Precious Words

“Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.” John 8:15-16

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P is for Precious Words, Not Rocks

John 8:2-12

And early in the morning he [Jesus] came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery…

Those sitting around Jesus must have been absorbed in His words.  And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him…. That’s how the enemy works, he interrupts! He disrupts with sin and accusations, and expects immediate recoil at what he’s dragged in.

and when they had set her in the midst, they say unto him, “Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.”

Now, if  the accuser were to display our own sins, we’d be very quiet and careful to speak. But oh, how ready and careless we act and accuse when sin falls on someone else.

“Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?” This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.

The accuser knows how quickly our fingers point. He understands the mind of Eve—the minds of men—our minds—so easily distracted, defensive, and worried, and so easily persuaded to claim and taste that which belongs to God alone; in this case judgment and condemnation.

“But what sayest thou?” All eyes must have landed on Jesus, waiting. All mouths must have gasped, all carnal thoughts polluted with yet more sin.

But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

God’s impeccable  composure cannot be unraveled, neither can His righteousness be caught off guard like some unsuspecting prey! Rather, it exposes all intent and all thought before it is even birthed!

Jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground. Was this not the same finger that engraved the law into stone tablets? Was this not the same finger that wrote Belshazzar’s judgment upon the palace wall? (Exodus 31:18, Daniel 5)

Jesus stooped down to touch the ground that has been tainted by iniquity since man’s first and fatal sin—as though he heard them not.

The scribes and Pharisees waited, waited for a chance to accuse God Himself. The crowd waited, waited for judgment to fall far, far from their own sin and upon some other wretch.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

He lifted up Himself, and spoke words that all of us should hear! “He that is without sin among you…” And again he stooped down. God stooped from His glory, to a temple courtyard, to the ground. And there, with His finger, He touched the dust from which He had fashioned man in His own image and for His own pleasure, purpose, and glory. What did His finger write this time, words of forgiveness? What did He see in the dirt, His own bleeding face, the cross on His back?

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

One by one the rocks dropped! Why is it that I am still holding mine? Why is this lesson so hard to learn?

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?

Jesus had lifted up Himself from the ground on which He wrote—the ground that He Himself had cursed to judge man’s sin—the ground from which dust has been returning to dust ever since! And He looked at the woman! He looked at her as He now looks at us—utterly sinful, lost and condemned by His own perfect law, and in dire need of His grace and forgiveness.

She said, “No man, Lord.” And Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Jesus spoke the most precious words ever spoken: “Neither do I condemn thee.” Can you grasp what this means? Can you? “He that is without sin…, let him first cast a stone.” But, He, who was without sin, did not cast a stone!

Can you see the immensity of grace even here, as He forgives and saves a life condemned to die? “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” How could she? How could she now sin, without breaking the heart of Him who loved her like no one ever has? Her heart would break even at the thought of sinning this way again!

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

We too need forgiveness, in the midst of our own temple courtyards–our hearts! Oh, that the One who could rightly condemn us, would forgive us instead! Oh, that we would stoop to His feet to hear those precious words spoken even unto us! “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Petra O. Hefner

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give him the glory, great things he hath done!
~Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)

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Thank you for reading!

Photo by Kevin H. Flickr

All Mixed Up and Ready to Share

“Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).” Ephesians 5:8-9

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• Only A God Who Judges can bring us hope and justice (and good fruit)!

• Why am I not surprised that THIS was in a Christian bookstore? I still don’t understand commercialized Christianity, but I can smell some bad fruit here.

• And just how are we to deal with the Fruits, Flakes, Fakes and Nuts in our lives?

• Have we checked our own fruit lately? Signs You’re Growing in Grace: A Very Helpful List.

• What if there’s no fruit, bad fruit, or not enough fruit? Could it ever be too bad or too late for us? Could Esau Repent?

• And don’t forget the vine! When Reminders Are More Effective Than Rebukes.

• How about some big sweet fruits? Patience and Forgiveness.

• What do you mean, forgiveness is not a good fruit? Go repent!!

But wait… there’s more!

• Should I ever have lots of extra time on my hands and/or an extra serving of patience, I’ll try this….

 

Speaking of patience, I had to kill that funky song!

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Grace & Peace

“Wow!” said the acorn to the great oak tree, “You were once a nut like me!”

 

Thanks for reading!

Homophones

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” 2 Thessalonians 3:16

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From the lure of a lie
to the ear within
is the hole of a sigh
and the whole of sin.

From the red of a fire
to the blue of blame
is the tail of a liar
and a tale of shame.

From the rise of a smile
to the deepest sea
is the wait of a while
and the weight of me.

From the pit of a cry
to a soaring dove
is a piece of clear sky
and the peace of His love.

Petra O. Hefner

 

Thank you for reading!

Photo by XiXiDu – Alexander Kruel – Flickr

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Unutterable Grace

“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8

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Unutterable grace,
eternity has not time
enough to tell of it—listen,
its words are robed in deeds.

For fairest talk has no heart
and fawning words fall listless
as they have not hands or feet
nor do they know love’s labor.

Lo! The Word Infinite, for whom
and by whom all things were made,
would shake the symphonies of heaven
to be a maiden’s Maker and her babe.

The Author of all love and life
would trade His diadem of glory,
His dignity and royal gown
for a crown of thorns.

O Master! Almighty!
tempted and suffering, yet holy
and unangered—God weeping
a perfect sacrifice for us?

The fruit of life was nailed
upon a tree, its love poured out
like crimson water and like wax its heart
did melt when it beheld the cost of sin.

And nothing moves us except
escalators to some imagined high
as we sly with driest eye His love,
His wisdom and His warnings.

For lack of knowledge and faith
we toil for everything and perish
with coveting eyes and mouthfuls
of sheepish smiles and poisoned lies.

Yet His love begins with us who spat
upon His brow, His mouth which spoke
all life into its being—it was not ever
our merit but our sin that moved Him.

God hung not His head for saints—
not for the ninety-nine who knew so well
their virtue—No! He bled for sinners
black as night and fit for hell.

Unasked for and unsought He died
for the sick and the loathsome covered in
their rotten stench of sin and pride, in love
He wept and bled for His unfaithful bride.

Can she not see this grace unspeakable,
love’s life spilling all of itself—the righteous
for the unrighteous? No love was ever penned
in surer ink as this, blood that forgives all sin!

And will she not run to His pasture
and away from her death and her grave;
will she not enter His garden of life
to taste of His goodness, and live?

Or will she wait ’til all of His heaven
and earth roll away, when lightning tears
the blue from His sky, when all stars drop
and her thirst bursts rivers into flames?

And what shall His just and final answer be
when His heart thunders to her endlessly
self-serving plea to be spared not of love
for Him but for her lust and love of self?

“Depart from me!”

Petra O. Hefner

 

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Joel 2:12

Scripture:
Matthew 25
Joel 2

Thank you for reading!

The Fog Has Lifted: Now What?

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

It was very foggy today. Much of the fog has lifted and I thank God for it! Fog is dangerous, clarity most precious!

“Be all that God wants you to be!” is the call for many this new year. In years past, it was the call that had me bound in fetters of great confusion and painful disappointments. I was to find that special something, to flourish and to prosper, to leave the commonplace and to find my special calling. Thank God for rescuing me!

The fog was lifted–the ugly idol with its poisonous fangs laid bare! The fog’s promised favor was Covet’s insatiably ungrateful child and its god a mere image carved from the minds of discontented prideful men, powerful only in its deception, powerful only in its sinfulness, yet unmistakably dead!

They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Exodus 32:8

Here is something that I’ve not seen until just this past year: The Second Commandment is not a mere continuation of the First, “You shall have no other gods before me” but a stern warning not to lean on our own understanding or abilities. The second command is not just dealing with other gods but a false (human) version of the one true God.

“These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Those molten pieces of gold; that ensuing calf was not just some other god but the gods who brought them up out of Egypt. God was reduced to their human understanding, no longer their Creator and LORD but a creature-created idol. Yes, even today–especially today, God’s words still ring loud and clear:

I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. Isaiah 42:8

But I am the LORD your God, [who brought you] out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me. Hosea 13:4

Thank God, the fog has lifted! Now what? What are we to be and what are we to do? If you’re still searching for a New Year’s resolution, one that is biblical and pleasing to the Lord, pick this one: “Be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15, 16)

“But that’s impossible!”

We’ve just carved another god, one that is incapable of finishing the good work he has begun. We must not do this! Come with me to 2 Peter, chapter one, and see that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

Who makes us holy? Not our efforts or resolutions, but God Himself and our knowledge of Him! We cannot become holy by the pulling up of our own bootstraps, but we can know Him and through that knowledge become more and more holy. How do we know Him? We know God by reading and studying His Word–His true revelation! God sanctifies us by His Truth–His Word! (John 17:17)

Reading should not be too hard, yet it is! Don’t despair, God increases our hunger and understanding if we but ask. And asking should not be too hard, but it is!  Yet, even here, God grants us the desire to know Him more! (Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 24:7, Philippians 2:13, James 1:5,  Matthew 7:7, John 14:13, 15:16, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 54:4)

Let us praise Him! Let us be ‘Holy unto the Lord’!

“On that day even the harness bells of the horses will be inscribed with these words: ‘Holiness unto the Lord.’“ Zechariah 14:20

We are to write on all that we ARE, on all that we HAVE — “Holy unto the Lord!” We are no longer to live unto ourselves — but unto Him who loved us, and gave Himself up for us. We are to have…
holy thoughts,
holy desires,
holy motives,
holy aims,
holy pleasures,
holy sorrows, and
pursue holy objects.

See then, what we should BE — holy. This was God’s end in our election, redemption, and effectual calling. This is God’s design in all our trials, troubles, and exercises; they are for our profit — that “we may be partakers of His holiness.”

See also what we should DO — write, “Holy unto the Lord!” on all we possess. We have no right to possess, use, or wear — anything on which we cannot write, “Holy unto the Lord!”

Christian, is there anything in your house, in your business, or on your person, on which it would not be fitting to write, “Holy unto the Lord?” If so — ought you to possess it, practice it, or wear it?

Would such an inscription look well on some of our costly furniture, fine clothing, or entertainments? Would it? Do not shun the question — but let conscience take it up, examine, and return an honest answer.

We should use all that we have — as consecrated to Jehovah’s service and praise —
our mental powers,
our physical strength,
our wealth,
our abilities,
our possessions
— all should be used for God, and for His glory!

When about to employ any of these, we should pause, and ask, “Will putting them to this use honor God? Will it serve His cause? Will it bring praise to His most holy name?”

All who see us, dwell with us, or visit us — should be able to perceive that we have written upon all we have and are, “Holy unto the Lord.” Until they can, we are not what we ought to be — and God’s end in what He has done for us, and conferred upon us, is not answered.

Brethren, what cause for humiliation, have we! How low before God we ought to lie! What deep and heart-felt repentance should we exercise! Can we look back — and not be sorry that we have been so unholy? Can we look within — and not be sorry that we are so unholy? Can we look around — and not grieve, that there are so few evidences of holiness in our present circumstances? Surely, if we saw things aright, if we felt aright — we would sigh and cry unto God, that He would forgive our past unholiness, and beseech Him to sanctify us wholly — and preserve us, body, soul, and spirit, unblamable unto the day of Christ!

Spirit of holiness, come down and by the finger of Your power — write, “Holiness unto the Lord!” upon our hearts! Enable us, as the effect, to write upon all we have and are, upon all that we purpose, plan, and do — “Holiness unto the Lord!” in large and pleasing characters, such as all may understand!

~James Smith, 1865

Read the entire article here

Will we reflect and not fool ourselves? Will we look ahead and ask for a deeper hunger to know and to love God more that we may be increasingly holy in all our ways? It is possible because we serve not an idol that disappoints but the one true God who is able, faithful, and true!

Thank you for reading!

New Year’s Wishes

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
John 14:27

 

New Year’s Wishes

What shall I wish thee?
Treasures of earth?
Songs in the springtime,
Pleasure and mirth?
Flowers on thy pathway,
Skies ever clear?
Would this ensure thee
A Happy New Year?

What shall I wish thee?
What can be found
Bringing thee sunshine
All the year round?
Where is the treasure,
Lasting and dear,
That shall ensure thee
A Happy New Year?

Faith that increaseth,
Walking in light;
Hope that aboundeth,
Happy and bright;
Love that is perfect,
Casting out fear;
These shall ensure thee
A Happy New Year.

Peace in the Saviour,
Rest at His feet,
Smile of His countenance
Radiant and sweet,
Joy in His presence!
Christ ever near!
This will ensure thee
A Happy New Year!

~ Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

 

For this coming year, I wish you the very heart of this poetic prayer, and all that is dear and perfect in Jesus, our Lord!

Thank you for reading!

12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 12

The First Christmas Carol: A Sermon
by the REV. C.H. SPURGEON (December 20, 1857)

DAY 12

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
—Luke 2:14.

And when the Lord Jesus has become your peace, remember, there is another thing, good will towards men. Do not try to keep Christmas without keeping good will towards men. You are a gentleman, and have servants. Well, try and set their chimneys on fire with a large piece of good, substantial beef for them. If you are men of wealth, you have poor in your neighborhood. Find something wherewith to clothe the naked, and feed the hungry, and make glad the mourner. Remember, it is good will towards men. Try, if you can, to show them good will at this special season; and if you will do that, the poor will say with me, that indeed they wish there were six Christmases in the year.

Let each one of us go from this place determined, that if we are angry all the year round, this next week shall be an exception; that if we have snarled at everybody last year, this Christmas time we will strive to be kindly affectionate to others; and if we have lived all this year at enmity with God, I pray that by his Spirit he may this week give us peace with him; and then, indeed, my brother, it will be the merriest Christmas we ever had in all our lives.

You are going home to your father and mother, young men; many of you are going from your shops to your homes. You remember what I preached on last Christmas time. Go home to thy friends, and tell them what the Lord hath done for thy soul, and that will make a blessed round of stories at the Christmas fire. If you will each of you tell your parents how the Lord met with you in the house of prayer; how, when you left home, you were a gay, wild blade, but have now come back to love your mother’s God, and read your father’s Bible. Oh, what a happy Christmas that will make!

What more shall I say? May God give you peace with yourselves; may he give you good will towards all your friends, your enemies, and your neighbors; and may he give you grace to give glory to God in the highest. I will say no more, except at the close of this sermon to wish every one of you, when the day shall come, the happiest Christmas you ever had in your lives.

“Now with angels round the throne,
Cherubim and seraphim,
And the church, which still is one,
Let us swell the solemn hymn;
Glory to the great I AM!
Glory to the Victim Lamb.
Blessing, honour, glory, might,
And dominion infinite,
To the Father of our Lord,
To the Spirit and the Word;
As it was all worlds before,
Is, and shall be evermore.”

___

And now a Gift from Jesus to all who trust, love and obey Him:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27

There are countless gifts tucked away within this gift of true peace. I pray that by God’s grace you’ll be able to discover them, that you’ll be blessed and sanctified by them, and that they will fill you with joy, courage and faith, as He works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

May this truly be the happiest Christmas you have ever had in your lives!

I will have a small gift for you tomorrow. I hope you’ll like it!

Thank you for reading!

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12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 1
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 2
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 3
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 4
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 5
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 6
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 7
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 8
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 9
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 10
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 11
…

(Nativity Scene Photos by Chris Jagers, Flickr)

12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 11

The First Christmas Carol: A Sermon
by the REV. C.H. SPURGEON (December 20, 1857)

DAY 11

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
—Luke 2:14.

Once more the angels said, “Peace to men:” let us labor if we can to make peace next Christmas day. Now, old gentleman, you won’t take your son in: he has offended you. Fetch him at Christmas. “Peace on earth;” you know: that is a Christmas Carol. Make peace in your family.

Now, brother, you have made a vow that you will never speak to your brother again. Go after him and say, “Oh, my dear fellow, let not this day’s sun go down upon our wrath.” Fetch him in, and give him your hand. Now, Mr. Tradesman, you have an opponent in trade, and you have said some very hard words about him lately. If you do not make the matter up today, or tomorrow, or as soon as you can, yet do it on that day. That is the way to keep Christmas, peace on earth and glory to God.

And oh, if thou hast anything on thy conscience, anything that prevents thy having peace of mind, keep thy Christmas in thy chamber, praying to God to give thee peace; for it is peace on earth, mind, peace in thyself, peace with thyself, peace with thy fellow men, peace with thy God. And do not think thou hast well celebrated that day till thou canst say, “O God,

’With the world, myself, and thee
I ere I sleep at peace will be. ”

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We have been given the greatest gift–the Incarnation–God’s grace through Christ! And from it flow the priceless gifts of forgiveness and reconciliation, peace and joy, hope, assurance… and more! Can we stop in the midst of the Christmas bustle–can we lay down the tinsel, the bow, and the rolling pin long enough to consider what immense gifts we’ve been given? Should we not also share these with others?

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

I hope that you will come back for the final installment of Spurgeon’s sermon. You may be challenged to have the merriest Christmas ever!

Thank you for reading!

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12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 1
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 2
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 3
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 4
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 5
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 6
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 7
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 8
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 9
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 10
…

(Nativity Scene Photos by Chris Jagers, Flickr)

12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 6

The First Christmas Carol: A Sermon
by the REV. C.H. SPURGEON (December 20, 1857)

DAY 6

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
—Luke 2:14.

3. And, then, they wisely ended their song with a third note. They said, “Good will to man.” Philosophers have said that God has a good will toward man; but I never knew any man who derived much comfort from their philosophical assertion. Wise men have thought from what we have seen in creation that God had much good will toward man, or else his works would never have been so constructed for their comfort; but I never heard of any man who could risk his soul’s peace upon such a faint hope as that. But I have not only heard of thousands, but I know them, who are quite sure that God has a good will towards men; and if you ask their reason, they will give a full and perfect answer. They say, he has good will toward man for he gave his Son. No greater proof of kindness between the Creator and his subjects can possibly be afforded than when the Creator gives his only begotten and well beloved Son to die.

Though the first note is God-like, and though the second note is peaceful, this third note melts my heart the most. Some think of God as if he were a morose being who hated all mankind. Some picture him as if he were some abstract subsistence taking no interest in our affairs. Hark ye, God has “good will toward men.” You know what good will means. Well, Swearer, you have cursed God; he has not fulfilled his curse on you; he has good will towards you, though you have no good will towards him. Infidel, you have sinned high and hard against the Most High; he has said no hard things against you, for he has good will towards men.

Poor sinner, thou hast broken his laws; thou art half afraid to come to the throne of his mercy lest he should spurn thee; hear thou this, and be comforted— God has good will towards men, so good a will that he has said, and said it with an oath too, “As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, but had rather that he should turn unto me and live;” so good a will moreover that he has even condescended to say, “Come, now, let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool; though they be red like crimson, they shall be whiter than snow.” And if you say, “Lord, how shall I know that thou hast this good will towards me,” he points to yonder manger, and says, “Sinner, if I had not a good will towards thee, would I have parted with my Son? if I had not good will towards the human race, would I have given up my Son to become one of that race that he might by so doing redeem them from death?”

Ye that doubt the Master’s love, look ye to that circle of angels; see their blaze of glory; hear their song, and let your doubts die away in that sweet music and be buried in a shroud of harmony. He has good will to men; he is willing to pardon; he passes by iniquity, transgression, and sin. And mark thee, if Satan shall then add, “But though God hath good will, yet he cannot violate his justice, therefore his mercy may be ineffective, and you may die;” then listen to that first note of the song, “Glory to God in the highest,” and reply to Satan and all his temptations, that when God shows good will to a penitent sinner, there is not only peace in the sinner’s heart, but it brings glory to every attribute of God, and so he can be just, and yet justify the sinner, and glorify himself.

I do not pretend to say that I have opened all the instructions contained in these three sentences, but I may perhaps direct you into a train of thought that may serve you for the week. I hope that all through the week you will have a truly merry Christmas by feeling the power of these words, and knowing the unction of them. “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

___

If these truths do not break your heart into a million pieces, nothing will! The Incarnation made the angels explode into the grandest of songs. How high do our praises reach?

I hope you’ll join me tomorrow as Spurgeon transitions from his instructive to his emotional thoughts on the angels’ song. I don’t know about you, but his instructive thoughts caused quite an effective stirring within, I can hardly wait to see what his emotional thoughts might do. We may start singing like never before after all!

Thank you for reading!

…

12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 1
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 2
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 3
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 4
12 Days of Christmas with Spurgeon: Day 5
…

(Nativity Scene Photos by Chris Jagers, Flickr)

Stop For A Moment

“Lift up your heads O gates and be lifted up O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.” Psalm 24:7

…

When I was young I often felt  sorry for the one who I thought was murdered by horrible people for horrible people. What I’ve learned since is that Christ suffered willingly. He suffered purposefully. He suffered horrendously, yes, but no one took His life, He gave it!

“I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. ” Is 50:5-6

Jesus offered Himself for the people of His heart–His beloved–those who would trust Him for the forgiveness of their sin and who would trust Him to fulfill all that He has promised. Yes, feel sorry. Feel very, very sorry for all that you have said or thought or done or didn’t do, for all the futile ways with which you fight for your precious ideals. But don’t pity the obedience of Christ–the awesome grace of God!

Pity yourself and those who do not understand how much it truly cost Him. Pity those who have reduced Christ to their selfish needs and creeds and flippant emotions. Don’t pity Him but rather worship and adore Him. Thank Him, believe Him and believe in Him that you may be blessed to live and enabled to love and obey Him.

“it was the will of the LORD to crush Him; He has put Him to grief…” Is 53:10

It was the will of God to crush Him! God did not spare His perfect Son, and you think He will spare you because you’ve been good most of your life? Christ was forsaken of God, His own Father whom He loved and obeyed even unto death! What pain this must have been!

It is not enough to say that “He died” – for all men die. It is not enough to say that “He died a noble death” – for martyrs do the same… He died bearing the transgressions of His people and suffering the divine penalty for their sins: He was forsaken of God and crushed under the wrath of God in their place.

~Paul Washer

God, who has always bent His ear toward the cry of His own people, turns His back on His own perfect and unflinchingly faithful Son! God’s holiness expects much! God’s holiness demands full payment for sin! The cost was great and most sufficient to save!

“And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.” John 6:39

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37

“‘I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,’ declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:4

I’m finally beginning to understand the enormous cost and irrefutable effectiveness of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. The following are excerpts of Paul Washer’s powerful video sermon, Jesus Died.

When you say things like, “Jesus died,” shouldn’t you stop for a moment or… something?

Yes, we should! Do we really understand its meaning, its magnitude, its worth? Christ gave His life and He also took it up again!

Christ Jesus rose again from the dead. And on the 40th day He ascended up to the right hand of His Father, and for the first time in all the history a man walked up to the doors of heaven and cried out…, “Lift up your heads O gates and be lifted up O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in” (Psalm 24:7).

And all of heaven behind those doors are in utter shock and silence and wonder. Finally a brave one lifts his head and begins to speak, “Who is this King of glory? Who DARES speak to these doors? No man has ever dared come this far or lay his hand to the latch of this wall. Who is this King of glory?”

And then all of a sudden the Lord, the Messiah, the Christ, the Man for us, cries out, “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads O gates, lift up your heads, lift them up O ancient door, that the King of glory may come in” (Psalm 24:8-9).

And for the first time of all time, those doors open for a man. He walked through those doors and everything that has ever been made fell on its face!

“All hail the power of Jesus’ name. Let angels prostrate fall, bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all.”

Crown Him with many crowns. This Lamb upon the throne…

“This Jesus whom you crucified, God has made Him both Lord and Christ of all” (Acts 2:36).

Don’t think I will even ask you to make Jesus Lord of your life, that’s the most preposterous thing I could ever tell you to do. Jesus Christ IS Lord of your life whether you serve Him or not, whether you bless Him, curse Him, hate Him or love Him. He is the Lord of your life because God has given Him a Name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee shall bow and tongue confess that he is Lord [Phil 2:9-11).

Some of you will bow out of the grace that has been given to you, and others will bow because your knee caps will be broken by the One who rules the nation with a rod of iron. But I'll not apologize for this God of the Bible.

I want you to know there is a God in heaven and He is worthy of all praise and glory and honor, and He DEMANDS such from you. And He has made it possible in His glory, in His love, for you to come to Him.

Thank you for your time and visit,

Petra