Month: March 2024

Amazing Grace

2 Corinthians 13:14                                               Amazing Grace

“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you” (MSG).

 

I turned on the tv this afternoon to TBN, and it was part-way through a concert by the Statler Brothers.  Since they are one of my favorite Gospel groups, I decided to listen.  I thought they looked older, and that was confirmed when it was announced that this program was “The Final Concert of the Statler Brothers.”  Before they sang their final final number, they announced that the first song they had sung together was “Amazing Grace.” That was the song they were going to sing to close out their concert career.  What a great way to begin and end a singing career.  Not only is it probably the most well-known Gospel song ever sung, but those were the final words that Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.  Paul also included the love of God and the “intimate friendship” of the Holy Spirit in his farewell.  It was essentially Paul’s benediction upon the Christians at Corinth.

 

At His crucifixion, I was presented with the final bill for all my sins, and it needed to be paid.  Paraphrasing the Words of Jesus:  “Give me that.  I’ve got that covered.”  I gave it to Him, and He paid it in full.  In the same manner, your final sin bill was presented to you.  Again, Jesus offered to take it and pay it in full, but He can’t pay it in full, or at all, unless you hand it to Him and ask Him to pay it. When you do, He will pay it in full.  He offered to do the same for every person ever born.  The final sin bill for every person ever born on earth was presented to each person.  Again, Jesus will pay them in full for all those who hand their bills to Jesus and ask Him to pay them.  He paid them  ALL in full for those who ask Him to, and for them there is no punishment, no payment left to be paid.  Don’t let your bill be outstanding.  Each sin bill MUST be paid in full, and if Jesus doesn’t pay it, the one who committed each sin will be responsible for payment.  Believe me, you don’t want to pay that bill.  Payment will take an eternity.

 

Thank you, Jesus, for your amazing grace.  Thank you, Father God, for your extravagant love, and thank you, Holy Spirit, for your intimate friendship.  These three–amazing grace, extravagant love, and intimate friendship– were offered to you at the moment of Jesus’ sacrifice.  Be sure to reach out and accept them.

The Most Painful Love of Jesus Christ

1 Thessalonians 3:12                  The Most Painful Love of Jesus Christ

“And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you” (Message).

 

This is part of the prayer that Paul prayed on behalf of himself and Timothy to the Thessalonians, a young church needing encouragement.  There are many things that Paul could have prayed for this group of young believers, but he prayed that they would be filled with love, the same love that he and Timothy had for them.  He knows how much he and Timothy loved them, and he seems to be sure that they realized just how much they are loved by Paul and Timothy.  And the best thing he can pray for them is that they be filled with love, not love as they are able, but the love they can receive from Jesus—a pure love that knows no boundaries.  He wants them to receive so much love that it touches everyone they meet.  He knows that their witness will be amazing if they are able to love as Christ does.

I would that I could pray that prayer for you, your family and your friends—that you would be filled with the love shown by Jesus Christ, a love not only shown by His accepting death, but also shown by His acceptance of the immense pain He experienced.  When we read of the accounts of the torture prior to His being nailed to the cross, we have some idea of His pain, but He expressed His most intense pain when He stated in Mark 15:34:  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  From the beginning of eternity past, He had NEVER been separated from Father God, and this pain was almost inexpressible.  Up to this moment He had known it would happen, but He didn’t know just how painful it would be.  But He accepted that most intense pain on behalf of you and me.  I would that I could pray that you be filled with that love, but I can’t because no man can truly experience, or even imagine the pain that Jesus Christ experienced at that moment.  The best I can do is pray that you, your family, and your friends would accept that love from our Savior.  When you do, His love will spill over to those you meet and they will be greatly blessed, as you will.

Entrust Your Work to God

Philippians 1:6                                       Entrust Your Work to God

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (NLT).

 

Know that on the day that you accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, He began His plan in your life.  He has something for you to do, something that you are uniquely prepared to accomplish.  And if He has a plan for you, He will most assuredly give you the tools you need to accomplish the task.  Be prepared to be changed, to be stretched in ways you may have never imagined.  It will be an interesting and sometimes challenging journey, but it will be both satisfying and enjoyable.  Don’t worry about being able to do what God asks of you.  He has all the tools in the world in His hands, and He is willing and eager to put them in your hands.  “Trust” is the big word here.  We have to trust Him; in fact, we have to totally trust Him in order to perform the task to the best of our abilities.  Worry about our abilities to perform the task is unacceptable.  Philippians 1:6  tells us that He will “continue his work until it is finally finished.”  Once you begin his work, He will continue to prepare you and work within you so that you can complete the task.  You can’t pass it off to someone else.  No one else has the unique abilities you have that are necessary to fully do the work.  Yes, you can delay the work and perhaps even refuse it, but if you do, you will know that something is missing in your life.  So, for a fulfilled and satisfying life, accept the challenge of God, and work with Him.  You’ll be glad you did.  Oh, and how will you know when the task is finished?  Philippians 1:6 also gives us that information—“until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”  And that will be a day of great rejoicing when God says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”