Jesus Christ is better .....

Reading Hebrews 1 today, and verse 3 really jumped off the page. 

"who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV)

Upholding: Uphold (keep from falling), the preserver of the universe.

All things: in an absolute sense, all things collectively, the totality of created things, the universe of things

Word: declaration of one's mind made in words, God's omnipotent command

Power: the word uttered by his power, equivalent to his most powerful will and energy; ability and strength

Just stop and think for a moment of the power and authority that Jesus has...... yet, He was still willing to die on the cross and bear my (our) sin and endure the wrath of God — I'm at a loss for words.... awe struck.... when you grasp that reality......if you can. 

The power that Jesus Christ has — yet because He loved me (us), He willingly bore the wrath of God Almighty (His Father), and died, so that I (we) can have eternal life free from God's wrath. 

The preserver of the universe, the One who created and holds everything together, the One who has the ability and strength to create and sustain — paid the price for my (our) sin. 

Jesus Christ is better—

I'm looking forward to this morning's message on Jesus Christ is better - than Angels and Prophets from Hebrews. 

You can listen to Pastor Osborne's Sermons online at:

www.faithbaptistwh.org (The Sermons are listed under the Media tab.)

Proverbs 11:23 What is my appetite?

The desire of the righteous is only good, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs 11:23

Desire: appetite, longing for, wish, longing

Righteous: just in conduct and character

Only: with a restrictive force, emphasizing what follows (good)

Good: pleasant, delightful, delicious, sweet or savory, be pure and clean, cheerful

Expectation: things hoped for, outcome

Wicked: guilty of hostility to God or his people

Wrath: overflowing rage, fury, an outburst of passion—anger

It's Christmas time and we all start making our Wish Lists. What do we really want for Christmas? As we get older, our wishes often change. Instead of wishing for things, we know the importance of being together with family and friends. 

When we have a wish or longing, we try to do whatever we can to make that wish come true. We strive to attain. Desire: an appetite that we want to be satisfied. 

If my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG), then my conduct and character will be righteous restricting my desires and appetites to those that are delightful and cheerful. 

Satisfying good desires and appetites brings about peace, contentment, and joy. 

BUT

The outcome of those hostile to God and His wisdom is an outburst of anger. We see it daily on the news—the actions of those who act out on their evil desires not caring if they kill or are killed in the process. Trying to satisfy the wicked desires creates destruction and chaos. 

What is my desire? What is my appetite? How will I satisfy it? 

If I want true peace, contentment and joy than my appetite must be restricted by God's wisdom.