can do, but on what Jesus Christ has already done. He stands ready to exchange His perfection for your imperfection. 
    According to Jesus, those who realize they are sinners, repent of their sins, and receive Him as Savior and Lord are “born again” (John 3:3), not physically, but spiritually. The reality of our salvation is not dependent on our feelings but rather on the promise of the Savior who says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24).
    If you have confessed your faith in Jesus Christ, then you can rejoice in the angelic proclamation of salvation given to the shepherds on that very first Christmas, “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) If you have never confessed your faith in Jesus Christ, then do so today and start the new year off right as a new person in Christ! If you have already done that, then take this moment to renew your faith and commit to share the good news of salvation with the world around you throughout the coming year! 


God bless, have a great week, and Merry Christmas! -Terry-