|
With the many struggles that we go through in life, it is a comfort to know
that our Lord went through the same feelings and emotions when He was on
the Earth, yet without sin. The Lord understands our hardships and He
understands when we feel like giving up. The Lord knows our strengths and
our weaknesses and He has given us a measure of faith that should keep us
from ever giving up. When our struggles seem overwhelming, that is our
perfect opportunity to remember what the Lord endured when He was mocked,
beaten and crucified on the cross. The Lord Jesus took upon Himself our
shame, our sins, our shortfalls, our iniquities and He laid them on Himself
so that we might become the redeemed of God through His shed blood. (Hebrews 4:15)
The Lord Jesus, God in flesh became a man and came to Earth to save His
creation. That's how much God loves us. When you find yourself down,
remember what Jesus did for you. It should bring you back to a realization
that all is well. It may not look well right now because it is dark and
gloomy and no sun seems forthcoming, but I want you to know that the
brightness that is coming your way will greatly overshadow any darkness
that seemed so overwhelming in that moment. Rejoice in the Lord and give
Him praise and thanks for His love and for His promise that He would never
leave us nor forsake us. (John 17:11) (Hebrews 12:1-3) (Philippians 4:4-9)
I hope this message blesses your heart and reminds you of all the
magnificent things the Lord has done for us.
WHERE WOULD YOU GO...
Where would you go, if you could go anywhere? Perhaps I should simplify
the question and ask, where would you go if money were no object and I was
picking up the tab? You mean it wouldn't cost me a penny? Yep, that's what
I mean! Air fare, hotel, spending money? You got it! Even the most
extravagant of my wishes will be master to your wallet? Double yep! Wow!
Think carefully. Don't squander this opportunity. You don't often come
across someone as generous as I! Ok, so where would you go? Would you
escape from the late winter/early spring blahs and fly to some exotic
tropical retreat to be pruned and pampered? Would you visit the family you
never see enough, and treat them to the time of their lives? Would you see
the pyramids, spy the Eiffel tower, or visit Mickey? How about Venice with
the one you love? Rome? Humm...Keep going, there are lots of places to
pick from, aren't there?
What if I told you that I just found a way to travel back in time? Where
would you go, and who would you visit? Would you join Neil Armstrong as he
took mankind’s first step on the moon? Would you step off the ship with
Columbus? Would you sign on as Leonardo's (DaVinci, not DiCaprio) brush
cleaner?
Perhaps you would rather return to the days when the world was covered
with old growth forests and the seas were full of fish, and “pollution”
was a word as yet not invented? Or, maybe you’re much more practical and
just want to travel back to a time when life didn't seem as complicated as
it is now?
Ok, let's go off on another tangent. What about traveling back into
Biblical times? If you could pick a couple of events to view what would
they be? Creation itself? Imagine having a front row seat at the moment
the universe came into being! Imagine watching the Master Painter create
everything from billions of stars to butterflies! Ok, maybe that's a
little too “out there” for you. How about the parting of the Red Sea?
You've seen a facsimile of it on television for the past thirty years or
so. How about visiting the real thing? How about picking up a starfish off
the damp sea floor for a souvenir? And, what about the fall of Jericho?
Wouldn't you like to be in on that and blow your own horn?
What about the events that took place during the time of Jesus? Would you
want to be in the crowd when Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount? Oh,
to hear those words actually spoken by our Lord! Not for you? Ok, how
about the feeding of the 5,000? Wouldn't it be wonderful to eat a miracle?
Maybe you'd love to see Jesus walk on the water or raise Lazarus from the
grave? That would certainly send your faith into orbit!
Ok, I got it, who of us wouldn't want the opportunity to be there with
Mary, Peter and John as they saw the empty tomb and the resurrected Lord,
the first time? Oh, to be there when Thomas fell at Jesus' feet and
declared, “My Lord and My God!” To be there for those 40 days and learn
from the resurrected Lord -- WOW!
I wonder if any of us would travel back to the cross to witness the birth
of full and complete forgiveness? I 'kinda figure that not many would. It
would be too difficult, too painful. But wouldn't it also be the greatest
opportunity a follower of Christ could ever have? To look into those eyes,
to see that face, to hear those words, “Father, forgive them!” And, unlike
the crowd, we would know that the words were meant for us! Imagine! Imagine
seeing love in action. Imagine seeing God's Son proclaim, through exhausted
tears mixed with royal triumph, “It is finished!”
Well, we really don't have to imagine about either of these last two
events. We can visit them anytime. In fact we must visit them every day!
Why? Because we are nothing if we don't visit the cross, or look upon the
empty tomb. Life is empty for me if the cross I can't see, and life's too
large a cross to bear if the empty tomb's not there! Whenever I sin,
whenever I fail, the cross reminds me of forgiveness---past, present and
future. Whenever I doubt His love, I look at the cross and see His perfect
love already proven, already given. I need to visit the cross each day.
I also need to visit the empty tomb each day as well. Why? To remind me
that life has victory that is full and eternal. Some days, victory is
hidden beneath a vail of pain or sorrow just as it was that first Easter.
But, when I look at the tomb and realize that the very same power that
raised Jesus from the dead is at work in me (Eph 1:18-20), victory becomes
a tangible hook on which to hang my hat. The day-to-day battles may be won
or lost, but by visiting the tomb I can't deny that I am, and forever will
be, victorious in Christ.
Visit the cross and the empty tomb? No need not to. God already paid for
the tour! Act now and, as an added bonus, receive a cruise to eternity!
Talk about your Love Boat! Now, that's a trip no one should miss! Where
would You go?
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we
are -- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
By Grant MacDonald
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
1 John 1:3-5 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that
ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the
Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you,
that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of
Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men
count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
1 John 1:7-10 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar,
and His word is not in us.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: IF TODAY WAS YOUR LAST
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem70.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: MY Life, DEATH & LIFE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony83.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
