Friends in Christ Message for December 20, 2014

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Friends in Christ Weekly Message
December 20, 2014

[NOTE: This message was originally published December 21, 2002.]

Praise God! He can make you strong by means of my good news, which is the message about Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:25 (CEV*)

We have limited control over our circumstances in the world. We may not be among those the world considers powerful and strong. The Christian is not promised that. But we are given a strength that the world doesn't understand.

We can suffer poverty, the death of loved ones, illness, betrayal, persecution, and many other things. But if we focus on the good news of Jesus Christ, we will find ourselves strengthened to get through all we face. We realize that the love and grace of God through Christ Jesus is much stronger than all the things we may suffer. Instead of being overcome by setbacks and pain, we live in the reality of Christ's overcoming love.

In this, Paul tells the Christians in Rome to praise God. You may have noticed that praise figures in a large number of my messages. That is because it is a major Biblical theme, repeated over and over. In fact, it is part of what enables us to stay strong. If, no matter what the circumstances, we keep praising God, we connect ourselves with the source of all true strength. We need to stay plugged in!

In the coming days, the Christian church focuses on Jesus coming into the world as a human. He was the child of an unwed mother, born in the most humble of circumstances. But he became the hope of the world. He seeks to live in you. Welcome Him in, and live in the strength of His love, grace and power. Have a Blessed Christmas.

Bill Samuel