EMERGENCY: WE ARE IN CRISIS

Voice of Truth Press
We see it in our newspaper headlines, watch it on our television screens, and hear about it on our radio stations. Crisis, war, famine, theft, murder, disease outbreaks, and the recent financial meltdown; is there any real solution to it all? What about all the envy, abuse, profanity, lust, idolatry, adultery, slander, and pride? Will humanity ever see a happy ending despite all these cruelties? What about the emotional pain, guilt, anger, shame, uselessness and brokenness resulting from these cruelties. Is there any real answer? Is it revenge? Is it religion? No. Even though human nature takes the blame for much of the hurt and lost produced by these crises, God is still full of mercy and is calling all of humanity to his side. God, our creator, still wants to change us. This is because he loves us and has created us to love just as he does. He showed us the extent of this love by stepping down on earth as Jesus and repaid all of our evil doings by dying on the cross. He is also a righteous judge and a friend that can live in our hearts. Not only does his death give us a blameless life here on earth but it also gives us a never ending life in heaven after we die. So don’t be discouraged when you see others around you misbehaving. Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. Romans 12:19. Instead, allow the love of Jesus to change you and you will become a living witness to others around you. Want to see a miracle? Just ask: Jesus I want this change that I’m hearing about. I just realized that I’ve done wrong. I believe you can do that in me. The Love Movement has already begun. Jesus has changed millions of hearts worldwide. It’s never too early to join. Do you have any questions? Get answers. Visit www.votpress.blogspot.com

What it Means to Be a Friend

Most people know what it is like to have a best friend. Someone who they can laugh with, cry with, and build fond memories with. However, say you were engaged in some illegal activity. Your friend, innocently walks in and sees you in the act. All of the sudden, you and your friend hear police sirens while the incriminating evidence is still in your friend's hand. Would your friend push you to the side, grab the evidence and take your punishment so you may be spared? Most would ask, “why would anyone ever do that for me?”

In all the time that I knew Christ as my Lord and Savior, I am still amazed at His love for His people. In the book of Matthew it says, “

Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him(15-18 NIV)... But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”(20-23 NIV)...Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.(26 NIV)

The amazing part of this event is that Jesus appears to say nothing to the crowd or to Barabbas. He knew that the people rejected Him. He still went to the cross for them so that all their sins may be forgiven if they one day chose to believe. He also went to the cross for us, so that we too could escape punishment for our sins on earth. “Why would He do such a thing?” It's because He loved us so much that He could not bare to see us convicted for our crimes. As a Christian, I am glad to have a friend like that.