PastorsPage - River of Life Worship Center

A Word from the Pastor's Wife

GIFTS AND DECORATIONS

Traditionally, the day after Thanksgiving is filled with shopping and decorating for Christmas. It is important to most people to give gifts to the special people in their lives. They arise at 4:00 a.m. or maybe don’t go to bed at all just to be in the store on Black Friday so they can buy those special people special gifts at specially discounted prices.

Likewise, people search for the perfect decorations to decorate their houses both inside and out. They light up the entire neighborhood. They don’t leave an inch of the interior undecorated.

Sadly, many of these people are too busy to pray or to read the Bible or go to church even one day a week. They push and shove when they are shopping, and kindness is not a thought they have. The decorations and lights must be better than the neighbors’ next door. Love? Well, love is a four-letter word to most people, not the greatest gift of all, and light has nothing to do with the “light” of the World—Jesus.

God gave us the greatest gift of all—His son. Jesus gave us his life so that we can be a part of His heavenly kingdom and live eternally with Him.

The Bible, the inspired Word of God, tells us how we should live our lives. It tells us that above all else, we should “love God with all our hearts, souls, minds and bodies.” (Matt 22:37) It further tells us that we should “love one another.” (John 13:34) There is One God. (1 Tim. 2:5) Jesus is the Son of that God. (1 John 4:15) Jesus gave His life for us. (John 3:16).

Quoting a story a friend shared: A lady owned a restaurant and someone came in asking for food. She provided a meal, and they went on their way, leaving in a really nice car. When asked why she did it, she said she would rather give help not needed than to be the one who dishonestly seeks the help. Accordingly, I would rather believe what the Bible says in the literal sense, then to not believe all of it and maybe be wrong and miss Heaven.

Many religions decorate the World but the only true Light is Jesus.

Regardless of a person’s beliefs, we are directed by God to love that person and to pray for that person. We should stand firm in the Word of God. To stand firm in the Word of God, we must know what it says. Scripture tells us that we should not add to nor take away from what is written. The Old Testament tells us the history and prophecy concerning Jesus. The New Testament tells us about the life of Jesus and His disciples and provides instruction for our lives. I don’t believe that we can take just the parts we want and omit the rest. Even marriage vows say take the bad with the good. So just because we don’t agree or like what the Scripture says, doesn’t give reason to ignore it. Some things are written as parables, some as fact. If you read closely, the Bible distinguishes which is which.