Daily Devotional for Sunday February 16, 2014

Sin is Like Quicksand

(Luke 15:18)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, my sister and I were talking about that papyrus found that mentions Jesus might have a wife and I said if he was married, it would have been written in the Bible. She said, King James and possibly others before him, took out some of the books he considered "unacceptable."

ANSWER: First, you are 100% CORRECT. Jesus was NOT married, and did NOT have children or it would have been in the Bible. If this papyrus is even legit, it was probably from one of the SCORES of "books" written but deemed not inspired and inerrant prior to the complete canon of 66 books we recognize today as the Bible in 90ad, or after. Just like today, many "books" were written that were theologically, historically, archeologically, scientifically inaccurate and not accepted as Scripture. Just like today, there were many "cults" that took pieces of Biblical Christianity but added their own "Scriptures." If it is not in the Bible, it is not true!

It is Sunday morning and the start of another week. So many of us from time to time in our lives get caught up in a rebellious lifestyle that leaves us empty, hurting, knowing what we must do . . . but not doing it. It would have been so much easier if God would have just not given us "free will" to make our own decisions. Then everything we did would be in accordance with His will and His plan for our lives. But the fact is He did give us the ability to make our own choices, and in so doing, has given us the ability to live at times in total rebellion to what we know in our hearts is how He wants us to live.

Many of you are very uncomfortable reading this Devotional this morning, because it is bringing automatic conviction to you and where you are at in your life. God loves you. He cares about you. He only wants the best for you. That is why He is trying to get your attention before it gets any worse. You see, sin is like quicksand, the longer you are it, the deeper you get, and the more difficult it is to get out. Many of you were not in church Sunday because the things in your life have so separated you from God, that you can't even be near His presence. Like Adam after his sin in the garden, you are hiding.

SIN IS LIKE QUICKSAND!

Life is not easy, and I am not here to judge you. I have enough problems in my own life to be judging others. But I am here to encourage you. God has made a way back for you today. If you are tired, can't deal with the pressure any longer, sick of the direction your life has taken, the Lord is speaking to you this morning,"come home". Much like the prodigal son who was at the very lowest depths of despair, somehow he heard the voice that told him to "go home". When he arrived, he found a father not ready to punish him, but love him. Not ready to chastise him, but restore him. Your father is waiting for you today, with outstretched arms of love, simply saying to you this day . . . "come home".

I love you and care about you so much. I pray for you today, especially those caught up in some things you shouldn't. You know it isn't working. You know that things are a mess. You are tired of running, tired of hurting, tired of being tired. There is an answer. There is a way. God is calling you right now, to simply "come home to Him". The problems don't go away, the consequences of your actions don't magically disappear. But by coming home, you start to deal with the issues, put them behind you, and become restored into fellowship with your God who loves you, and slowly, see the joy and peace and happiness return to your life.

Trust Him today, and "go home". I love you and will be praying for you!!!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller