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Does God love you and me no matter what is going on in our lives?
Without a doubt, I believe He does! How do I know? Romans 8:31-39 tells me so. Here is a simple synopsis/summary of Paul’s thoughts in this beloved, biblical passage. VERSE 31. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” could be translated if God is for me, everybody else might as well be! Amen to that! VERSE 32. God loved us so much that He did not spare His only Son. No matter what is going on in our life, He freely gives you and me all things because He did not withhold His Son Jesus. VERSES 33-34. Jesus died, is risen from the dead, seated at the right hand of God and intercedes (prays) for you and me. Jesus loves us and prays for us. What a prayer partner we have in Jesus! VERSES 35-36. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” No matter if tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword, or if Christ’s followers are like sheep to be slaughtered (not a good thought) none of these things will separate us from Jesus’ love! VERSES 37-39. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Jesus’ love causes us to be super-duper conquerors, victors, champions no matter what happens in life. You and I always win and win big in Him! Paul personally declared “I am convinced, persuaded, that neither death or life, or angels, or principalities, or things present, or things to come, or powers, or height, or depth or any other created things SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” Did you catch what Paul said in this passage? The apostle of grace was convinced that God is for us. God is with us. God takes care of us. Nothing, absolutely nothing, no matter what happens in life, can separate us from God’s love. John tells in I John 4:16 “GOD IS LOVE.” One word, love, describes the nature and character of God. He loves because He is love. Our Father in heaven loves us period! No conditions or circumstances in life can separate you and me from His love. That is good news! God’s love is a “no matter what” proposition. His love is unconditional. “No matter what” means whatever circumstances we may face, God’s love is inseparable to us. Constant. Ever present. Ever reaching. The same. Always ministering to our needs. Jeremiah writes “The Lord appeared to Him from far away, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” Jeremiah 31:3. Everlasting, never ending love from God, even when we feel He is far away, is His promise to us. The Lord draws us to His heart of love no matter what is happening at the time in our life. Oswald Chambers wrote “An extraordinary thing happens to a man who holds on to the love of God when the odds are all against God’s character. Logic is silenced in the face of every one of these things (Romans 8:31-39). Only one thing can account for it, the love of God in Christ Jesus.” So, what are you going to do when “no matter what” comes knocking on your door? May I suggest the following.
Nothing includes stumbling, fumbling life’s ball, tumbling because of sin, setbacks, failures, disappointments, embarrassment, guilt, shame and any other “no matter what” thing we may experience in our personal life, God’s love has us covered. I love what Peter says about love in I Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” Love covers (never is a cover-up) because it is God’s love. Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate you and me from the love of God in Christ Jesus!!!!!! Are you personally persuaded like Paul that absolutely nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ? “I love Thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3 A Word For Your Week: “No matter what” God loves you, yes you, today! January 9, 1973. I enlisted in the United States Navy.
I spent four years as a Hospital Corpsman, caring for the medical needs of sailors and Marines during the Viet Nam war. - First stop of my all expenses paid journey with Uncle Sam: boot camp. The Naval Training Center was in San Diego, California. Upon arrival, I and other fresh recruits were unceremoniously welcomed by a meaner-than-a- snake, screaming at the top of his lungs drill sergeant, calling us things I cannot repeat here! Civilian clothes were quickly confiscated. 1960-70’s style mustaches, beards, long hair and anything else that looked hippy-ish was shaved off. Bald as a billiard ball and in shock, I and my new GI buddies looked like aliens from a galaxy far, far away! Then, accompanied by more yelling about our mothers, each of us were assigned guard duty. Our names were put on a watch list for two hour shifts in the middle of the night on a watchtower. Intimidated to the max by our new “mother” I and my shocked wanna-be-sailors wondered what in the world are we going to guard? San Diego of course. Boot camp for sure. Really? Me, with a fake rifle, was going to hold off an enemy invasion? Who in the world would want to conquer boot camp anyway? I remember thinking as I walked around watching for the enemy from my watchtower post, struggling to stay awake, “What is the purpose of this exercise? Military. Guard duty. Watchtowers. Being on watch is vital to security. New recruits like me ts could very well be in a warzone soon. Vietnam was still a raging, dangerous battle zone. Right up front we learned the importance of being watchmen on watch towers. Watching. Observing. Guarding. Warning the troops if the enemy was preparing to attack. A soldier on guard duty is protecting himself, fellow soldiers, his country and his loved ones from enemies. Guard duty, being on watch, is not just about the individual soldier. It is about standing guard against evil that seeks to destroy everything the soldier on guard duty holds dear. In the service, if a soldier slept on guard duty, he could face the death penalty. Staying awake on watch to keep fellow soldiers safe was not taken lightly. Biblically, Christians are watchmen on watch towers, on guard duty, looking out for themselves and the people they love. So, what are Christians watching for, guarding? Peter helps us out. He writes in I Peter 5:8-9 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert (guard duty). Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” Note Peter says to be” firm in your faith.” Faith in Christ is always under assault. Believers in Jesus are to be on constant, vigilant alert from attacks of the devil who is a murderous, lying thief who steals, kills and destroys. Satan is the chief foe of our faith. His strategy is to convince Christians to stop believing in Jesus and to keep non-Christians from coming to Christ. Observations from I Peter 5:8-9
When you and I became a Christian we enlisted in the Lord’s army (II Timothy 2:1-4). Jesus is our Commander in Chief. You signed for as a watchman in God’s Kingdom. Are you alert spiritually? Obeying God’s orders? On guard duty? Watching and warning? Whatever it takes, never drop your spiritual guard. Remain awake and alert at your faith post. Be a spiritual watchman on the watch tower for yourself, your loved ones, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and people you would like to lead to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Watch. Warn. Win in the name of Jesus! “Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.” Ezekiel 33:7 “The Lord is faithful and He will keep you, strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” II Thessalonians 3:3 A Word For Your Week: Watch for God who watches over you and your loved ones. Get ready.
A familiar phrase you and I use when preparing for life events. Ready means being prepared for what is going to happen. Readiness is an important, indispensable key to success in life. People who are ready for life reap its richest rewards. People who are not ready, well, you get the picture. Matthew 26:36-56 records Jesus and His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, a pivotal point in Christ’s life and ministry. Read and meditate on this sacred passage of scripture. I will list key phrases of the Lord and make comments. “The He said to them “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and watch with Me.” (Verse 38) “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Verse39). “And He cane to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said “So you could not watch with Me for one hour?” (Verse 40). “Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation, for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Verse 41). “Then He came to the disciples and said to them “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?” Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Verse 45). “Arise let us be going, the one who betrays me is at hand.” (Verse 46). I read this passage with deep, inexpressible emotions in my heart for Jesus and the disciples. When the Lord needed the support, love, prayers and watchfulness the most, His followers went to sleep. Asleep at their most important post. Jesus agonized about His coming death. Deeply grieved He sweat drops of blood. Three times He asked the Father if the cup of suffering could pass. Three times the Son of God surrendered His will to the Father’s will. Three times He sought the support of His closest followers who were nodding off when they should have been lifting their Master up to the Father. The words “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?” and “So could you not watch with Me for one hour?” haunt my soul. I call you My friends. I loved, cared for, ministered, taught and endured You for three whole years. I am all alone. Need your support. You cannot stand watch with Me for one single hour? Sixty minutes as I prepare to be crucified on the Cross? That phrase rips my heart. Jesus said let us get up and get going boys (my paraphrase). Jesus left the Garden of Gethsemane prepared, ready for the Cross. The disciples left the Garden unprepared, not ready for the Cross and what would follow. As Jesus walked toward the Cross, the disciples walked away from it. Peter cut off a guy’s ear. The disciples fled and hid out when Jesus was crucified. Christ’s closest followers feared for their lives. Only John the beloved showed up at the Cross. When the hour came for Jesus to be taken away and nailed to a cruel Roman Cross, the disciples were nowhere to be found. What if they had watched and prayed? Just asking. Rest was more important to them then readiness. Initially they failed because their faith was not ready. Sleepy faith. Read the book of Acts to see what they learned about watching, praying and putting their faith in the Lord. With the power of the resurrected Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, they turned their world upside down! Christian Readiness
As Christ’s followers, let us watch and pray for we know from experience our spirit is wiling but our flesh is weak. I pray you and I will not let the Lord down by spiritually sleeping when we should be awake, alert, watching and praying. May the Lord not find you and me sleeping when we should be watching and praying for His glorious return! “Awake sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 4:14 A Word For Your Week: Faith must be ready for what lies ahead. Growing up as a child and teenager I did not understand boundaries.
Why can’t I do that? What is wrong with playing in the street? Why is taking a piece of candy from the store without paying for it wrong? Why can’t I stay out late like other kids do? What is the big deal about not experimenting with illegal substances? Why can’t I do with my body what I want? What is wrong about sex outside of marriage? My argument: How come I cannot do what I want when I want for whatever reason I want? The reason: God and the people who care about me love me. From cover to cover, God’s Word, the Bible, is a book of boundaries. A good example of boundaries is found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) “Thou shall” and “Thou shall not” are divine fences. The Lord’s boundaries are based on His unconditional love for us. He loves us period! Which means He watches over the ones He loves. When God erects a boundary, He is saying “I love you.” Boundaries in the Bible are a blessing, not a curse A benefit, not a detriment. The Bible’s boundaries are do’s and don’ts, holy fences erected by God to protect His people. There are more do’s than do nots. Do’s and do nots are good for you and me. Do the do’s and you are blessed. Do not do the do nots and you are blessed. Stay within boundaries, safe. Cross boundaries, unsafe. Looks like a win/win proposition to me! The Apostle John writes in I John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments (boundaries) are not burdensome.” God’s commandments are given, not to weigh us down, but to lift us up. Never to burden us. Always to bless us. Not to imprison or enslave us, but to set us free from our carnal desires and ungodly behavior. Our flesh rebels against boundaries, especially God’s. Why? Because we want to be and do what we think we should be and get to do. As sinful creatures (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:6-12) we want to be our own God. You and I want to call the shots, be in charge, run the show. Almighty God is in charge and His boundaries are immovable. Our culture labors purposely and tirelessly to move or remove boundaries that God has set for our good. Moral boundaries, purity boundaries, decency boundaries, relationship boundaries, lawful boundaries and wise, common-sense rules for a peaceful society are being torn down in the name of human enlightenment. Boundary crashers, breakers and busters who disrespect their Creator and Redeemer are walking in spiritual darkness, not light. Boundary breakers. Boundary crashers. Boundary busters. Oh my, I see them far too often in my crisis counseling ministry. Sadly, I hear words laced with tearful regret “If only I had not crossed the line.” People sabotage relationships by crossing boundaries. When men and women set personal standards and boundaries for themselves and break them, they become conflicted, confused, and overcome with shame and guilt. It a hard road to hoe when we know we have let ourselves (and others) down. Relationally, broken boundaries sever the bonds of trust and security. Crossed lines, particularly moral ones, are extremely difficult to restore. Some people are insecure and co-dependent on others. They know better but they keep moving the fences to accommodate another person’s poor behavior. Then they are surprised when the people who say they love them jump the fences again and again. A word to the wise: when you set a boundary, do not move it. What good is a fence if it keeps moving? The good news: God loves us so much that He sent His sinless Son Jesus to redeem us from our sinful natures. There is no boundary when it comes to Jesus’ love for you and me! How You Can Be A Boundary Keeper
“And Jesus answered and said to them “Why do you (Pharisees) yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” Matthew 15:3 A Word For Your Week: Thank God for boundaries that bless your life. In one of their wildly popular, chart-topping songs, the 70’s rock group Chicago posed a question. “Does anybody know what time it is? Does anybody really care?” This former rock and roll fan can hear those thought-provoking words in my head right now.
Do you and I know what time it is? More importantly, do we really care? How do you feel about time? What is time all about? What are you and I to do with the time we have? Phrases like “Pass the time,” “I wish I had more time,” “Where did the time go?” “How much time is left?” are all too familiar to us. As Christians, you and I need to know what time it is and we need to care. The Bible has a lot to say about time. Search the Word for yourself and discover what God thinks about time and timing. You will find a treasure trove of scripture regarding time. One scripture about how to use our time is found in Ephesians 5:15-17. “Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise; redeem (making the most of) your time because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote these words to help you and me manage our time God’s way. Three wise guidelines stand out to help us use our time wisely.
Paul, who formerly was Saul, persecuted Christians prior to his conversion to Christ. The apostle of grace redeemed, bought back, reclaimed lost time. How? By forsaking his past, exalting the Lord, preaching the Good News and making disciples for Jesus. My friend, time is short in the scheme of God’s redemptive plan. Make the most of your time. Do not waste it. Make time work for you, not against you. Redeeming Time
If you have wasted time and need to redeem it, release your wasteful season(s) and resolve to make the most of the time God gives you from now on. Let go, that’s right, let go of time that could have been better spent. Because “our times are in His hands” (Psalm 31:15) you and I should make the most of our time. Without question these evil days will continue. Therefore, do not be foolish. Walk carefully in God’s wisdom. Make the most of your time. Seek to understand and carry out the Lord’s will. Count your days and make your days count! “So teach us to number our days that we may present to You a heart of wisdom. “Psalm 90:12 A Word For Your Week: Redeem the time while there is still time. There are times when you and I cannot understand why we cannot do what we want to do.
If you are at all like me, I would prefer to know ahead of time everything that was going to happen, why it was going to happen, how it was going to happen and when it was going to happen. The last time I checked life does not work that way. Life is full of blank spaces. Blank spaces are gaps. They stare us down, driving us a bit crazy when we struggle on our own to fill them in. Blank spaces can cause us to bite our fingernails, pull our hair out, make impulsive decisions, kick the cat and do stupid things we may regret. Blank spaces like who am I going to marry? What job or career should I choose? College education…yes or no? Where is my new church home? Desires and plans to become a family. Doctor’s report when ill. When and how should I retire? Win the lottery (more like wishful thinking!). In Matthew 24 Jesus teaches on the topics of signs of Christ’s return, perilous times, the glorious return, the parable of the fig tree and be ready for His coming. If you have not read this chapter lately, do so and see how our times line up with many of the things Jesus said. In verses 35-36 the Lord declared “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son but the Father alone.” Big picture. All of us who believe in and love the Lord want to know when prophecy is fulfilled resulting in the second coming of Jesus and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth. I heard some amens! Guess what? FATHER GOD WILL FILL IN THAT BLANK! I would like to help Him out. My blank space fill-in would be how about now Father? Send Jesus back! I am ready. I want to see my Lord and Savior face to face. Another round of amens! Truth is His glorious return is not my call. Jesus is waiting at the right hand of the Father to receive the signal to go get my kids Son! Common Factors Of Blank Spaces
A blank space, a gap in God’s will can be a good thing. God knows what He is doing. He alone knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. God’s gaps are good gaps. They force you and me to seek and trust Him. Staring at? Struggling with a blank space right now? Why not release it to God and let Him fill it in? Take the pressure off yourself. He can and will handle the gap better than you. Application: Here are some current blank spaces in my life. 1._______________________________ 2._______________________________ 3._______________________________ 4. ______________________________ Blank spaces become filled spaces when we look to the Lord to fill them. I trust you Lord for filling these blank spaces in Your way, Your time, for Your purpose, Your glory and my good. Through the power of the Holy Spirit fill me with faith and patience (lots of patience!) to wait and not worry about blank spaces. “The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Psalm 32:8 “The end of a mater is better than its beginning; patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 7:8 A Word For The Week: Wait on God with patient faith to fill in the blanks. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Boldly and joyfully, the Bible declares God’s Son is alive! And so are the sons of God! “He is not here; for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying” (Matthew 28:6) The angel’s awesome, early morning announcement to the despairing disciples on that first Easter morning changed forever the lives of Christ’s fearful, feeble followers. Paralyzing fear gave way to potent faith. Believing in Christ’s resurrection, the disciples were transformed into resurrection people. Previously powerless, Christ’s followers became spiritually powerful. Through Jesus’ mighty resurrection power, they turned their world right side up (Acts 17:6). The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3:10-11 “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11 Paul longed to know Jesus and “the power of His resurrection”! Paul’s supreme desire was to personally experience the person of Christ (“that I may know Him”) and to live his life with His resurrection power. Paul’s ultimate spiritual goal was to be raised from the dead himself (“attain to the resurrection from the dead”). While journeying on this earth, fighting the good fight of faith, the apostle’s heart cry was to endure and overcome suffering for Christ (“the fellowship of His suffering’) and conquer the power of death (“being conformed to His death”) through the resurrection power of Jesus. Personally knowing God. Daily experiencing His resurrection power. Overcoming suffering and conquering death. Paul hit the proverbial nail on the head: Christlikeness and Christian living is all about Christ’s resurrection power in us. What a way to live…the only way to live the Christian life! Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead provides power for the powerless…. hope for the hopeless…. help for the helpless…. and abundant, eternal life for the lifeless. THE RESURRECTION IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. Without resurrection, death rules and reigns. Resurrection destroys the power of death…. and life reigns! How about you? What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to you? Are you living your life according to the power of His resurrection? Do you experience spiritual power on a daily basis? Does resurrection power empower you to overcome life’s difficulties and live a victorious Christian life? Christians are resurrection people with resurrection power for resurrection living! Here are some thoughts worth meditating upon regarding Christ’s resurrection power.
Considering the above truths, how can we possibly live powerless lives when the power of Christ’s resurrection is available to us every day? Think about it. If I am walking through life without power, what does that say about my faith in the One who provides all the power I need to overcome through His resurrection from the dead? Fellow Christian, we are alive in Christ! You and I are powerful persons. Filled and empowered with resurrection power! His power! Formidable, life-changing spiritual power for overcoming life’s trials and witnessing successfully for Him. Resurrection people should live productive, powerful lives, not pitiful, powerless ones. Away then with powerless lives and non-productive living! Do not be pushed around by life. Never allow thoughts of despair, defeat, disaster, destruction or death to trouble you. YOU ARE ALIVE IN CHRIST AND HAVE POWER OVER DEATH! So boldly lay hold of Christ’s resurrection power…. and His power will lay hold of you. Settle for nothing less than a powerful, productive life in Christ that is powered by His resurrection. Rise up today in resurrection power as a resurrection person and bring resurrection life to people who need the Lord. Glory to God for Christ’s resurrection power! “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” I Peter 1:3 A Word For Your Week: Live your life with resurrection power. God’s holy, eternal, authoritative Word is revealed in the Bible.
Preachers of the Good News love to preach. There is nothing like preaching the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I have always said that if a preacher cannot preach the resurrection, he can’t preach! In the past I preached a message at Easter entitled “Good News From The Graveyard.” I shared with the congregation that Easter emphatically declares that you can put Truth in a tomb but you cannot keep Him there! An angel of the Lord, bright as lightning, sat on the stone at the opening of the once sealed and guarded tomb of Jesus. Grinning from ear to ear, the heavenly messenger told the two Mary’s who had come to look at the grave that “Jesus whom you seek is not here. He has risen, just like He said he would! (Matthew 28:1-8). JESUS WAS ALIVE! Hearing this glad announcement and having collected their spiritual and emotional senses, the women “with fear and great joy” went to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive and they would see their Master soon. Good news from bad news! The tragedy of Golgotha turned into the triumph of the graveyard. Crucifixion became resurrection. Death gave way to life. A huge stone, Roman seal, squad of soldiers, religious hypocrites, Satan, sin and death could not hold Jesus back! Jesus is risen, and guess what, all who believe in Him are too! Paul writes in I Corinthians 6:14 “Now God has not only raised the Lord but will also raise us up through His power.” I Corinthians 6:14 Paul declares that not only has God raised the Lord, but He raises us up also! How? Through “His power.” The very same power of the Holy Spirit that resurrected His Son Jesus resurrects us. Absolutely amazing and totally true! Because He lives, we live! Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, His power is our power. The supernatural power that raised Jesus from the dead raises us up to abundant and eternal life! Hallelujah! IT’S A BIBLICAL FACT: Christians are resurrection people because of the resurrection power of Christ. Do you realize if you call yourself a follower of Christ that you have been raised from sin, death and the grave just like Jesus was? You are not dead in trespasses and sin. You are alive in Christ! The redemption He purchased for you through the shedding of His precious blood on the Cross and Jesus’ powerful resurrection from the tomb means you and I are resurrected too! Glory to God! Therefore, as resurrection people with resurrection power nothing can hold us back either. Heaven shouted and hell shook when Jesus rose again. Heaven shouts and hell shakes when we rise up in faith and live for Him! Knowing this, is your life a vibrant and influential witness of resurrection power? Is your Christian testimony and lifestyle one of power and victory? It should be. Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that His followers (that is us) would receive power through the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses throughout the world. What kind of witnesses? Dynamite ones! The Greek word for power is dunamis and means dynamite. Shaking things up is what dynamite does! Dunamis is resurrection power. There is no place for powerless Christianity. How do we know? THE RESURRECTION!!! There is an empty tomb in Jerusalem where Jesus once laid for three days. But on the third day, just as the Lord said He would, Jesus rose in power and glory to never die again. The Living Savior walked out of that tomb and walks into our hearts when we receive Him by faith! As a resurrection person with resurrection power through Jesus Christ: · I am powerful, not powerless! · I am whole, not broken! · I am victorious, not a victim! · I am above, not beneath! · I am the head, not the tail! · I am unbeatable, undefeatable! · I am a winner, never a loser! · I am headed for heaven, not hell! · I am not dead but alive forevermore in Christ! How about a loud shout of praise and thanksgiving for resurrection power to live triumphantly and joyfully for the Lord and the Kingdom of God? My brothers and sisters in Christ, live your life with vibrant, confident faith in the power of the resurrected person of Jesus Christ. “That I may know Him and the POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His suffering, being conformed to His death, that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11 “And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 A Word For Your Week: Tap daily into His resurrection power and be His resurrection person. “It is finished.”
God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, uttered these three last words as He voluntarily and sacrificially died on the Cross (John 19:30). We humans tend to pay attention to and give homage to people’s last words. We memorialize and even immortalize “famous” final words. As Christians, I believe you and I should humbly, reverently, thankfully and joyfully acknowledge the last words of Jesus which are the greatest last words of all time. This week set apart some time to read the account of Christ’s crucifixion in all four Gospels (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). Meditate upon the narrative of Jesus’ last moments. Ask the Holy Spirit to renew within you a fresh understanding of what really happened when the Lord declared “It is finished.” “It is finished” meant mission accomplished. Jesus, committed to do His Father’s will, came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). That’s you, me and all who choose to believe in Him. What was finished? Salvation. Atonement. Redemption. Forgiveness for our sins. A reconciled, restored relationship with our Father in heaven. What happened that memorable day on the Cross on a mount named Golgotha monumentally changed human history for time and eternity As Jesus suffered on the Cross, being in unimaginable physical, mental and emotional agony, His wounds pouring out His precious life blood, the boisterous, devil inspired, disrespectful, irreverent crowd at Calvary, led by the religious hypocrites, trash-talked, taunted and mocked Jesus. If you are the Son of God, come down off the cross. Look, He saved others, but cannot save Himself. The spiteful, hateful, heart-piercing words of deceived, spiritually lost men and women only drove the cold metal spikes further into His wounds. The Lord’s response to the abuse: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Forgiveness based on God’s love was the suffering Savior’s offer to those who hated Him. My friends, there is power in the Cross of Christ. The power of God’s love. The power of hope. The power of forgiveness. The power of salvation. The power of restoration. The power of a new beginning. The power of death to life!!! The Apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 2:2-5 “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling. And my message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” Paul’s ministry was founded upon the central themes of the Cross of Christ and the Lord’s resurrection. In the Cross, Paul saw the power of God unto salvation. Paul was faithful to preach Christ and Him crucified in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus humbled Himself to the death of the Cross (Philippians 2:8). The Lord endured the Cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). Why? So you and I could be saved. His death in our place made it possible for us to be forgiven and restored to the Father. That is power!!!! Pure power from the throne of Almighty God! What do you think about and how do you feel when you consider the Cross of Christ? I know how I feel. I am deeply moved with a mixture of sadness and heartache for my beloved Savior and a deep, inexpressible well of undeserved gratitude for His sacrifice for a sinner like me. Where would I be if Jesus had not stayed on that Cross? I would still be lost, headed for hell, not heaven. I would not know the power, freedom, peace and joy of the unconditional love of my heavenly Father. The hymn says it well. “I will praise Him, I will praise Him, praise the Lamb for sinners slain, Give Him glory all you people, for His blood has washed away my stains.” Lord Jesus, my precious Savior, thank You for shedding your holy blood on the Cross for Steve Roll. As we prepare to celebrate the glorious resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead this Sunday, remember there is no resurrection unless there is a death first. Jesus died so you and I could be forgiven and have eternal life. He sealed salvations’ deal when He rose from the dead! The Cross and an empty tomb are God’s way of saying I love you. Because He died and lives, we live! “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name (Jesus) under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:13 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation, to everyone who believes, to the Jews first and also to the Greeks.” Romans 1:6 A Word For Your Week: Glory to God! “It is finished”! Imagine what our world would be like if there was no physical light.
Absolute, total, black as black can be, darkness covered the earth. I for one would a bit terrified if there was no light to shine on the pathway of life. You would be too. Thank God for guys like Edison and others who figured out how to light up civilization! On a more serious and foreboding note, the world you and I live in is spiritually dark, becoming darker and darker with the passing of every day. False religions. False prophets. Cults. Atheists. Agnostics. Deceivers. Satanists…mercilessly peddle their veiled darkness on spiritually blind folks. All the above have one thing in common: they are lost souls, walking in spiritual darkness, searching for light and a Savior. The devil is the prince of darkness. He hates the light of God. Ever notice that people sin in the darkness? There are no brightly lit bars or saloons. Darkness is the devil’s playground. Sinful, unredeemed men and women love darkness more than light. Light exposes darkness. When you walk down a hallway in your house, the hallway light will flood into the dark bedroom when you open the door. The darkness in the bedroom does not go out into the hallway and chase the light away. Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, came to the world to bring light to darkness. The Lord declared about Himself “Again therefore Jesus spoke to them saying, “I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD; He who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life.” John 8:15 Light of the world. Follow Me. No more darkness. Light of life. I like that! Christians have the light of Christ in them and are to shine that light in a dark world. Darkness makes it difficult to find our way. Flashlights are my friend. They light the path when I need to know where I am going! Jesus said in Matthew 5:14 “You (Christians) are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Christians are the light of Christ in the world. If I may put it this way, we are the path lighters, illuminating the road to salvation. The crucified and resurrected Jesus is at the end of that road! Sadly, some professing Christians are lights out instead of lights on. Their light is covered by baskets of worldliness, carnal behavior, spineless convictions and deadly compromise that only add to the darkness surrounding them. How can no light or a dim lead anyone to the light of Christ? I am so thankful to God for many, many Christians, who over the years, shined the light of Christ into my life, especially when I was unsaved and walking in darkness. They were a brightly lit city on the hill for Steve Roll. Sent by God, these faithful light bearers showed me the way to salvation and eternal life through faith in Jesus! I would not be saved today if it were not for preachers, evangelists, pastors, Sunday school teachers, Campus Crusade for Christ students knocking on my dormitory door, a faithful Christian boss who took me under his wings, mentoring me about life and Christianity and a host of precious brothers and sisters in the Lord who cared to shine Christ’s light with a sinner like me. With God’s help, I have done my best to shine my light for Christ for fifty years because of those who shined His light into my life. How To Shine Brightly for Jesus
Read these riveting, soul-searching words from the Apostle Paul as he shined brightly for Christ from a jail cell awaiting execution. “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God, above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:14-15 How is your light shining for Christ? Lighten up your life and somebody else’s with the light of Jesus! “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.” Luke 1:79 “Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 A Word For Your Week: Be the light people in darkness need to come to Christ. |
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