Family Focused
Pembroke First Baptist’s mission is to minister to the whole family.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Col 3:12
I am reminded of a strategy that I learned many years ago, “Dress for success.” The strategy was an encouragement to prepare for the outcome that you most desired. The strategy begins with preparing yourself with the right attitude. The scripture passage reminds us to prepare for our encounter with God and with others. For the child of God, each day is a new day because God’s mercies are new each day (Lam 3:23). The strategy for success in the life of the child of God is to “put on” the garments of God and be clothed in the love of Jesus Christ “as the elect of God, holy ad beloved.” Arise each day and put on “the helmet of salvation” and arm yourself in the word of God (Eph 6:17), that you may succeed in the battles and challenges that lie ahead. Setbacks and defeats come upon the child of God when we are least prepared. So, my dear friend, start out today prepared to defeat the attacks of Satan and combat the attacks of his demonic forces and diversions for evil. “Put on the whole armour of God” (Eph 6:11) that you may be about the Father’s business and conduct the holy operations of our Divine Commander. We are dressed and equipped by the Holy Spirit to conduct and carry out the divine maneuvers of His will with “bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” that “whatsoever we do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Eph 3:17). Dear friend, dress for success today, put on the whole armour of God in the spirit of His love, that His peace and His power may work fervently and effectively through you (1 Pet 1:22). Father thank You for Your love. Help me to begin each day with You, dressed and prepared in Your love, which is the bond of true success (Col 3:14). In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor 10:13
But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name. Jn 1:12
I pray that you had a wonderful day of worship with your local church on the Lord’s Day. Have you heard the saying, “Get busy and get busy doing something?” I believe we all battle that type of urge from time to time. It’s an urge tells us that things are not as good as they can be. It seems to come from a sense that things are not perfect, nor complete, or that something can be improved upon. When that line of thinking is allowed to creep into our spirit, we become unsettled, distracted, and dissatisfied. The peace and rest that is given has yet to be fully realized. The scripture passage reminds us that God has settled all our sin account through Jesus “to become sons of God.” That is a message for every child of God. God loves you and gave His Son for you (Jn 3:16) that you might know Him as His beloved child (Jn 17:3). Have you accepted God’s love completely or do you find yourself trying to gain God’s greater approval? When Jesus declared on the cross “It is finished” (Jn 19:30), God’s plan of salvation, His forgiveness of sin, and His eternal love were made perfectly perfect and completely complete for all “that believe on His Name.” God’s not looking at what we can do, He’s looking at who we are in Him. Everything outside of the finished work of Jesus is nothing. Everyone who starts at the foot of the cross, empty handed, “them gave He power to become sons of God.” The child of God is sealed with His guarantee, filled with His Spirit, and given “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Phil 4:7) to know and enjoy the true purpose He has for His children. That true purpose is to know Him, to worship Him, and work with Him, not work for Him. He desires to work in you and through you (Phil 2:13). Dear friend, stop striving and doing in your own strength that pleases you, but receive Him and His power that you may rest in His grace. Actively wait where God is working. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). Actively waiting is to actively engage, while being sensitive and led by the Holy Spirit. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). Father thank You for Your love and the finished work of Jesus Christ. Remind me to rest and rely completely in Him. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.