Jesus is power, personified.

The question is how will we respond to Jesus?  Will we cling to power like Herod, or do everything we can to find and worship him, like the Magi?

We all have some degree of power in our lives – over our own choices, over our dependents, over loved ones and others in our lives, or perhaps over employees and corporations.

Given power, Jesus and Herod use it very differently, and Herod and the Magi respond to Jesus’ power very differently.  How will you?

The Magi responded in worship and service, and go down in history as first non-Jewish worshippers, first missionaries to the larger world.

So today, with the same history presented to us, we are invited to decide how we will go down in history…as clinging to power, as knowing much but doing nothing, or as worshipping the true King of love and peace.

Challenge: Give some of your power and influence to help others.  One great way is to come to the Original Christmas Party and make a generous gift of toys to families who won’t have much at Christmas, but you can find other ways, too!

Reminder: We have a great Christmas event coming December 14th, 2013: The Original Christmas Party.  Hope you’re coming!

Read the Bible in Sync Today

Ryan Sim - April 18, 2013

Thursday - Act On It - Perfection

Will we ever make ourselves sinless and perfect? Not in this life. Our hunger and thirst for righteousness is meant to be ongoing But this really is God's plan for us. He wants to make us perfect by his Holy Spirit. We were made for perfection, but gave it up. Like a rebellious child who needs to learn from their own mistakes. But we were in such trouble, we can’t help ourselves out. God intends for us to enjoy his care, kingdom again. Made it possible by coming to earth as Jesus, the perfect man and perfect God, and destroying the power of sin and death to separate us from him. He's working on perfecting us, to be ready for his return. He will make us perfect. Open ourselves to him...ask him to...allow him to. To do the impossible. To love our enemies. To do everything else in the Sermon on the Mount so far! The underlying truth behind everything he's said is that he intends for us to be perfect. Become perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect. Become acceptable to him, to live in his kingdom of heaven. Back to Day 1: How do you react when you fall short of that standard? One way is to look for help. Jesus says he is the help we need: “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me”. If you’re finding perfection, fixing yourself, trying to make yourself holy far too challenging, impossible….Jesus says, "Try me!, I’m the way!" He is the way, and the destination. He will help shape your life move in this direction as well…as long as you are willing to follow him. Challenge: Go through the last few weeks worth of examples. Anger, Lust, Lying, Retaliation, Loving Enemies. Rate out of 5. Which lowest? Recognize imperfect, and ask God to begin perfecting that area of your life.

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