JESUS’ WORK
All my theology is reduced to this narrow compass-Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -Alexander
John 19:30, When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Many people believe Jesus’ ministry was to address the social-economic problems in this world; boy did they miss the mark on that call! Jesus did not come to make you rich, for you to have your best life now, or so that you could enjoy your retirement years! Jesus was very clear when He said “I must be about my Father's business” He was very clear when He said, “Repent ye!” He was very clear when He said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ work wasn’t about some 12-step program for you to feel good about yourself. Jesus’ work was so that men might be saved! Jesus’ work was so that you can have life and have it more abundant! Jesus’ work was so that you and I could spend an eternity with Him! Will you be with me?
JESUS’ WORK ON THE CROSS
No scene in sacred history ever gladdens the soul like the scene on Calvary. Nowhere does the soul find such consolation as on that very spot where misery reigned, where woe triumphed, where agony reached its climax. -Spurgeon
Galatians 6:14, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
In working on a gift for someone special in your life, the gift itself is the summation of what it took to get it. We men are more likely to get a gift card rather than to spend hours looking for a specific token of our appreciation. Many times, we do not know what that special someone desires because we have not been listening to them when they are talking. We are in our own little world, doing our own little thing. Listening to them and getting them something they have been wanting will demonstrate our love for them.
The work on the Cross involved a whole lot more than Jesus showing His loyalty to what He believed, His love for man, or how His work on the Cross removed the stain on sin from God’s honor. Jesus’ work on the Cross, demonstrated the exact need for fallen man. He did not need to listen to man because He saw the shape we are in; vile, wicked, unjust, helpless, hopeless sinners in need of a Saviour. Jesus’ work on the Cross met that need! His work on the Cross was vicarious- done for another (You and I). It is the satisfaction for payment of man’s sin; it involves the justice and law of God, the atonement, the propitiation, and reconciliation, and the work on the Cross is the Ransom paid to redeem lost man. All of this is of none effect to those who do not believe. It is only when a man, woman, boy or girl, confesses Jesus Christ as Lord that the work on the Cross has any effect to their standing before God.
Friend, do you believe? Have you trusted Jesus as Saviour? If not, call out to Him. Then work of Jesus on the Cross can be applied to your account.
THERE IS HOPE
When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God. -Allen
Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
With God, there is hope! There is hope for the homeless! There is hope of the hopeless! There is hope for the drug addict! There is hope for the prostitute! There is hope for the pedophile! There is hope for the Sodomite! There is hope for the bankrupt! There is hope for the sinner in need of a Saviour! But wait, there is also hope for the pastor in the pulpit and for the people in the pews! There is hope for you friend!
I was reminded last night that no one has to face their burdens alone. If the lost man trusts Jesus Christ as Saviour they will never face their burdens alone! Hey Christian friend, we get to tell Jesus all of our burdens! Hey friend, THERE IS HOPE!
BRING IT TO THE CROSS
Psalm 55:22, Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
I have to be in at 5am today but the Lord woke me up at 3 with some burdens on my heart; I am burdened for some families this morning that are on the brink of divorce. I am burdened for some young adults this morning that use to be active in a church but now, will not darken the door of it. I am burdened for some men this morning that have been made shipwreck because of sin, self, and Satan. I am burdened for some women today that have been fooled by Satan’s tactics.
While it is in my nature to want to help and even fix these problems, the fact of the matter is, I can’t. What I can do is bring them to the cross, nail their names to it, and leave them there for the Lord to handle. I can bathe them in prayer! Would you join me this morning?
JESUS LOVES ME
Dandelions do not determine God’s love in our life!
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
I don’t know if kids still do this or not but when I was growing up we would pick the petals off dandelions to determine if someone loved us or not. She loves me, she loves me not, she loves me, she loves me not. Until we got to the last few petals and either we stopped because we saw the outcome coming or we manipulated the petal count to our favor. That’s no way of determining love!
I am so thankful for the Word of God. I am thankful we have God’s Word that we don’t have to pluck the petals off of a dandelion! We don’t have to question, guess, or go to some psychic. We have concrete assurance that God loves us in His Word. For He has said, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
If you’re doubting God’s love toward you, just look to the Cross of Calvary! He gave His all for He loves you!
WILL YOU PICK UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM?
Jesus has many lovers of His crown, but few bearers of His cross. –Spurgeon
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
I heard a story once of a man who had the desire of going out West to search for gold. When the opportunity came to sell his farm, He didn’t sell. Many friends and family members sold out and struck it rich. He missed his opportunity to make a difference for his family for generations to come.
Jesus wants you and me to pick up His Cross and follow Him. Follow Him in witnessing. Follow Him in working. Follow Him in His way! Will you go after Jesus, taking up His Cross- daily, and follow Him? If so, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH today!
THERE’S A CELEBRATION A BREWING!
The beginning of the world’s joys came when God sent His Son to be born in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Lu 2:13-14
Could you imagine the celebration by the shepherds the night when Jesus was born? They were able to see the Messiah! They may have held His hand. They may have picked Him up and made those goo goo eyes that people do. I don’t know what they did when they saw Jesus but I do know what the did after they saw Him. Luke 2:17 says, “And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
That scripture says they made known… not just in their household. Not just in their neighborhood. Not just in their town. Scripture says, “…they made it known abroad…” That means everywhere they went they proclaimed the Good News!
Friend, who is the last person you told about Jesus? When is the last time you share what Jesus did for you? When will you be like those shepherds and celebrate when Jesus came to you by telling others? No better day than today!
A MESSAGE OF LOVE
Could we with ink the oceans fill and were the skies of parchment made and every stalk on earth quill and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry, nor could that scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky. --Scribbled on an asylum wall
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
The most quoted, most known verse in the world is yet the most powerful. Within John 3:16 we find the depth of love that God had toward the crowning of His creation. He gave His only begotten Son to die on the Cross for you, for me, and for the entire world. Why would you neglect so great a salvation? He didn’t neglect you!!!
YOU CAN’T GET BLOOD OUT OF A TURNIP
Trust Christ and you shall live. The bloody sacrifice of Calvary is the only hope of sinners. –Spurgeon
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Hebrews 9:22
Cain attempted to bypass the blood sacrifice for sin. If you leave Jesus and the Crucifixion out, you have missed the whole point of Him coming. (John 10:10) Cain was intentionally trying to deal with his sin his own way instead of how God said to deal with it. Many people today are trying to do the same thing. But just as Cain’s sacrifice was denied, one day, theirs will be also. The Lord will say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
How are you getting to Heaven? Is it by good works? Is it by lineage? Is it by social status? Friend, if you haven’t received Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour…your turnip is going to fail you!
Oh, the Old Rugged Cross….
To remember Jesus is to remember first of all his Cross. -John Knox
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
There is no other song in our Hymn book I love to hear more than “The Old Rugged Cross.” That song reminds me of my Mom first because she use to play it on an old desk top organ. But it means more to me now because I actually know what that cross represents. It represents the way of salvation—for everyone must come by the cross! It represents the means of salvation--- for without the cross no one would be saved! It represents the glory of salvation—for through it we have Heaven as our eternal home!
Happy Father's Day!
One of the most important things a father can do for his children is to love their mother. -Theodore M. Hesburgh
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25
The only way a husband will truly know how to love his wife is if He is saved and understands the love that Christ has given him. Think about this for a moment; the unrepentant church beat, ridiculed, mocked, spit upon, lied about, and eventually put Him on the Cross. But yet Jesus gave Himself for the church. Husbands, you want to be the best Dad in the world? Learn how to love your wife like Jesus loved the church…unconditionally!
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy Cross I cling.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14
That old rugged Cross so despised by the world has a wondrous attraction to me! The sight of the Cross reminds me of my Lord and Saviour that hung on it. It reminds me of what He endured so that I could be saved! When is the last time you visited the Cross? Be reminded today what He placed on Himself so that you and I could be saved!