Blood Bought Benefits! by Gene McGuire October 9, 2010

Dear Saints,  

This week as I went through my files I came across a message I sent out to my Newsletter readers dated October 12, 2002. In the message I said:”A few weeks ago I started sending daily e-mails to friends and family. This “Thought for Today” is composed of a daily scripture and comments. We now have a membership of 30. If you are interested, contact me.”

After reading that message I decided to see how much we had grown in 8 years. Well, I shocked myself when I added up the 8 groups to find a total of 327 participants. I really enjoy this ministry because I am communicating with some wonderful individuals. I firmly believe the following Scripture: “But my life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus— the work of telling others the God News about God’s wonderful kindness and love.” (Acts 20:24)

Below is the “sample” Message I sent out that day to persuade the readers of the Newsletter to sign up for the daily devotional.

“For God did not give us a spirit of craven, cringing fear, but He has given us a spirit of power and of love and a calm and well-balanced mind with discipline and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

COMMENT: When Jairus was told that his daughter had died, Jesus told him to “FEAR NOT, ONLY BELIEVE” (Luke 8:50) Today He has the same message for us Christians. Let us continually remind ourselves that one of the wonderful attributes of our blood-bought Salvation is SAFETY. We do not fear the sniper plaguing the D.C. Area, Saddam Hussein, or the terrorists. Since Almighty God is for us, who can be against us?

WISE SAYING: FEAR TOLERATED IS FAITH CONTAMINATED

Sincerely Yours, Gene McGuire

God’s Satisfaction by Gene McGuire (Tuesday, July 1, 2008)

“And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:18)

COMMENT: Yes, you are right! Since our Lead Scripture is in Genesis 1, this must be Creation! And since God is perfect, that which He created was perfect also. I imagine He was expressing the same kind of self-satisfaction an artist might have looking at a competed work  Well, I am not an artist, and I don’t play one on TV either ; my wife, Rose-Marie, is the artist in the family. However, occasionally I get the same feeling of satisfaction that an artist gets after he looks at his finished product.

After laboring to cut the grass on my lawn, I stand back and survey my accomplishment and really feel good.

Likewise, I am sure that God is really pleased when He looks down on us, His creations, and sees us practicing righteousness.(1 John 3:7) He knows that we are only dust and will not be perfected until we meet Jesus face to face; but when He perceives that we are working out our salvation with fear and trembling, I am sure it puts a smile on His face.

SCRIPTURE STUDY:Galatians 5:16, Phil 2:12 and 1 John 3:7

WISE SAYING: I’M THE CLAY, YOU’RE THE POTTER — CHANGE ME NOW MY LOVING FATHER. (gene mcguire)

From Darkness To Light by Gene McGuire Friday, May 16, 2008

[Jesus was] “delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

NOTE: Recently I read a message regarding our justification written by David Wilkerson. I would like to share some excerpts from that article. However, before we hear from David, let me set the stage. He starts off by explaining that justification entails two principles: Firstly, it says our sins are blotted out. Secondly, Jesus not only cleared us of all our sins – He also made us acceptable to the Father by His sacrifice. Now here is David Wilkerson’s warning to us.

“Yet I must add there is a deadly doctrine in Christian circles today that offers believers a false security. This teaching says you are made the righteousness of Christ no matter how you live in the flesh. Many Christians today run around doing as they please – cheating, fornicating, living carelessly and sinning at will. They boast, “No sweat – I am the righteousness of God in Christ. His blood covers all my past, present or future sins.” These people are being deceived: No one can be justified who continues in sin and rebellion. We are “made the righteousness of God in Him” when we honestly repent and humble ourselves before Him. Yes, Jesus was raised for our justification and He becomes our righteousness. But forgiveness and justification are offered to those who choose to turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God. These things are not imputed to us or accounted ours until we repent, turn from our wicked ways, and believe and obey God. ***

***David Wilkerson, World Challenge Inc., P.O. Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771

Not a sermon, just a thought!