"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed His head and gave up His spirit." -John 19:30
I have recently been reading "Spiritual Secret of Hudson Taylor," a biography of the great missionary to China. In the book it relates how he picked up a gospel tract for entertainent, planning to read the "story" and skip the "sermon," and was struck by the words "It is finished."
"What was finished?'"
And at once I replied, "A full and perfect atonement and satisfaction for sin. The debt was paid for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Then came the further thought, "If the whole work was finished and the whole debt paid, what is there left for me to do?"
This week at church we heard a message which meshed perfectly with this. The pastor spoke on "Religion versus the Gospel." He emphasized that all of the things that we and other people do, many of them very "good" things, are not a part of the Good News that Jesus Christ paid the price and offered forgiveness. We cannot work our way into heaven, or into any merit with God. There is nothing left for us to do!
Throughout Jesus ministry in Israel He blasted the religious fervor of the Jews, condemning their public prayers, their scrupulous tithing, and their carefully preserved cleanliness. In your church and life would He find the same things to condemn? I think all of us, especially those who have grown up in the church, demand of ourselves certain good works. The insidious idea that we are "doing something for God," and therefore promoting ourselves, sneaks in so easily.
Remember today that in Christ "It is finished!" There is nothing left for you to do! Your sins are forgiven! It should be a natural response to this incomprehensible mercy to worship and love your great Forgiver with the utmost of your life and being. But this is always and only thanks to Him, and never merit with Him. Live in the freedom of accepting His payment for sins, and praise Him!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
He Will be Praised!
"...and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father..." -Philippians 2:11
"...if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out..." -Luke 19:40
I am not typically a television watcher, but for the last few weeks Sarah and I have spent a few hours each week watching a show that I'm sure you've heard of, even if you don't have a television. We watch American Idol.
This show has the largest viewing audience of any show on earth. It has been duplicated in many countries worldwide. It is at this time the ultimate that Hollywood has to offer. The name is perfect for the show... and frightening in its boldness. If you are one of the few who don't know, the show is an open competition for a music recording contract and instant worldwide fame. From thousands of hopefuls they narrow the field until the final dozen are household names. Although one person wins it all, the show is such a phenomenal hit that the top few contenders lives are changed forever.
But I'm not here to promote a television show. Last week they aired a special edition of the show called "Idol Gives Back." The show was funded by corporate giants such as Ford Motors and Apple/Mac electronics. I didn't count, but I would guess that almost a hundred celebrities made guest appearances on the show... from famous actors to rock stars to presidential candidates. They were all there to ask people to give to charities... and the works of many of these charities are very praiseworthy.
I watched the show with very mixed feelings, and I have been thinking about it ever since. When I think of the rich and famous of Hollywood, I don't imagine that they are anything like what a Christian should be like. I don't look to the stars of television to give me an example to follow. But during this show, they were doing just that. We think that many of them are morally bankrupt, and yet they are doing the feeding of the hungry and the giving to the poor that the hands of Jesus should be doing.
At the end of the show something happened that jarred me to the core. On this show, of all shows, they closed with the well known church hymn which includes the following lines:
"...shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing,
Glory and majesty, praise to the King,
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your Name!"
As the song was broadcast worldwide I sat in wonder and conviction. It seemed to me that the message was clear... God will do His work, and He will use any instrument He chooses. He does not depend on me or the church for His glory, but is glorified by creation and even by Hollywood!
Praise Him today!
"...if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out..." -Luke 19:40
I am not typically a television watcher, but for the last few weeks Sarah and I have spent a few hours each week watching a show that I'm sure you've heard of, even if you don't have a television. We watch American Idol.
This show has the largest viewing audience of any show on earth. It has been duplicated in many countries worldwide. It is at this time the ultimate that Hollywood has to offer. The name is perfect for the show... and frightening in its boldness. If you are one of the few who don't know, the show is an open competition for a music recording contract and instant worldwide fame. From thousands of hopefuls they narrow the field until the final dozen are household names. Although one person wins it all, the show is such a phenomenal hit that the top few contenders lives are changed forever.
But I'm not here to promote a television show. Last week they aired a special edition of the show called "Idol Gives Back." The show was funded by corporate giants such as Ford Motors and Apple/Mac electronics. I didn't count, but I would guess that almost a hundred celebrities made guest appearances on the show... from famous actors to rock stars to presidential candidates. They were all there to ask people to give to charities... and the works of many of these charities are very praiseworthy.
I watched the show with very mixed feelings, and I have been thinking about it ever since. When I think of the rich and famous of Hollywood, I don't imagine that they are anything like what a Christian should be like. I don't look to the stars of television to give me an example to follow. But during this show, they were doing just that. We think that many of them are morally bankrupt, and yet they are doing the feeding of the hungry and the giving to the poor that the hands of Jesus should be doing.
At the end of the show something happened that jarred me to the core. On this show, of all shows, they closed with the well known church hymn which includes the following lines:
"...shout to the Lord all the earth let us sing,
Glory and majesty, praise to the King,
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your Name!"
As the song was broadcast worldwide I sat in wonder and conviction. It seemed to me that the message was clear... God will do His work, and He will use any instrument He chooses. He does not depend on me or the church for His glory, but is glorified by creation and even by Hollywood!
Praise Him today!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Getting Out of Bed in the Morning
"Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."' -Matthew 22:37-40
Almost anyone who has grown up "religious," whether they be Mormon, Muslim, or Christian, has been indoctrinated with a set of rules. Some of these rules may be stated openly, such as a prohibition against alcohol, while others may be more subtle, such as not fraternizing with those who hold different beliefs.
Whatever the rules may be, they are without exception oppressive. They are also usually the framework within which someone defines themselves as a believer in their religion. We would assume that someone who prays toward the east on a set schedule is either a Muslim or a Jew. In the same way, the believer who does the praying is self-defined by their actions. A Mormon would feel unorthodox for failing to venerate Joseph Smith; an Atheist must remain true to form and dogmatically state that the universe evolved by chance, no matter what intricate pattern they may see in nature; and a Christian should be at a church service every Sunday, even if they sleep through the service. Whether motivated by guilt or self-righteousness, rigidly following the rules is deemed "good enough."
As a young follower of Christ, I was overwhelmed by the choices in life. How could I possibly know what rule to follow in each and every situation? Would there not be times when one rule would conflict with another? How could I possibly know if it was right or not to simply get out of bed in the morning? After all, I may fall into sin as soon as my feet touched the floor, and there was no law to dictate if it was right to take that risk or not. The "Big Ten" commandments were a start, but where should I stop? I am sure I was far from alone in this struggle.
I thank my Lord that He has provided the answer to this question, and that he opened my eyes to it. Our actions, whatever they may be, must be motivated by love... Love for God first of all and love for the people we come into contact with secondly. There are times when two identical actions may be praiseworthy or sinful, simply based on their motivation. It may be love for God and others that motivates us to give a large amount of money to a charity. This would be an action in accord with the the two overarching commandments and therefore with all others. However, it would be a sin to give with the motivation of puffing up ego and self-righteousness, even if the giving is done anonymously.
When you get out of bed in the morning, ask yourself why you are getting out of bed. Evaluate all of your actions, no matter how small. Are you oppressed by rules, or freed by love? Find out what drives you. Be driven by love and you need never fear going astray.
Almost anyone who has grown up "religious," whether they be Mormon, Muslim, or Christian, has been indoctrinated with a set of rules. Some of these rules may be stated openly, such as a prohibition against alcohol, while others may be more subtle, such as not fraternizing with those who hold different beliefs.
Whatever the rules may be, they are without exception oppressive. They are also usually the framework within which someone defines themselves as a believer in their religion. We would assume that someone who prays toward the east on a set schedule is either a Muslim or a Jew. In the same way, the believer who does the praying is self-defined by their actions. A Mormon would feel unorthodox for failing to venerate Joseph Smith; an Atheist must remain true to form and dogmatically state that the universe evolved by chance, no matter what intricate pattern they may see in nature; and a Christian should be at a church service every Sunday, even if they sleep through the service. Whether motivated by guilt or self-righteousness, rigidly following the rules is deemed "good enough."
As a young follower of Christ, I was overwhelmed by the choices in life. How could I possibly know what rule to follow in each and every situation? Would there not be times when one rule would conflict with another? How could I possibly know if it was right or not to simply get out of bed in the morning? After all, I may fall into sin as soon as my feet touched the floor, and there was no law to dictate if it was right to take that risk or not. The "Big Ten" commandments were a start, but where should I stop? I am sure I was far from alone in this struggle.
I thank my Lord that He has provided the answer to this question, and that he opened my eyes to it. Our actions, whatever they may be, must be motivated by love... Love for God first of all and love for the people we come into contact with secondly. There are times when two identical actions may be praiseworthy or sinful, simply based on their motivation. It may be love for God and others that motivates us to give a large amount of money to a charity. This would be an action in accord with the the two overarching commandments and therefore with all others. However, it would be a sin to give with the motivation of puffing up ego and self-righteousness, even if the giving is done anonymously.
When you get out of bed in the morning, ask yourself why you are getting out of bed. Evaluate all of your actions, no matter how small. Are you oppressed by rules, or freed by love? Find out what drives you. Be driven by love and you need never fear going astray.
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