Weekend Sermon -- "Do The Right Thing"

       Welcome to the Weekend Sermon. I hope that everyone had a good Christmas. 

     This is the last Weekend Sermon for 2024. It's hard for me to believe that I've been posting these messages for almost 14 years. I do thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to do this. As we close out the year and move into a new one, I wanted us to focus on what we need to be doing as we head into 2025.

     Shortly after Jesus was born, He received a group of very important visitors. The Bible tells us that wise men from the east saw a star and followed it. They came to Herod and asked where they could find the one who was born the King of the Jews. Herod didn't like hearing about anyone but him being a king, so he asked the wise men to search for the child, and when they found him, they were to report to him his whereabouts. Herod intended all along to do away with Jesus because he didn't want a potential rival for his power. 

     The wise men came and found Jesus in Bethlehem. They presented their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. That night, they were warned by God not to go back and say anything to Herod. Trusting in the message of God, the wise men went home and did not report anything to Herod. 

     The wise men are examples to us of doing the right thing. They had a choice to make. They could have played it safe and gone back and reported to Herod. That way, he wouldn't come looking for them and try to harm them. They made a different choice. They honored God and obeyed Him. They disobeyed the political power and chose to follow God. 

       As we move into 2025, I hope that we will all be those who will do the right thing in this new year. That has several levels of meaning. First of all, I hope that we will do the right thing and follow the teachings and the commandments set out for us by the Lord Jesus. I hope that we will make it a commitment to work as hard as we can to obey the Great Commission and tell others about Jesus and what He can do for them. 

     In 2025, I hope that as Christians we will do the right thing and stand up against injustice and oppression. I hope that we will honor the way of Jesus over and above any leader or political party or philosophy. I hope that we will follow what the Bible tells us to do and not what a politicians says is right. 

     Finally, as we go about doing the right thing in 2025, I hope that we will all find ways to make this world a better place. We all can do something to help others to have a better life. We can contribute to making this a safer and more peaceful world. We can work to make sure that future generations have a thriving world in which to live. 

     Let us all determine in our hearts to do the right thing for the Lord Jesus in 2025. Amen.

Prayer Requests

     I want to thank the Lord for helping me with some of my health problems. I am still having a lot of arthritis pain, so continue to pray with me about that. Thank you. 

     Pray for those who were involved in the Azerbaijan airplane crash. Pray that the injured will recover. 

     Keep praying for the people living in Mayotte. Pray that they will get the aid and the help that they need. 

     Remember to continue to pray for peace. Ukraine, Syria, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and Sudan all need our prayers. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week. let us pray for those living in the nations of Indonesia and Bangladesh. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, I will post another message. I may start a new series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.