The Motive Which Prompted The Gift

                                                 John 3:17

                         "For God sent not his son into the world

                              to condemn the world, but that the                   

                               world through him might be saved."

         The motive that prompted this "gift"  was love, an emotion which some think too human for the Ruler of the universe.  But we are justified in believing that we ourselves are susceptible of love only because God has fashioned us in his own likeness.  Man's love is distinguishable from goodness as having more of the character of personal interest.   And the relations between God and man here is this:   Love here must be understood as involving pity and also sacrifice.   And where human love is often intense in proportion to its narrowness, and concentration, Divine love is all-embracing and includes all mankind.  This, indeed, follows from the origination of this love in the Divine mind of our God.   It was nothing in mankind except our sin and helplessness which called forth the benevolence of the heart of the heavenly Father.  So you see "the gift of eternal life is free!"  The motive is plain; "God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son" (John 3:16)  He took our sins to the cross and paid our debt.  For our debt to God is high; the wages of sins is death, and Jesus went all the way for us.

        Amen!!

Reading: ( John 3:1-36)

                                           May God Bless You

                                            And Your Families

                                                        Minister Robert A. Lail

                                                        The Cross Life Ministry  

The Claim Of Righteousness

                                         John 3:16
                   "For God so loved the world, that he gave his
                     only begotten son, that whosoever believeth
                           in him should not perish, but have
                                      everlasting life."

         A difficulty arises in considering this text.  If God so loved the world, why did He allow the fall of man?   Never was a kinder act in God’s whole government than that fall of man.  For, from what did He fall?  A garden.  To what does he rise?  A heaven.  But how can a loving Father permit so much pain, and sin, and misery among His creatures?  Two keys unlock that mystery.  The first is Christ.  This world of ours was made to be a platform for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. No one will never understand the history of this earth till it is adopted as our first principle. The manifestation of Christ in His redeeming work, pain, and misery, and the sin of this world he carried to the cross were absolutely essential.
         The other key is eternity.  We do not yet know exactly how eternity will explain and rectify our life in this world. We do not yet see, or know how the discipline of this world is bringing out the joy of another.  When we behold all its balanced action, and its perfect unity, and its grand results, I am quite sure that we shall say in of it all, "God is love."
         The promise is twofold; one negative, and the other positive.  The negative "we owe," strictly speaking, to the death of Christ.  Our punishment having passed on to Christ, God knew it would not be just for Him to punish us also, for that would be punishing the same sin twice.  The positive, our admission into heaven, "if you accepted Christ has your saviour and believe by faith that He is."  We owe it to the meritorious righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is imputed to us. And when in that righteousness, we have an actual claim, even the same claim that Christ has, of admission into the heavenly kingdom, because we carry Christ’s own claim:  His righteousness imputed to us.
        Amen!!

Reading: (John 3:9-21)

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                                Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                The Cross Life Ministry

A Man Speaks From His Heart

                                        Matthew 15:11
                   "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth
                        a man, but that which cometh out of the
                                mouth, this defileth a man."

        The Saviour took occasion to show the multitude, that the great source of pollution was the heart.  They supposed that external things chiefly defiled a man, and on this all their doctrines about purification were founded.  This opinion of the Jews was of great importance to correct. Our Saviour took occasion, at that point, to direct not just the Jews but all people to the true source of defilement:  "our own hearts."   He directed it to all with the importance of:  “Hear and understand.”     .
        We must hear and understand, and teach what Christ words say to us.  That what anyone should eat could not render them sinners. The man, the moral agent, the soul, could not be polluted by anything that is eaten.  What proceeds from the man himself, from his heart, that is what would defile him.  Defileth - Pollutes, corrupts, or renders sinful.   Today, Be Blessed, Have A Good Meal, and Thank God For It.    
        Amen!!
 
Reading: ( Mat. 15:10-20)

                                 May God Bless You
                                  And Your Families

                                              Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                              The Cross Life Ministry
                             

Love, The Special Fruit

                                           1 John 3:11
                        "For this is the message that ye heard
                          from the beginning, that we should
                                         love one another"   

         We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ.  This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again.  But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God.  We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love to our brethren is one.  It is not just knowing and attending church with people in a common religion, or affection for those who are of the same named association with ourselves.  The life of grace in the heart of a regenerate person, is the beginning and first principle of a life of glory, so those who hate their brother in their heart, have no hope of eternal life; unless that hate is remove and the light of grace replaces it.
        Amen!!

Reading: (1 John 3:11-24)

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                                 Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                 The Cross Life Ministry

Consider; And Receive Understanding

                                       2 Timothy 2:7
                     "Consider what I say; and the Lord give
                           thee understanding in all things."


         As our trials increase, we need to grow stronger in that which is good; our faith stronger, our resolution stronger, our love to God and Christ stronger.  This is opposed to our being strong in our own strength.  All Christians, but especially ministers, must be faithful to their Captain, and resolute in his cause.  The great care of a Christian must be to please Christ.  We are to strive to get the mastery of our lusts and corruptions, but we cannot expect the prize unless we observe the laws.  We must take care that we do good in a right manner, that our good may not be spoken evil of. Some who are active, spend their zeal in outward forms and doubtful debates.  But those who strive lawfully shall be crowned at last. If we partake of the fruits, we must labor; if we want to gain the prize, we must run the race.  We must do the will of God, before we receive the promises, for which reason we have need of patience.  Let us pray together for others, that the Lord would give them understanding in all things, we must exhort and stir them up to consider what they hear or read.
        Amen!!

Reading: (2 Tim. 2:1-13)  

                                     May God Bless You
                                      And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry
                     

A Child Born Into The World, To Save The World!

                                        Luke 2: 11
                     "For unto you is born this day in the
                        city of  David a Savior, which is
                                     Christ the Lord."

                
        Joseph and Mary were strangers in Bethlehem, and Christ during His life on earth, never visited it, as far as we know.  The record of so great an event, of Christ' birth which was, beautifully written, and it is because, God came down as a child in the form of man, to save the world, but as a Holy event it seemed weak to sinners for a baby to save the world.  But as regards to future acceptance of Christ’s claims, it is not a legend, but the truth of a Holy event.  The only stumbling-block left, is for all sinners to believe, what God's Holy Word Says.  
        Why then, the announcement at all?  Because, whether men gave heed to it or not; and because, recorded, it gave the world understanding for the nature and meaning of Jesus Christ birth.  The glory died off the hillside quickly, but His Glory goes on in the ears and hearts of believers, and every generation turns to Christ with wonder and hope.
        This Christmas, as we read the Christmas story "The Birth of Christ,"  Let us think of the Divine Presence "glory of the Lord"  as it glows through the darkness; for that hallowed birth and life, brought the glory of God down to us.  The appearance to these humble men as they ‘sat simply chatting in a rustic row ‘symbolized the destination of the Gospel for all ranks and classes.
The angel spoke by the side of the shepherds, not from above.  His gentle encouragement ‘Fear not!’ not only soothes their present terror, but has a wider meaning. The dread of the unseen, which lies coiled like a sleeping snake in all hearts, is utterly taken away by the Incarnation. The messages are thenceforward ‘tidings of great joy,’ and love and desire may pass into it, as all men shall one day pass, and both entering's may be peaceful and confident.  Nothing harmful can come out of the darkness, from which Jesus has come, into which He has passed, and which He fills; for the darkness of this world, has been defeated by, "The Light Of The World,"  Jesus Christ!
        Amen!!
                           MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                                 Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                 The Cross Life Ministry
                                                

The Lord's Message; I Am With You

                                        Haggai 1:13
                    "Then spake Haggai the Lord's messenger
                        in the Lord's message unto the people,
                        saying, I am with you, saith the Lord"

        The Lord's messenger's, are called into the Lord's message, "the Gospel,"  by the the Lord's authority, and commission from the Lord's office of wisdom; "His Word."   Then we show obedience, even before we actually begin our work for Him.  Why?  Because God passes at once from the reproving tone, to that of tenderness.  He hastens as to forget our former unfaithfulness, to assure us that when we are obedient, that He is and will be with us.  God's presence is the best of blessings, for it includes all others.  This is the sure guarantee of our success, no matter how many foes we might face.  Nothing can arouse us more than when we rely on the promises of God's divine love and care for us all.       
         Amen!!

Reading: (Haggai 1:1-15)

                                  May God Bless You
                                   And Your Families

                                                 Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                 The Cross Life Ministry

He Came To Give Us Life

                                        Job 33:4
                      "The spirit of God hath made me, 
                         and the breath of the Almighty 
                                 hath given me life"

        The Spirit is the Creator of the World and the Giver of Life.  Therefore; in Jesus came, life- giving  and creating power into this world.  That power which came to breath life into which was no life, came to breath life into our weakness and frustrations.  So my friend we are not really alive until Jesus enters our lives.
        So then, in Jesus there is power which can re-create life.  He can bring to life again the dead soul which is dead in sin.  He can revive again the ideals which have died, and He can make strong again the will to goodness which has perished.  He can renew life, when men have lost all that life means.  As Christmas comes close, let us share our Spirit of Life with others, and help spread goodness joy  throughout God's Creation, now and forever-more.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Luke 2:7-15)

                            May God Bless You
                             And Your Families

                                          Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                          The Cross Life Ministry   

Triumphant Faith

                                            Psalms 27:1
                        "The Lord is my light and my salvation;
                             whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the 
                                 strength of my life; of whom
                                         shall I be afraid?"

        The Lord, who is the believers light, is the strength of his life, not only by whom, but in whom he lives and moves.  In God let us strengthen ourselves.  The presence of God, His power, His promise, His readiness to hear our prayers, the witness of His spirit in the hearts of His people; in these we find cause for that Holy security and peace of mind in which we may dwell.
        Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity?  Surely we do, therefore; we ought to make it our business of our life here.  This we should have at heart more than anything.  What ever we do as Christians in this life, we consider the favors and service of God as the one thing that is needful.  This we desire, pray for, and seek after, and then rejoice it.  Remember where ever you are, you can pray and get to the "Throne of God's Grace."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Ps. 27:1-14)

                                      May God Bless You
                                       And Your Families

                                                     Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                     The Cross Life Ministry          

Fear Or Faith, Which Do You Choose?

                                          Proverbs 29:25
                    "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso
                        putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe"

        Fear!  What a demanding little word!  However; it has the "Hell" scared in to a majority of people on this earth!  What do I mean by scared "in;" well it's very simple?  Living in fear has changed the way we function in our lives daily.  I remember when we didn't have to lock our doors at night or our vehicles, we even left our keys in the switch.  A child could walk to the bus stop alone or to school and not worry about being kidnapped, abused or raped, and there was no school shootings.
        Now we are afraid to fly in a plane because we are afraid that there might be a bomb or a hijacker on board to blow us out of the sky.  Our Country "This United States Of America," has helped so many different countries;  But I ask now, why so many enemies?  Now Our President wants to put a Cuban Embassy here in The United States, and put an America Embassy in Cuba.
        Do I need to go on, or is that enough of fear at one time.  My friends all the fear I have mention is caused by man alone.  Our God tells us; "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" (Proverbs 3:25-26).  We as Citizens of this country must stand up for this country, by standing up and with Jesus and put the fear of God in to mankind instead of fear of man in to mankind.  Let us not forget this!  "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:40)
        Amen!!

Reading: (Prov. 29:1-27)

                                    May God Bless You
                                     And Your Families

                                                Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                The Cross Life Ministry                         
    

One Way

                                           Revelation 3:20
                       "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if
                           any man hear my voice, and open the
                            door, I will come in to him, and will
                             will sup with him, and he with me"


         Christ is graciously pleased by His Word and spirit, to come to the door of the heart of all people; (sinners), which we are by nature.  However;  Christ finds this door shut against Him, because the heart at that point is surrounded by sin.  When He finds the door shut, he does not turn and walk away, He wants to be gracious.  Those who open the door to Him, and let Him in will be joyful, and receive eternal life in heaven.  Be not hasty to walk away from Christ, knocking on your heart's door.  Open that door, and set a spell with Him, and he will change your life, starting today.
        Sinners ought to take the rebukes of God's word as tokens of His goodwill to their souls.  And Christians should take chastising to heart, for God will not chastise unless you need it, (reproof). Far better are the frowns and wounds of a friend than the flattering smiles of an enemy.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Rev. 3:14-22)

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                                Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                The Cross Life Ministry 

          

There Is Life In the Root

                                          Isaiah 65:8
       "Thus saith the Lord: As the new wine is found in the cluster,
         and one saith, destroy it not; for a blessing is in it, so will I
          do for my servants' sakes that I may not destroy them all"

       When a vine is so withered that there seems to be no sap or life in it, and the one that gathers the grapes is inclined to cut it down, yet even if a little of juice is found in one grape, of one cluster of grapes on the vine,  another intervenes and says, "Destroy" it not, for a blessing is in it."  If there is juice from one grape in one cluster, there is life in the root; That my friend is the "blessing."
        God has and will spare whole cities and nations for the sake of a few.  At times in your walk  with God, you may get a feeling that you are so small in God's eyes that He don't see or hear you at times, or think maybe I done something wrong, and you're out there alone; "Think of that cluster of grapes."  God's eyes and hands are upon you, because you have life in you!  Your new-birth through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.  You and anyone that has accepted Christ into your heart, and believe that He Was, Is, and Always will be; Saviour, Lord, and King of our lives; just think how much more important that we are to Him, then that cluster of grapes.

        Amen!!

                                  "WE ARE BLESSED"

Reading: (Isaiah 65:8-16)

                                    May God Bless You
                                     And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry                        

Once You Cross, You Can't Get Lost!

                                          Hebrews 6:4,6
                    "For it is impossible for those who were once
                      enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly
                       gift, and were made partakers of the Holy
                        Spirit;  If they shall fall away, to renew
                                them again unto repentance"

        The first thing that crossed your mind when reading the above scriptures were probably this:  That's not what I was told, or, I read that, but can anyone lose their salvation?  Most would say, I don't think I can lose my salvation, but it's really not plain enough for me to be sure. First let me say, you can't lose something that you didn't work for yourself.  Salvation is a gift to all mankind from God!  I put these two Scriptures together, because that is how most people read it, and that is why new babes in Christ, don't understand and grow toward maturity.
        The way the scriptures are wrote are as a warning directed to the Jewish people who professed to be believers in Christ but stopped short of true faith in Him after advancing to the threshold of salvation.  But it also presents a hypothetical case:  If one could "fall away" it would be impossible to renew them again to repentance.  Because Christ would have to be crucified a second time, and this will not happen again; therefore, to fall away is impossible.
        Let us understand these warnings that are directed to believers.  Believers who have fallen into sin to such an extent that they have crucified "to themselves" Jesus Christ anew, and they are disapproved and will lose their reward  (I Cor 9:27). The warning that we don't see is this; where it reads; "partakers of the Holy Spirit'  which means those being instructed and moved by the Holy Spirit, but have never committed themselves to Christ. That means, you know of Christ and came close to the threshold of salvation, however you never committed  to Christ, and therefore you never crossed the threshold of salvation, because of unbelief and sin; "you lost that chance of salvation."  If all that is written were equivalent to salvation, there could be nothing better. Many experiences may precede and even accompany salvation, but they do not always result in salvation.  Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and believe by faith that you are saved, then you have crossed that "threshold of salvation."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Heb. 6:1-20)
               (1 Cor. 9:27)

                                       May God Bless You
                                        And Your Families

                                                      Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                      The Cross Life Ministry 

                                                                    

Unmindfulness Of God Leads To Wickedness!

                                         Ezekiel 22:30
                "And I sought for a man among them, that should
                        make up the hedge, and stand in the gap
                          before me for the land, that I should
                             not destroy it; but I found none"

        In Ezekiel 22, this chapter, tells us again of the sins the people of Israel committing, and how well they deserved the judgments coming to destroy them, and how much they needed these judgments to refine them.  The prophets were not only deceivers, but devourers as well. They were suppose to be intercessor's for God; however they became unmindful of God.
        Their actions were the same as some of our Church leaders today.  Not only them but the Christians that make up the church as well. They violated the Law of God. They didn't care about the right and wrong in what the people were doing, therefore the people didn't care. They were doing things in God's name, that wasn't in no way in God's name.  They overlook God's Sabbaths, and became like wolves and destroying it's prey.
        God had no one to stand in for Him, so He authorized the prophet to judge the bloody city.  Jerusalem is called the city of bloods, because of the crimes in general were bloody crimes.  My friends, this is not a replay of a Bible Story!  This is what is happening now in our church's, in our own lives, and within our own city's
        Sin makes a gap in the hedge of protection where good things run out and evil things pour in.  There is a way of standing in the gap; by repentance, and prayer, and reformation.  Moses stood in the gap for his people against the wrath of God.  I pray that we all be mindful of God, no matter what our calling, because as Christians we must always be ready to fill that "Gap In The Hedge Of Protection."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Ezekiel 22:1-31)

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                              Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                              The Cross Life Ministry            

        

God's Sword, Has Been Drawn From It's Sheath!

                                          Ezekiel 21:13
                     "Because it is a trial, and what if the sword
                           despise even the rod?  It shall be no
                                   more, saith the Lord God."

        What is the nature of this sword, and the limits of it when it comes to God's people?  It's was designed for correcting.  The sword is the rod of God's Son, Jesus Christ, "The Word."  It is a sword to this world and it's evil, but to God's children, it is a correcting rod, for the chastening of the transgression of His children; and not meant to cut us off from belonging to Him. 
        This should give us comfort in our times of trouble in the mist of this "Hell" bound world.  Our fears will be silenced with the assurance that the sword shall never forget the purpose it was sent into this world.  My friend when that  day comes and when you are under going a great trial;  it would be a comfort to know in you heart, that when you are tried, you shall come forth as gold.  And the proving of it will be; "proving your faith"         
        Amen!!

Reading: (Ezekiel 21: 1-17)

                                    May God Bless You
                                     And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry

The Word Caught Hold

                                        Matthew 8:1
                "When he was come down from the mountain
                            great multitudes followed him"

        None will find happiness in this world or the next, who do not seek it from Christ by the rule of His Word.  He taught during His time here on earth, and still teaches today what evil we should reject, and what is the good that we should seek and abound in.  Our Saviour has given us eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian.
        The poor in spirit are happy.  Those that mourn are happy.  The meek are happy.  Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are happy.  The merciful are happy.  The pure in heart are happy. The peace makers are happy.  Those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, are happy.
        There is nothing in our sufferings that can merit to God; but God will provide that those who lose for Him, through life itself, shall not lose by Him in the end.  Blessed Jesus!  How different are your ways than the ways of this world..  They call the proud happy, and admire the gay, the rich, the powerful, and the victorious.  May we find mercy from the Lord.  With these enjoyments and hopes, we may cheerfully face the troubles of this world head on, with the leadership of Jesus Christ!  
        Amen!!

Reading: (Mat. 8:1-4)
               (Mat. 5:1-12)

                              May God Bless You
                               And Your Families

                                              Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                              The Cross Life Ministry
  

Two Ways, Two Destinies

                                         Luke 13:24
                      "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate;
                        for many, I say unto you, will seek
                          to enter in, and shall not be able" 

        The door to the Kingdom is so narrow that we cannot take our sins, our lust, our worldliness and worldly pleasures in with us.  Our Saviour came to guide our consciences, not to gratify our curiosity.  We cannot ask how many will be saved?  But we must ask ourselves, shall I be one of them.  Think!  What shall I do, and what will become of me?  "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate.  This is directed to each of us.
        Those who want to enter in, must strive to enter.  There are but two ways right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell.  Which ever you choose they both have no middle place to walk now or in the hereafter.  Your either a saint or a sinner, godly or ungodly.  It is time to choose your path into which gate you will enter.?
        Let me say if you choose the wide gate; the way of sin, you go with all your lusts; and earthly baggage.  It is a broad way with many paths.  There will be a great number of people there as well.  But let me ask you;  "What profit is there in being willing to go to Hell!!"
        Amen!!

Reading: (Luke 13:24-30)
               (Mat. 7:13-14)
               (Ps. 1:1-6)

                                  May God Bless You
                                   And Your Families

                                               Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                               The Cross Life Ministry
                       

The Flowing Fulness Of God's Comfort

                                         Jeremiah 17:14
                      "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
                           save me, and I will be saved; for
                                       thou art my praise"

        There is fulness of comfort in God, not just overflowing, but ever flowing fulness like a fountain.  It is always fresh and clear, like spring water, while the pleasures of sin are puddles of muddy waters.  God will own and protect you in the work that he has called you to do.  Therefore; what ever wounds or diseases we find to be in our hearts and consciences, let us come to the Lord in prayer to heal us, and to save us, that our souls may praise His name.  God's hands can bind up the troubled conscience, and heal the broken heart; He can cure the worst diseases of our nature.  My friends I thank God Himself; to have a Father that protects, a Father that saves, and a Father that heals my body and my heart!  We all have earthly fathers that tends to us in natural, (earthly) ways.  But God the Father tends to us in godly everlasting ways!
        Amen!!

Reading: (Jer. 17:14-18)

                                  May God Bless You
                                   And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry                          

The Simple, The Scoffer, And The Fool

                                          Proverbs 1:22
                       "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love
                         simplicity?  And the scoffers delight in
                        their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?" 

        Solomon having shown how dangerous it is to harken to the temptations of Satan, he also describes how dangerous it is when one don't listen to the calls of God.  Christ' Himself is Wisdom!
There are three types of people called by Him.  (1) The simple ones.  Sinners are proud of their simple notions of good and evil, and with their simple prejudices against the ways of God, they flatter themselves in wickedness.  (2) Scorners, proud and full of good cheer make everything to be witty and playful.  They are scoffers that run down every thing that is scared and serious.  (3) Fools.  They are the worst of all, they hate to be taught, and have a rooted dislike to godliness.
        The precept here is plain; "turn ye at my reproof" (v-23).  We do not make right use of reproofs, if we do not turn from evil to that which is good.  Man can not turn by any power of his own;  But God's answers; "I will pour out my spirit unto you" (v-23).  God's Grace is needed to secure conversion.  My friends that Grace is Jesus Christ!  And that grace shall never be denied to any who seek it.  Let us hearken diligently, and obey the lord Jesus; that we may enjoy peace in comfort in Him.
       Amen!!

Reading: (Proverbs 1:7-33)

                                      May God Bless You
                                       And your Families

                                                   Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                   The Cross Life Ministry               

Faith Is More Than Just A Word!

                                         Galatians 3:26
                          "For ye are all the children of God
                                   by faith in Jesus Christ"

        In order for our Faith to lead to Salvation it must be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ.  To have Faith in Jesus Christ means to trust Him and to obey His commandments.  Faith is much more than passive belief.  We will express our Faith through action; "by the way we live!  However; no outward forms or profession can secure blessings; for if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. In baptism we put on Christ, and therefore we profess to be His disciples.  Being baptized into Christ, we are baptized into His death.  So as He died and rose again, so we should die unto sin, and walk in newness and holiness of life.
        He who makes believers to be heirs, will provide for them.  Therefore our care must be to do the duties that belong to us, and all other cares we must cast upon God.  And our special care must be for heaven, because the things of this life are but trifles.  The City of Heaven is God's children's portion of God's Home.  Let us seek to be sure of that above all things!
        Amen!!

Reading: (Gal. 3:19-29)

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry                            

Discover God's Rest

                                           Matthew 11:28
                        "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are
                            heavy laden, and I will give you rest"

        Resting in the hands of God.  Do we really know what that means?  First let me say that "rest" in God doesn't mean that just because you went to the alter or were ever you got on your knees, and said "I'm a sinner, and I want Jesus in my heart, and truly not know what was taking place within you spiritually;  then you will never know the meaning of;  "Resting In The Hands Of God."
        Why do I say this?  Because there are so many people becoming afraid of the unknown, and have heard about this man called Jesus, returning to take God's Children home.  However, they have never heard the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ (ie) His earthly Ministry, His beatings and humiliation and death on a tree like a Roman criminal. Christ came to save the world and He did!  He defeated all evils of this world and holds the keys to Hades.  All that Christ done He done for us so that we could have eternal life; and rest in God, now spiritually, and in Heaven for eternity.
        My friend my question is are you saved can you rest in the hands of God; "Do You Really Know?"  If you are, praise God!  If not, than truly seek Jesus Christ by Faith.
        Amen!!
                             Scriptures To Help Discover God's Rest:
                         Mat.11:28-30, Gen. 2:2-3, Isa. 14:3-4, Ps. 4:8
                          Ps. 55:6, 2 Cor 2:13-14, Mk. 6:31, Mk 2:27
                             Ex. 33:14, Isa. 26:3, Isa. 57:1-2, Ps. 23
                                     John 16:33, Philippians 4:6-7

Reading: (Mat. 11:25-30)

                                   May God Bless You
                                    And Your Families

                                                 Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                 The Cross Life Ministry

                        

A Ransom For Souls

                                         Exodus 30:12      
                         "Than shall they give every man
                        a ransom for his soul unto the Lord"

        Being formally enrolled among the people of God, it would be brought home to every man how unworthy he was of such favor, and how necessary it was that atonement should in some way another be made for him.  God therefore appointed a way; the same for all in order to teach strongly that all souls were of equal value in his sight, and the unworthiness, what ever it's degree, would require the same expiation. 
        The Lord told Moses to number the children of Israel, and after their number, the Lord said; "Then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord." after the shekel of the sanctuary, a half shekel was the offering of the Lord.  All would pay the same, rich or poor, no more, no less, a half shekel for an offering to make an atonement for their souls.
        This payment was meant to wake up the sense to sin.  This should be present in every approach to God, in all service accompanying the recognition of our Christian standing.  Our sense of sin is slight and weak, and this defect is in every human being; sinners and Christians.
        God offers all of us His Son Jesus Christ.  But Just like the children of Israel, we must accept this ransom God has given by believing by faith in Jesus Christ the savoir of the world.  Even though God gave His Son as our ransom;  Our souls have the same value to God as the Children of Israel,
"Half A Shekel" because we are sinners, but He still loves us and wants us with Him in His Kingdom.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Exodus 30: 11-38)

                                May God Bless You
                                 And Your Families

                                               Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                               The Cross Life Ministry 
       

The Stigma Of Disgrace

                                          1 Peter 2:24
                         "By whose stripes ye were healed"

         A notable feature of crucifixion was the stigma of disgrace that was attached to it (Galatians 3:13; 5:11, Hebrews 12:2).  One indignity was the humiliation of carrying one's own cross.  After the beating, the soldiers would escort the prisoner through the crowds to the place of crucifixion.  A place-card bearing the indictment  of  "Sinner"  for us which we ourselves would have carried if not for Jesus Christ.  The death sentence we rightly deserve was carried out on Jesus so we could be free of sin.  Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).
        Amen!!

Reading: ( Gal. 3:13; 5:11)
               ( Heb. 12:2)
               ( 1 Pet 2:9-25)

                                     May God Bless You
                                      And Your Families

                                                    Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                    The Cross Life Ministry           

Send Me O' Lord, Send Me

                                          Isaiah 6:8
                 "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,
                    Whom shall I send, and who will go for
                       us?  Then said I, Here am I; send me"

        There is not a man that would dare to speak to the Lord, without knowing, and seeing His Justice, Holiness, and the Majesty of God; along with not knowing the Mercy and Grace in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing powerful enough to cleanse and comfort the soul, except what was given by Jesus Christ.  "His Life," that He laid down for the sin's of the world; a debt that we could never pay.
        The taking away of sin is necessary in order to speak with confidence and comfort, with God in Prayer, or from God in Preaching His Word.  It is a great comfort to those who believe in Jesus Christ when they hear the Gospel of salvation and receive Him as their savoir.  And It is also a Great comfort to those whom God sends, and they speak for God, in His name; for they will be assured He will carry them through.  My Friends, I don't know about you, However, when I hear the voice of the Lord say;  "Who shall I send?"  I will answer, "Send Me O' Lord Send Me!!"
        Amen!!

                            "HAPPY THANKSGIVING"

Reading: (Isaiah 6:1-13)

                                  May God Bless You
                                   And Your Families

                                              Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                              The Cross Life Ministry   

With Trust In God, There's No Confusion

                                       Psalms 71:1
                     "IN thee, O Lord, do I put my trust;
                       let me never be put to confusion"

        Every day we must guard our self against every form of reliance upon the flesh.  And every hour hang our faith upon the ever faithful God. The more intimate we are with God, the firmer our trust will be.  God knows our faith, and yet He loves to hear us vow it.
        I don't believe, God would put a faithful servant to confusion.  We get our self in a state of confusion, with evil's help, and our cause be put to shame.  But God has no part of confusion, and why would he?  Why would He put His own cause to shame?  There is enough people already out there trying to destroy The Gospel of Jesus Christ as it is.  My fellow Christians we must bind together and spread The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  So get on that road of "Faith"  travel with God, and your destination will end at "Joy."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Ps. 71:1-24)

                              May God Bless You
                               And Your Families

                                           Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                           The Cross Life Ministry             

Let Anger Pass As Swift Blowing Wind

                                         Ecclesiastes 7:9
                     "Be not hasty in the spirit to be angry; for
                          anger resteth in the bosom of fools"

        We must put on patience; bearing patience, to submit to the will of God, and waiting patience to see God's plan unfold.  We must control our passion with wisdom and grace.  If we cannot except delays we are most likely to become angry; because we would not be immediately gratified.  When you face anger, today or tomorrow, and no doubt you will in this evil world we live in.  I pray that you will  "be not long in anger, and let the anger pass through as swift blowing wind.  Never let anger overpower you for it rest in the bosom of fools.  Let us all handle anger as Christ did!  He became angry, but He sinned not.  "Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath (Eph. 4:26).  When we labor for Christ, let us labor for the love of Christ, just as He labored for the church.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Eccl. 7:1-29)

                                    May God Bless You
                                     And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry

       

To All Beginnings; There Is An End!

                                         Ecclesiastes 2:14
                    "The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the
                       fool walketh in darkness; and I perceived
                       also that one event happeneth to them all"

        Wisdom enlightens  the soul with surprising discovers and necessary directions for the right govern of itself, but our sensuality clouds the mind, and it becomes shadowed with darkness.  Like Solomon said, "man's eyes are in his head."  And that is exactly were they should be, in order to discover dangers that are to be avoided and the advantages that are to be improved.
        Yet in respect to lasting happiness and satisfaction, the wisdom of this world gives no man  advantages.  The same sickness, and pain, the same mornings and nights; and the same sword devours both wise men and fools.
        Solomon rendered himself to consider both wisdom and folly.  We must agree with his judgments of the things of this world.  We could never repeat this trial.  We could never have such advantages as Solomon had when he made this experiment, nor could we apprehend it equal to him.  Solomon was one of the wisest of men, and knew that there is a Holy God and that He would bring everything into judgment.  My friends, we have seen all the works of this world; that of wisdom and of folly.  Without Jesus Christ in your life, all your works whether, they are of wisdom or foolishness, will be destroyed.
        The most learned men, who dies a stranger to Jesus Christ, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul in hell?  And so if this was all you had to look forward to, you might be led to hate your life, because you feel  it is empty, and has no value.  "Listen Up!  Make a change in your life right now!  Ask Jesus Christ in your heart, and ask Him for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall be saved.  Believe in Christ today!
       Amen!!

Reading: (Eccl. 2:1-26)

                                     May God Bless You
                                      And Your Families

                                                   Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                                   The Cross Life Ministry
               

The Most Enlarged Thanksgiving!!

                                          Isaiah 12:1
                     "And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord,
                         I will praise thee; though thou wast
                         angry with me, thou anger is turned
                            away, and thou comfortedst me"

        Many Christians say, they have God in their heart, but they don't sing His praises.  With God in our heart; we will sing praises to Him constantly.  God is our strength, and therefore we should give Him the glory for it, and receive the comfort in it.
        If your a nonbeliever, and you first find peace and joy in believing; and to that of a believer, when his peace is renewed after corrections, and to that of the whole company of the redeemed, when we meet before the Throne of God in Heaven;  "The promise is sure, and the blessings contained in it are very rich; and the benefits enjoyed through Jesus Christ, call for the most enlarged thanksgiving that you'll ever be part of."
        Amen!!

Reading: (Isaiah12:1-7)

                                 May God Bless You
                                  And Your Families

                                               Minister Robert A. Lail Sr.
                                               The Cross Life Ministry  
                          

All Things Of Old; Become New Through God

                                         Isaiah 46:9
                  "Remember the former things of old; for
                    I am God, and there is none else; I am
                         God, and there is none like me"

        Many Scriptures and prophecies, delivered long ago, are yet to be fulfilled; but remember God is God and they shall be fulfilled and all shall come to pass.  Nothing can help more to make us easy, than to be assured that God will do just as His written word says.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, sooner than one blink of an eye.  He is God and only He is the one that declares the end from the beginning.
        From the time sin passed down to all mankind from Adam, God wanted to be in union with His creation of mankind.  Sin had grown so strong in the world that God had to come to earth, born as a babe, and grow up around this sin, and yet sin not, because he was the person of Jesus Christ.  God knew the only way for us to be in union with Him, was the "Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.      
       But now it is on us to believe or not to believe in Jesus Christ.  However; if your not a believer you are far from acceptance, but you are summoned to hearken to the word of the Lord.  I say summoned because of what our God has done to show His love.  The Holy Spirit through men has written the Books of The Bible to give us a look into the past, the present, and the coming of the fall of mankind.  As our Lord said; "Remember the former things of old."  God knows our past and our pain and all our troubles, but He is God, Let God take you to a new beginning today.  Believe in Jesus Christ and be Saved.
        Amen!!

Reading: (Isa. 46:1-13)

                              May God Bless You
                              And Your Families

                                        Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
                                        The Cross Life Ministry        

Our Heart Has Many Rooms

                                           Matthew 7:7c
                       "Knock and it shall be opened unto you"

        Our past lives and the path of our present life we keep in different rooms.  These rooms we let very few people enter in with us.  Mainly;  family, and our church family, our close friends, and sometimes we let or just ignore what we call a little sin slip in as well.  Let me clarify that by saying; "No matter what we call a sin big or small;  a sin is a sin" 
        There are two rooms in our heart's that I want us to focus on today.  The first room I call our daily living room.  In this room we let others enter in.  We share our lives with them, some more than others.  We try to bring nothing but happiness into this special room;  However all this happiness and friendship alone with deaths in the family, it begins to disappear.  Than we begin to have visitors from other rooms within our heart: "Grief, Loneliness, Depression, Worries, And Hate.  Even though they were behind what we thought were controlled doors, they still returned.
        But down the hall there is a room that is locked from the inside.  For many years you have heard a knock coming from somewhere around that room.  But this certain day the knock was louder than ever.  You see this room holds the secret of the soul; life and death.  Not natural life or death, but eternal life and death.  The Scriptures tell us;  "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Mat. 7:8).  My friends if your daily living room in your heart is in shambles, I pray that today you will  go to were you here that knocking and open that door and meet My Saviour and The Saviour of the world "Jesus Christ."             
       Amen!!
                    
                         OPEN THAT ROOM TO YOUR HEART
                             AND GET A NEW START TODAY

Reading: (Mat. 7:7-14)

                                          May God Bless You
                                           And Your Families

                                                        Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
                                                        The Cross Life Ministry  

Making A Difference

                                          Jude 1:22
                         "And of some have compassion,
                                   making a difference"

       We must watch over one another; faithfully, yet prudently reprove each other, and set a good example to those that are around us.  All this must be done with compassion in our hearts, making a difference between the weak and the willful.  Some we must treat with tenderness.  Others with fear, telling them, and showing them in God's Word;  what happens to those who are not believers of Jesus Christ, and at the same time keeping ourselves far from what is, or appears to be evil.
        God is able, and willing to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of His Glory.  Not because we have never sinned;  but because, by God's mercy, and our Saviour's sufferings, our sin debt has been paid!  With countless sincere believers, that have come unto Christ, He has never lost any;  "nor will He lose you!"
        Amen!!

Reading: (Jude 1:17-25)

                                  May God Bless You
                                   And Your Families

                                                 Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
                                                 The Cross Life Ministry
       

Know The Real Spirit Of God; Test The Spirits

                                          1 John 4:1
            "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits
                  whether they are of God; because many false 
                         prophets are gone out into the world"

        We have real communications from the Divine Spirit of God, and therefore, there are going to be others, that will continue to pretend to be the true spirit of God, until the return of Jesus Christ.  It should not seem strange that false teachers set themselves up in the Church still today.  Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may depend on the Divine teaching of God's Word, by discernment of those who teach the doctrines of Jesus Christ, from the one's that contradict them.  Also watch for the slyness of false teachers to speak of the world and all it has to offer,  along with the taste of all that's good, in order not to offend carnal men.  The world approved false teachers and they have made rapid progress, with many followers behind them.  My friends the world loves it's own and it's own will love it.
        The true doctrine is;  Jesus Christ and His person, as the leading men from the world to God, as the mark of the Spirit of Truth.  The more pure and holy the doctrine is, the more likely it is to be of God.  There is no other rules in which we can try the spirits to see weather they are of God or not.  The Spirit of God is Love, He that does not love the image of God in His people has no saving knowledge of our God.
        Amen!!

Reading: (1 John 4:1-21)

                                     May God Bless You
                                      And Your Families

                                                   Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
                                                   The Cross Life Ministry

            

Christians Are Not Perfect; Just Saved By Grace

                                          1 John 3:9
                "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
                    sin; for his seed remaineth in him, and he
                      cannot sin, because he is born of God"

        A child of God cannot (should not) sin as he did before his new birth in Jesus Christ, and as others do who have not been born again into the new life of Jesus Christ.  John is not speaking here of a state of perfection in which it is impossible for a Christian to ever sin; but he is stressing the fact that a Christian cannot keep on practicing sin; because there is a light in his mind, which shows him the evil of sin.
        There is the love of God in one's heart which makes him hate sin.  There is the spiritual principle that opposes sinful acts.  And there is repentance for sin, if committed.  However it goes against him to sin with forethought.  A child of God and a child of the devil have their distinct characters.  The seed of the devil are know by the neglect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they hate Christians.  And Christians are righteous before God, as a justified believer through faith in Jesus Christ. 
         A man cannot act like the devil, and at the same time be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  Let us not serve or indulge what the Son of God came to destroy.  To be born of God is to be inwardly renewed by the power of the Spirit of God.  Renewing grace is an abiding principle. Religion is not an art, or a matter of skill, but a new nature.
        Amen!!

Reading: (1 John 3:1-24

                                 May God Bless You
                                  And Your Families

                                                  Minister Robert A. Lail Sr
                                                  The Cross Life Ministry