Sunday Rewind: This Important Message

During our Thursday night poker tournament, we had a chat with a man about messages. He said there's no other message than the one about Jesus. We said there are many messages out there. We're actually both right -- but looking at things from a different perspective.

The way you play a poker hand sends a message. You could "limp" with a big hand -- simply calling other people's bets as if you don't have much, but laying low until the time is right to strike. We were burned on this in an online game Saturday night. We kept betting with Aces and 2's for two pair, while a man kept calling with a third 2 hidden away.

Or you could bet big right away. Sometimes that's setting up a bluff, but sometimes not. This burned us Saturday night as well. We bet into a pot with Q-Q, then someone pushed all-in before the flop. We called it in hope -- only to discover our opponent had A-A, and our game was over.

So there can be true messages and false messages in poker. It's that way when it comes to God as well. Paul warned the Galatians against "turning to a different gospel -- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Gal. 1:6-7)

That gospel is THE one and only real message. "You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news [or gospel] of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all." (Acts 10:36)

For whatever reason, many people don't want to hear that message. Yet Paul declared, "....the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Cor. 1:18)

So it's a message vital for your salvation. Are you listening to it? And if you've heard it, are you living in obedience to it? After all, the way you live actually sends a message to others as well.