Religion

A preacher once said, "My people believe the gospel, but many of them don't behave the gospel."
Admiring truth is not enough. Doctrine and duty ought to go side-by-side. Belief and behavior should never be separated. Our lives must match our profession if we are to make an impression upon a lost world in our day.
Every great doctrine of the Bible makes a practical demand upon our lives. If we say we believe the doctrines, then we need to obey them.

Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never harm me.
Have you ever heard that quoted? Well, don’t believe it.  
Hurtful words can cut to the very core of a person. From tabloid newspapers, forums on the Internet, even at church we are almost universally drawn to listen to or pass on the latest juicy tidbit about so-and-so’s divorce, extramarital affairs or just to rip the heart out of someone.  

Many people feel disappointed with life. They search for fulfilment and satisfaction, only to find emptiness and disappointment. In despair some turn to alcohol, drugs and even suicide.

Why is all this so? Most of the time it is because they have not found what most want in life - love and acceptance, meaning and purpose. Many bars have "happy hours." If truthful, they would call it "the unhappy hour." Everyone present is not happy. Some are trying to fill a void in their life. Fame, success and money can't satisfy the deep longings in the heart.

We have just finished an eventful year. There are things we want to discard in the wastebasket, forget and move on into 2011. But there are some things we want to hold on to and make a part of this new year. I want to mention three of those truths.
God knows you and you are important to God. We may not feel important to God or anyone else. Our lives may not seem to have any purpose. Don’t you think the shepherds on the hillside in Bethlehem may have felt that way? Mary may have felt insignificant before the angel announced to her she was to bear the son of God.