Everyone likes to feel a little special, and you should. Have you stopped to think how special you are? It is not that your mother thinks you are special. It’s not that your spouse thinks you are special, if you are married. It’s not that others think you are special. It is that God thinks you are special. He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for your sins—in your place. If you have been baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38), you are a child of God (Romans 8:16-17). In addition, He chose you through Jesus His Son to serve in His holy priesthood. You belong to Him. 

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  1 Peter 2:9 ESV 

Don't let Satan seduce you into staining your garments today. You are special as you wear your holy garments before God! 

***

There are advertisements encouraging people to quit smoking. I saw one that stated, “I’ll quit when cigarettes are $?? a pack.” The point is that when the cost is enough, one will quit smoking. There is something here that is overlooked, however. For many, the real cost of smoking may be life. 

There is a great spiritual application. If one would make every attempt at putting away the habit of smoking when the cost gets great enough, how about sin. The real cost of sin is far greater than that of smoking. Sin can destroy your life on this earth, and it certainly destroys your spiritual life in eternity. 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 ESV 

When we realize the true cost of sin, we should make every attempt to no longer live in sin. On the flip side, there is a free gift awaiting us, one that cannot be bought by anything we can pay. It is free to us, however, because our Lord paid the price for us (1 Peter 1:18-19).

***

Water is a precious commodity in the desert, and a great quantity is needed for such a large and active city as Las Vegas. You would be amazed how many different processes the water goes through to make sure it is pure and acceptable for use. Certainly, we want our drinking water to be pure from contaminants. 

We were purified by the blood of Jesus when we were baptized into Christ (Acts 22:16). Now, as Christians, we should be diligent about keeping our lives pure. 

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.  1 John 3:2-3 ESV 

Determine to live a pure life today. Keep your thoughts and your actions pure before God. The Lord could come tomorrow. 

 

TLM

Sermon Outlines

Printable PDF Version

The New Birth	What About the Resurrection	A Way of Life
It Is a Tight Squeeze	The Day I Die	You Can Make a Difference
Equipping the Saints to Bear One Another's Burdens	I'll Do It Myself	Why Should We Preach...
Jesus Christ: The Prince of Peace	The Good Shepherd	What Is Fellowship?
I have Found the Book	How the O.T. Helps Us Today	Motivation for Christian Living
The Faith to Endure	The Bases of Fellowship in Jesus	The God that Sees
The Humility of Jesus	Jesus: The Great I AM	Committment in Marriage
Jesus' Passion for the Lost	When Time Ends	A Seperate People
Christians Are Special	Who Is Satan Part I?	You Have no Right to Judge!
Why Be a Leader?	Developing Wise Leaders	The Mighty One of Jacob
Who Is Satan Part II?	Feelings Felt by a Suffering Servant	Why Are There So Many Churches?
Value of Fellowship with Deity	I'm too Young	Running the Race of Christian Faith
Made in the Image of God	Is the Bible You Use Reliable? Parts 1 & 2	Is the Bible You Use Reliable? Parts 3
Healing from Hurt	Inherited Sin	How They Viewed Jesus
Why Do We Believe Jesus Is the Christ?	Why We Believe in One Faith?	The Thief on the Cross