This week has, and will continue to be a busy one – studying, working, helping some folks move, taking some young people to a youth rally, and on and on we could go with the plans and goals of the week.  Life certainly can get busy for all of us - so busy that it is easy to leave some things out.  Yet, in the busyness of life, I am reminded of the importance of time spent with God.  Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek God and His righteousness first.  The Psalmist said he would seek God early, for his soul thirsted for God (Psalm 63:1).  Yes, though we are not all “morning people” a day begun with God is a day started right – time for prayer, to read and meditate on His blessed Word, to praise Him for all His blessings.

In the business of your life, take time for God.

As I pondered John’s faithfulness, I thought of how all of us as Christians have been given a job to do – to serve the Lord and spread the Gospel, letting people know that Jesus came to save them, so that they can receive His gift of salvation and thus be ready when He comes again. Yes, Jesus is coming again – He told us so in His Word. Although we don’t know exactly when He is coming (it seems to me that it will be soon), the question is, will we still be busy serving Him like John was? Will we be actively trying to reach people with His Gospel message? Or will we have given up, got discouraged or distracted and quit? In speaking of His return, Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

The challenge to us today is this, if Jesus was to come back today, would He find us “so doing”?

But did you know that God started planning for the coming of Jesus Christ before He even made the world? Yes, I Peter 1:20 tells us the Jesus’ coming was foreordained (known before) the foundation of the world – that’s over 4,000 years before Jesus came – now that’s amazing! Once it was planned, He orchestrated the fulfillment of it in great detail as revealed to us in the Bible. Why did God plan for Jesus to come to this earth anyway? And why would He start that process so far ahead of time?  The answer is this, because He knew that sin would enter into the world, and that there was only One who could save mankind – His only begotten Son.  Yes, God started the planning process so soon out of love for you and me, and that’s why Jesus came. Remember John 3:16? Why not look it up in you Bible right now?

As you busily prepare for this Christmas season, pause to ponder the planning God put into the coming of Christ, and realize that He planned it all out of love for you and me. Have you received His gift of eternal life? Have you thanked Him lately for His love to you?

It got me thinking, how many times does God bring, or allow, something into our lives to see if we will stop for a minute. Oh, it probably won’t be a burning bush – it may be the beauty of a fall tree; or the grandeur of a mountain; perhaps the birth of a child; a raise in pay; some other good news; or perhaps even some bad news like losing a job; an accident; a natural disaster; or news on our health. We are often so busy with our lives that we are “too busy” to hear or see what God wants for us, yet He doesn’t force His way upon us, but He waits to get our attention, to see if we will stop long enough to hear His voice. You see, Moses was busy about his day too, but if he had not stopped to look at the burning bush, he would have missed all the plans God had for him.

Is God waiting to get your attention? Will you stop long enough to let Him speak to you? He wants to have fellowship with you, to draw you closer to Himself. He has plans for your life too.

In v. 30, he asked the question, “What must I do to be saved?” He wanted to know how he could have the assurance that when this life was over, he was ready for eternity. Many today seek this assurance, but are told it isn’t possible, or else they are given some complex answer of some religious rituals they must follow in order to HOPEFULLY gain eternal life.  But the answer today is as simple as it was then, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”

Believing in Jesus Christ brings joy to one’s life, for it brings with it the assurance of eternal life.  Then for the Christian, joy comes as we believe the promises of God’s Word, and apply them to our lives – promises of His presence; promises of His provision; promises of His protection.

The Philippian jailor experienced joy that day, because he believed in Jesus Christ, how about you? Do you have that joy? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation?  Christian, are you living in God’s joy by trusting the promises of His Word?

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”Psalm 34:8

Today is the day of God’s grace, the opportunity to be saved.  II Corinthians 6:2 reminds us that now the day of salvation.  We know from the Bible that God will judge the world one day – that day is coming, just like winter is coming.  As we look in the Bible, we see that the day is drawing closer and He has given us many signs to indicate that.  Like the frost on the window, we need to heed those signs and if we haven’t already done so, we need to choose Jesus Christ today, while there is time.

Jesus Christ has provided a complete salvation, He took upon Himself the judgement we deserved, so that we could enjoy the peace of God for all eternity in Heaven.  Have you accepted Him as YOUR Saviour?  If not, trust Him today – don’t let the sad words of Jeremiah 8:20 be yours.  If you do know Him, rejoice that you know Him, then be busy telling others of His wonderful salvation while there is opportunity to do so.

Thankfulness is a good thing.  We are taught to say “please” and “thank-you” as part of our manners from earliest childhood – and so we should.  When a person is grateful, it causes us to want to show further kindness, ungratefulness on the other hand may make us think our kindness was unappreciated and cause us to wonder if it was worthwhile.  So to be thankful is certainly a good thing – show your gratitude to family, friends and strangers alike for the kindnesses shown to you.

But really this special day is set aside for another purpose – to give thanks to our Creator.  Thanks to our fellow man is good, but how about giving thanks to the One who gave us all things?  Some may ask, what has God ever given to me?  The question may be better asked, what hasn’t God given to me?  James 1:17 says, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  I Timothy 6:17 goes on to say that, “… the living God… giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”  Life, health, wealth, freedom – all are from God.  Without God, we wouldn’t even be here, let alone have things to enjoy.  We here in Canada have much to be thankful for.  This is not to say that life is without difficulties, disappointments and sorrows, but even amidst these things we are a blessed people.  Of all the people who are under-appreciated, God must surely be at the top of the list, for not only do folks forget to thank Him, there are some who refuse even to acknowledge Him and His existence, yet, still in His mercy He continues to bless them in many ways.

Speaking of thankfulness, we cannot end this post without talking of that which we ought to be the most thankful for, that is His blessed gift of salvation.  II Corinthians 9:15 puts it well, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”  There is no gift so great, no gift so costly, no gift so lovingly given, no gift so available as this Gift.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16, and again, “…the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.  Have you received this wonderful gift?  If not, receive Him by faith today.  If you have already received Him, you have something to be eternally thankful for.

This Thanksgiving, determine to be a thankful person, not just at Thanksgiving, but every day.  And don’t forget - be thankful to God too.