Near the Cross

You would be hard pressed to find a Christian hymnal from any church that does not contain the words of a song written by Frances Jane Crosby, better known as Fanny Crosby.  She lived from 1820 -1915 and thanked God regularly for her blindness. In living a life totally blind, Fanny confessed that became to her a blessing for "seeing" things others could never see.  One line from her song, Near the Cross, probably explains this so we can better understand.  

“Near the cross! O Lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me…”

As we enter the season when we are more mindful of the cross of Jesus and the events leading up to his death, perhaps the prayer of Ms. Crosby is one we should pray.  Our lives, devoted to Jesus, and recognizing his sacrifice on the cross, need to be closely aware of the "scenes" of that event. 

What scenes come to your mind when thinking of the cross?  Make no mistake about it, the visuals that flood our minds cannot be pretty. Execution by crucifixion wasn't supposed to be pretty. To add to the horror of the event, we realize this is the end of the earthly life of Jesus and the end of his ministry of  bringing hope and forgiveness to the people he personally touched. We can only imagine the pain he suffered, the humiliation he endured, and the loneliness he experienced. 

Some do not like to think of the soldiers actually driving the nails through Jesus' hands and feet. Others would like to forget about his crown of thorns, or the mocking crowds, or the gambling soldiers. We do not like the thought of the blood Jesus shed on that cross. Yet, a blind song writer from a previous century prays for those "scenes to be brought before me."

I want you to know today, the horrible nature of the cross can only be understood when we come to understand the horrible nature of sin.  In the event of Jesus dying on the cross, he was paying the price for the redemption of all mankind. It is his blood that washes us clean and makes us white as snow before God. In order for the justice of God and the righteousness of God to be upheld, we need a sacrifice adequate to meet those demands. Only the death of the sinless Jesus on the cross can meet our need. 

Other scenes of the cross can be brought before us. Because of Jesus' death for us, we have a scene of hope. Our sin pronounces for us the penalty of eternal condemnation, but Jesus takes our place for the punishment we deserve, and we have hope. We are no longer doomed to destruction because our sin debt has been paid by him. 

That person who comes to Jesus in faith and obedience, can see a scene of happiness when reflecting on the cross. The dismal outlook is changed to one of joy. Jesus makes the terrifying event of his death the most beautiful picture of love and forgiveness. 

"Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me."

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Lord, Show Me the Way

Lord, my name is Joe, but I am told you already know me.  I am talking to you today because I realize my need for knowing you. Through the years I have been too busy to attend worship, too busy to spend time with my family, too busy in the pursuit of things to take the time to know you and appreciate you. Right now Lord, I have reached rock bottom and have nowhere else to turn so I am turning to you. Please, God, show me the way  to you. 

My name is Mary, Lord, and I find myself in need of a huge load of your love and forgiveness. I became a Christian years ago and loved the things Christianity meant to me. Through several disappointments and hard times in my life, I turned from you, thinking I could handle all of life's problems on my own. Now I know how futile that is and I acknowledge my need for you. Please, God, show me the way to you. 

My name is Helen and I am a church going teenager, having attended church all my life. I live in a Christian home and have been taught Christian values but I have strayed from the morals and values that were best for me, and have become someone I know I should not be. Is there another chance, Lord?  Please, show me the way  to you. 

God, you know me as Ralph, and you know my problems with alcoholism. I have lost my job, my family, my possessions, and even the small amount of self-respect I had left.  I cannot think of a single person that would call me their friend. My existence seems worthless. I need your help Lord; anything you can do to help me find my way to you. 

Lord, I am Sam, a leader in the local church. I am grateful for your love for me and I continue to learn and  grow in my Christian walk. I confess to you I have difficulty in loving others as you have commanded. I know your word says if I don't love them, then I really don't love you. Lord I need your help in showing me how to be more loving and accepting of others. I want to find the fullness of your purpose for me in discovering the way to you. 

I'm not sure if you know me Lord, but the people here call me Homeless Bill. Since the war and my return to the states I have had a rough time of things. I beg for my food. I sleep under bridges. I drift from place to place.  I walk past your house, Lord, but no one notices me or speaks.  They seem to like being with you Lord and I wouldn't mind being their friend and yours. If you think there might be a chance, show me the way to you. 

Lord I am (your name goes here.)  (Your story goes here....your strengths, your weaknesses, your life success and your failure.  Tell God everything about you, especially your thoughts.)  Then pray, Lord, show me the way to you. 

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7

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A Full Cup for Me

I was thinking as I poured my morning coffee, of the variety of ways people enjoy coffee in the morning. Of course there is black coffee, coffee with sugar or sugar and cream, coffee with artificial sweetener, which opens the door to numerous brands of sweetener.  When that has been selected there is a multitude of flavored creamers from which to choose. 

Some will pour coffee and let it set and cool a bit, some like the hottest coffee to help them start their day. I have always been one to think that coffee should be made to taste as good as it smells.  Even before I became a regular coffee drinker, I liked the aroma and have yet to find a coffee that tastes that good. 

I remember my grandfather, mom's dad, who would be served coffee in a cup with saucer. Not that he was fancy in anything, but he liked to tip the cup and let the coffee run into the saucer where he would blow on it and cool it a bit. Following the "saucering and blowing," would come the noisy slurping sound of drinking it from the saucer.  You won't find that method in any of the etiquette books for obvious reasons, but that was his habit of enjoying coffee. 

Are there days when we feel like we need another cup of coffee before we can think straight? We insist on some strong coffee to help us get fully awake and motivated.  In fact, there are some who keep the coffee pot going all day long just so they can have the stimulant to keep them focused. Follow all this information with the suggestion of some doctors that we should back off on our coffee, while other doctors think it doesn't hurt us. In spite of all the disagreement, we still like to make coffee an important part of our day, some even visualizing a cup of coffee that is always full. 

Jesus was waiting near a well one day when a woman made her daily trek to the well to draw water. They  exchanged conversation about the well and the water but Jesus really stirred her thinking when he advised her he could provide living water and those who drank it would never thirst again.  

We know Jesus was speaking in terms of a spiritual filling while the woman was trying to interpret his words from the physical viewpoint. When Jesus revealed himself to her and told her "everything she ever did," her eyes were opened and she believed his claim of being the Messiah. 

How full is your cup? Why would we think of attempting to face life's struggles and disappointments with less than the full cup of everything Jesus supplies.  His presence, living inside the life of every Christian gives us the opportunity to always experience his fullness, even to the point of overflowing and reaching the lives of others.

The closing words of the New Testament Book of Hebrews, " Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,  equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

The fullness of Christ living in us, will make us never thirst again. 

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The Great Inheritance

The system of sorting, routing and delivering mail these days is somewhat sophisticated compared to forty or fifty years ago. The continued increase in the price to send a piece of mail would make you think the efficiency of mail service might increase, too.  I will show my age by saying I can remember when a simple postcard sent to family members about once a week was the only communication we had.  For those of you who were born during the electronic age, we haven't always had email and instant messaging. 

I do remember when a letter cost 3 cents to mail and a postcard cost 2 cents. The penny postcard had already doubled in price in my early remembrances. The only problem with postcards was, by the time they were delivered to your house, you wondered how many times the mail handlers had read them.  

In one family I know, everyone was good friends with the mail man on the rural route. One family was especially close to him, and he would stop and walk the mail to their door each day and step inside and visit a while. Often he would make a comment about something someone had written to them on a postcard.  While there were really no secrets, it just made the family feel uneasy that the mailman was reading their postcards before they got to read them. 

A plan was put in place, and the family asked someone from another city to write them a postcard with a one sentence message. "The inheritance is much larger than we originally thought." When the mailman brought the mail to the door that day, he was running!  He was breathless as he opened the door and announced the good news about their inheritance.  Everyone had a big laugh over that story back then, and when it's retold even to this day. 

That story makes me want to tell you today, "Your inheritance in Jesus Christ is much greater than you can imagine!" The Sunday sermon reminded me of some verses from scripture that are woven together to tell us about our eternal inheritance.  Hebrews 1:1-s says that God now speaks to us through his Son that he has appointed the heir of all things.  Romans 8:17 declares we are children of God, and if we are his children, then we are his heirs, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.  That's' why Paul could assure the Ephesian Christians it is in Christ we have obtained an inheritance.  Then later Paul tells us the Holy Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee of the inheritance that is ours. 

Those verses are rich with truth that we sometimes overlook. We crater and crumble when we face life with only our fleshly strength and understanding. If we could only keep God's truth about our spiritual inheritance constantly on our minds, we would realize that this world can do nothing to us that will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  We are joint heirs with Jesus because we are God's children.  Praise God today for the place of spiritual royalty he has reserved for you. The inheritance is larger than you can imagine!

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Identifying with Paul

If we were asked to identify with one Bible character, no doubt most would wish to identify with Jesus Christ.  After all, we are encouraged to live Christ-like lives. The things he taught, the people he touched, the multitudes that followed him, all testify that no life remained the same after an encounter with Jesus. 

Think for a moment of other Bible characters, to see if there is someone else that comes close to you, in their message, their conduct, or the way they react with people. Some who have leadership qualities might pick Moses or Abraham. These are two which definitely possessed the traits necessary in leading people. 

Maybe you would select one of the prophets because of some truth they conveyed to the people or the way they handled various situations. Some of you might select Jeremiah or Isaiah as one that closely relates to your life. 

I am going to say right here the one I think I most closely identify with is Paul. Maybe it is the way Paul traveled to unknown places, converting people to Christianity, or his hard work in establishing churches throughout his travels. I admire that in a devoted Christian.

Paul's message of the gospel and its relation to the lives of everyone is evident from his preaching and his writing. The letters to churches in various locations give testimony of his concern for their well being, and encouragement for their work. 

Of all the good things we can say about Paul, I must say the reason I can identify with him is because of his confession in the Book of Romans that he still struggles with sin. Look closely at some of the things he has to say,

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do.

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

Those are exerts from his discussion which you can read in Romans 7:14-21.  This preaching, church planting, missionary traveler says he struggles with sin.  (Sound familiar?)  Even Christians still wrestle with their sinful nature, and the decisions we make every day may reflect that we often function in the flesh and not the Spirit. Paul felt that himself. Perhaps we all do.  Is there a solution?

Paul gives the solution in the final words of Romans 7, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

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