Thursday, April 21, 2011
That's Love!
The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well. ~ Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
Scripture:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18
A few years ago when my youngest son Joseph was seven years old, we went to see and illustrated sermon called “The Whip, The Hammer, and The Cross.” It was the story of Jesus Christ as presented by Greater Grace Temple, a local church here in Detroit. Now I have gone to see several gospel plays, but I must say this was not a play.
The dynamic Bishop Ellis brought a totally new dimension to the telling of this story by combining a theatrical production and church service! He not only told the story of the reason why Jesus came, to reconcile us sinners to God, but also how jealously and persecution that led to his death. It bought home the realization of what Jesus knowingly and willingly did; So that every sinner would have a chance to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
He also very pointedly told how so many of us are willing to cast aside His works for popular opinion. He told of how the Jews praised and exalted Him one day and called for His crucifixion the next. How on that infamous Psalm’s Sunday, when They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Blessed is the King of Israel!" Then a few days later condemned him to die on the cross as a blasphemer.
Without going into much more detail, my son Joseph, who has been in church since day one, left the service asking why, and wanting to be baptized! Praise God! (As Baptist, our children have to confess Jesus Christ for themselves. We do not believe in having them Baptized until they accept Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior).
Saints, my son as a mere babe in the word, recognized how much Jesus loved him. He wanted to join the Kingdom of God. What about you? Do you know how much he loves you?
Do you realize the price that Jesus paid so that you and I can have a chance to enter into His Kingdom?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Our heavenly Father, we come giving thanks that You loved us that much to sacrifice Your only begotten son. We thank You Lord, that You have given us the keys to the kingdom that was bought with the price of the blood of Your precious Son. Jesus, we thank You that You loved us enough to go to the cross to save a sinner such as me. Father, if we had ten thousand tongues, we could never offer up enough thanks and praise for what You have done, so that we might be saved. Oh, how precious is the Blood of the Lamb. Lord, in our living, let not the shedding of Your blood have been in vain. Father God, Holy Spirit, Precious Jesus, our love and gratitude to You can never be enough to pay the cost for Your gifts. Thank You Lord. Continue to be with those saints who need You today. Continue to be with our troops who are still far away from the safety of home. Thank You Lord, as we ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. John 3:16-18
A few years ago when my youngest son Joseph was seven years old, we went to see and illustrated sermon called “The Whip, The Hammer, and The Cross.” It was the story of Jesus Christ as presented by Greater Grace Temple, a local church here in Detroit. Now I have gone to see several gospel plays, but I must say this was not a play.
The dynamic Bishop Ellis brought a totally new dimension to the telling of this story by combining a theatrical production and church service! He not only told the story of the reason why Jesus came, to reconcile us sinners to God, but also how jealously and persecution that led to his death. It bought home the realization of what Jesus knowingly and willingly did; So that every sinner would have a chance to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
He also very pointedly told how so many of us are willing to cast aside His works for popular opinion. He told of how the Jews praised and exalted Him one day and called for His crucifixion the next. How on that infamous Psalm’s Sunday, when They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Blessed is the King of Israel!" Then a few days later condemned him to die on the cross as a blasphemer.
Without going into much more detail, my son Joseph, who has been in church since day one, left the service asking why, and wanting to be baptized! Praise God! (As Baptist, our children have to confess Jesus Christ for themselves. We do not believe in having them Baptized until they accept Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior).
Saints, my son as a mere babe in the word, recognized how much Jesus loved him. He wanted to join the Kingdom of God. What about you? Do you know how much he loves you?
Do you realize the price that Jesus paid so that you and I can have a chance to enter into His Kingdom?
Be Blessed
Prayer:
Our heavenly Father, we come giving thanks that You loved us that much to sacrifice Your only begotten son. We thank You Lord, that You have given us the keys to the kingdom that was bought with the price of the blood of Your precious Son. Jesus, we thank You that You loved us enough to go to the cross to save a sinner such as me. Father, if we had ten thousand tongues, we could never offer up enough thanks and praise for what You have done, so that we might be saved. Oh, how precious is the Blood of the Lamb. Lord, in our living, let not the shedding of Your blood have been in vain. Father God, Holy Spirit, Precious Jesus, our love and gratitude to You can never be enough to pay the cost for Your gifts. Thank You Lord. Continue to be with those saints who need You today. Continue to be with our troops who are still far away from the safety of home. Thank You Lord, as we ask these things in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
