John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God sent not His Son to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
 

 
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
For the Bible Verse of the Week, I would like to read one of my favorite passages from the New Testament then quote Pastor John MacArthur...
Matthew 5:20  For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
 
 
 
Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

 
 
 
 
 
During the last 33 years, I have had a number of close-calls, where I almost died but survived.  In these situations, it really drove me to God realizing that I won’t be here on this earth forever.  It really helped me to be more dedicated to reading the Bible, praying, and seeking the Lord for strength, help, and wisdom. 
 
As we enter a new year, I want to encourage you to take a look at your own life, number your days, and get your heart right before God.
 
The Bible Says…

 
 
 
 
Luke 17:11-19
11 Now it happened as He (Jesus) went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

 
 
 
 
 
 
Pride is one of the most wicked sins in the sight of God.  When we are prideful, we think that we are self-suffiencient and don't need God.  Through the Bible, we are commanded by God to see our sin, turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves before God, and seek forgiveness and salvation through Him.  
 
2 Choronicles 7:14
God Says...

 
 
 
 
Psalm 33:6-12

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap;
    he puts the deeps in storehouses.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.

 
 
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
 
In the Bible, when it talks about "the law" it refering to God's law, or God's standard of right and wrong.  God's moral law was summarized in the 10 commandments given to Moses on Mr. Sinai.  God's standard clearly showed the people of that God that they had sinned against God.  However, there was no salvation in just being "good" because they already had sinned.  God's grace came through Jesus Christ.  
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Jesus Christ is my motivation for everything in life.  He put aside his own comfort, humbled himself in coming to earth, died the death that I deserved, and was raised again to give me new life.  This morning, I was reading one of my favorite Bible verses and thought that I would share it with you…
 
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.