Did you get up this morning without thinking this is a special day? Did you go through your routines that come with every day? This day has a better chance of being wasted if you don't use every minute of it effectively. It's amazing what can be done in a day when it treated as special.
Our days are numbered. We will not be on this earth that long. The effect we leave behind will not last through the next generation if we don't take each day seriously. We order the events in our day to fit within our calling. We listen to our Lord to know what we should do each day. We set out to make this day special. God intervenes. We listen again. We set out again to fulfill His will.
Our days are fulfilling because they are full. They give us our work and recreation. They are both serious and fun. They are playful and accomplishing what we are called to do. We do not dilly dally. We do not spend time surfing the net for no reason at all. We do not channel surf before our televisions. We balance recreation and work. We spend appropriate time with hygiene, meals and exercise. We are on a mission. We do not waste the day.
Fun becomes more fun because we have not diluted it with wasted time. We can intensely throw ourselves into our relationships, our play and our work because they are ordered outside of ourselves. We listen to our Lord who balances our lives perfectly. He gives our lives intensity because we walk with Him daily. He does not want us to waste a day.
The end will come some day. We will look back and see what we have done with our Lord; for our Lord. It will be for His glory. It will be more than we could have ever imagined having done without Him. It will be much more than we could have planned for ourselves. In the end we will go to our reward fulfilled; looking forward to this reward. We will not regret our days nor will we fear our destination.
And it will all be glorious because each day was so special.
James 4:13-17 (NIV)
13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Don't Accept Anything Less Than Life
How many people are living in our world today? How many people have life? These are two different questions. I believe there are nearly 6 billion people living in our world today. I truly wonder how they come up with this number. Is this from the accumulated census totals of all countries or an extrapolation of known populations. I suspect it is more of the latter than the former. This is how we get statements like: "Every ten seconds 3,000 people clear their throats." I have no idea how you can make this assessment. I suspect that accurately knowing how many people are living on this planet at any given time is impossible.
We also would be hard pressed to state accurately how many people have life. Life is more than food and drink. It is more than respiration and propagation. It is living in a manner that gives you living purpose. It is being fulfilled in who you are. It is accepting who you are intended to be by celebration. Many of those who call themselves Christians have no more life than the rest of the world. They are good at faking it but they really don't possess it. They have no idea what life really is.
Many Christians run from life. They refuse all responsibilities so that they can go where they would like and do what they want. They assume that taking responsibility will curtain life. They are so wrong. Any acceptance of purpose brings life. It does keep me from doing some things that I want to do. It does mean that I will work while all of my friends are outside playing. However, that is what brings life.
We are amazed at the athletes who perform well in the Olympics. Many people do not understand that this could have been them. They assume that each athlete has a supernatural talent which enabled him or her to perform at this level. There is no doubt that these people are talented. Yet, talent alone will not make you a winning Olympic athlete. It takes hours of hard work. It takes bringing their bodies to exhaustion again and again. It means they will be working while their friends are outside playing. Many of the overweight lethargic people who watch the Olympics could have been in the place of these athletes if they would have accepted a different purpose in their lives.
Life is knowing who you are, what you have been called to do and doing so with a steadfast purpose. Life is a calling to responsibility. Simply going where you want to go and doing what you want to do will not bring you life. This type of living is like a swamp that smells from the decay. A life with purpose is a river teaming with life. The river moves and is exciting. The swamp just sits there.
Don't accept anything less than life. It is unnecessary to do so. God gives you purpose when He comes into your life. It means work but it also means fulfillment. It means you will struggle through tough days but it also means you will know why you are on this planet. It means holding onto Him to make each day count.
Jesus came for this purpose. Don't accept less.
John 10:10b (NIV)
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We also would be hard pressed to state accurately how many people have life. Life is more than food and drink. It is more than respiration and propagation. It is living in a manner that gives you living purpose. It is being fulfilled in who you are. It is accepting who you are intended to be by celebration. Many of those who call themselves Christians have no more life than the rest of the world. They are good at faking it but they really don't possess it. They have no idea what life really is.
Many Christians run from life. They refuse all responsibilities so that they can go where they would like and do what they want. They assume that taking responsibility will curtain life. They are so wrong. Any acceptance of purpose brings life. It does keep me from doing some things that I want to do. It does mean that I will work while all of my friends are outside playing. However, that is what brings life.
We are amazed at the athletes who perform well in the Olympics. Many people do not understand that this could have been them. They assume that each athlete has a supernatural talent which enabled him or her to perform at this level. There is no doubt that these people are talented. Yet, talent alone will not make you a winning Olympic athlete. It takes hours of hard work. It takes bringing their bodies to exhaustion again and again. It means they will be working while their friends are outside playing. Many of the overweight lethargic people who watch the Olympics could have been in the place of these athletes if they would have accepted a different purpose in their lives.
Life is knowing who you are, what you have been called to do and doing so with a steadfast purpose. Life is a calling to responsibility. Simply going where you want to go and doing what you want to do will not bring you life. This type of living is like a swamp that smells from the decay. A life with purpose is a river teaming with life. The river moves and is exciting. The swamp just sits there.
Don't accept anything less than life. It is unnecessary to do so. God gives you purpose when He comes into your life. It means work but it also means fulfillment. It means you will struggle through tough days but it also means you will know why you are on this planet. It means holding onto Him to make each day count.
Jesus came for this purpose. Don't accept less.
John 10:10b (NIV)
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Who Has God's Anointing Today?
Anointing is rarely spoken of except in charismatic denominations. There is such a mystery that has been placed around it that many Christians do not understand the term. That is why they often treat their ministers as if they are employees and ministers often comply by acting like employees.
The Old Testament applied anointing to kings and priests. They were chosen by God to perform God's work. Thus, you have Aaron and the priests who follow him being anointed with oil. You also see the kings of Israel receiving an anointing to designate that they have been set aside for the Lord's work.
Anointing was done by pouring oil a person's head. (At least for these purposes. There are other examples of inanimate objects being anointed. These objects were set aside for the Lord's use.) The person should have had a command from God to do so. Anointing was a calling and an office which received God's support. These anointed ones were not coerced to follow the Lord. They could commit egregious acts against their Lord. The Lord was patient with them but would eventually remove His support. They had both a great privilege and great responsibility due to their anointing.
The use of oil is unnecessary today. The Holy Spirit should be recognized by spiritual people and they should designate those among them as "anointed." The hands of the elders designate whom they believe God has called to His work. These people should be able to recognize the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit upon another's life. They should carefully consider the person before they convey their belief in the calling. Too many churches have been damaged by the acceptance of someone who does not have God's calling.
All ministers should have God's anointing. They should know that they are specifically set aside by God for the ministry. They should know that their strength and wisdom comes from the Lord. They should be people of prayer because for they depend upon their Lord to guide them in the things they do. They need to know that the circumstances do not always indicate what the Lord is doing.
Anointed ministers preach and teach because of their anointing. They have an ability to communicate that cannot be equated with good technique. They may not even be that interesting but God's spirit is so mightily upon them that people are convicted, challenged, taught and encouraged by what has been said. Thus, you have a Jonathan Edwards who being nearsighted leaned forward to read his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" with God-sized numbers of people coming to know the Lord.
Unfortunately, many ministers today are doing their work in their own strength. They lack God's anointing. They made their decisions to enter the ministry because they didn't know what else to do.They may have loved the Lord and His word and wanted a profession which would allow them to spend time with both. It may be that their fathers were in the ministry and they wanted to please them. It may be that others told them that they needed to go into the ministry. They may be able to give interesting messages that everyone likes. They may be able to give comfort to others but their ministry never gives any indication of God's anointing. It never grows. It never shows God's power.
God's anointed are not immune from downturns. Jesus, Himself, had many of His disciples leave Him when He began teaching things they did not wish to believe. He comes to the twelve and asks them if they will leave too. Peter (God bless him!) asks where they would go. He saw that God's anointing was on Jesus. He wouldn't receive that from the Pharisees, other teachers and the Priests.
Unspiritual people cannot recognize God's anointed. This, like all other spiritual things, are revealed by the spirit. Thus, they will lay their hands on any number of people whom will later be called ministers but lack God's anointing. These "ordained" will be frustrations to their churches and to themselves.
The church needs employees who may not be anointed too. They can teach and sometimes preach very effectively. They can be extremely dedicated to the Lord. They are not second class to those who are anointed. The anointed understand that they should follow the pattern of Jesus and become the servant of all. But these employees will not have the responsibility of those who are anointed.
There is a blessed continual concern pursuing the anointed. It is not a fear of losing their positions in the church. In fact, whether they have a church to minister in makes little difference to them. They are called to do God's work, not called to get paid for the work. They are not called to worry about keeping their jobs, nor in doing what the people desire. They must continue to listen to God intently. The Apostles stopped waiting on tables because they did not want to neglect prayer and God's word. It is the same for all of God's anointed for the pressure they feel is to stay connected closely with their Lord. They do not depend upon their own abilities. They know all that they do of significance is done by the Lord Himself.
God's anointing exists today. He still shows Himself to be mighty through His anointed.
Paul's warning to Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:22a (NIV)
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands . . .
The Old Testament applied anointing to kings and priests. They were chosen by God to perform God's work. Thus, you have Aaron and the priests who follow him being anointed with oil. You also see the kings of Israel receiving an anointing to designate that they have been set aside for the Lord's work.
Anointing was done by pouring oil a person's head. (At least for these purposes. There are other examples of inanimate objects being anointed. These objects were set aside for the Lord's use.) The person should have had a command from God to do so. Anointing was a calling and an office which received God's support. These anointed ones were not coerced to follow the Lord. They could commit egregious acts against their Lord. The Lord was patient with them but would eventually remove His support. They had both a great privilege and great responsibility due to their anointing.
The use of oil is unnecessary today. The Holy Spirit should be recognized by spiritual people and they should designate those among them as "anointed." The hands of the elders designate whom they believe God has called to His work. These people should be able to recognize the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit upon another's life. They should carefully consider the person before they convey their belief in the calling. Too many churches have been damaged by the acceptance of someone who does not have God's calling.
All ministers should have God's anointing. They should know that they are specifically set aside by God for the ministry. They should know that their strength and wisdom comes from the Lord. They should be people of prayer because for they depend upon their Lord to guide them in the things they do. They need to know that the circumstances do not always indicate what the Lord is doing.
Anointed ministers preach and teach because of their anointing. They have an ability to communicate that cannot be equated with good technique. They may not even be that interesting but God's spirit is so mightily upon them that people are convicted, challenged, taught and encouraged by what has been said. Thus, you have a Jonathan Edwards who being nearsighted leaned forward to read his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" with God-sized numbers of people coming to know the Lord.
Unfortunately, many ministers today are doing their work in their own strength. They lack God's anointing. They made their decisions to enter the ministry because they didn't know what else to do.They may have loved the Lord and His word and wanted a profession which would allow them to spend time with both. It may be that their fathers were in the ministry and they wanted to please them. It may be that others told them that they needed to go into the ministry. They may be able to give interesting messages that everyone likes. They may be able to give comfort to others but their ministry never gives any indication of God's anointing. It never grows. It never shows God's power.
God's anointed are not immune from downturns. Jesus, Himself, had many of His disciples leave Him when He began teaching things they did not wish to believe. He comes to the twelve and asks them if they will leave too. Peter (God bless him!) asks where they would go. He saw that God's anointing was on Jesus. He wouldn't receive that from the Pharisees, other teachers and the Priests.
Unspiritual people cannot recognize God's anointed. This, like all other spiritual things, are revealed by the spirit. Thus, they will lay their hands on any number of people whom will later be called ministers but lack God's anointing. These "ordained" will be frustrations to their churches and to themselves.
The church needs employees who may not be anointed too. They can teach and sometimes preach very effectively. They can be extremely dedicated to the Lord. They are not second class to those who are anointed. The anointed understand that they should follow the pattern of Jesus and become the servant of all. But these employees will not have the responsibility of those who are anointed.
There is a blessed continual concern pursuing the anointed. It is not a fear of losing their positions in the church. In fact, whether they have a church to minister in makes little difference to them. They are called to do God's work, not called to get paid for the work. They are not called to worry about keeping their jobs, nor in doing what the people desire. They must continue to listen to God intently. The Apostles stopped waiting on tables because they did not want to neglect prayer and God's word. It is the same for all of God's anointed for the pressure they feel is to stay connected closely with their Lord. They do not depend upon their own abilities. They know all that they do of significance is done by the Lord Himself.
God's anointing exists today. He still shows Himself to be mighty through His anointed.
Paul's warning to Timothy:
1 Timothy 5:22a (NIV)
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands . . .
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Faith Must Be Experienced
The women who had gone to put spices on the dead body of Jesus came back from the tomb excited. They told the disciples that they had seen an angel. The angel said that Jesus had been risen. The disciples thought this was silly talk.
Still, Peter and John take off running to the tomb to see for themselves. John, the younger of the two, caught Peter but did not go into the tomb. Peter goes in, sees the burial clothing and leaves marveling. He certainly didn't expect this. Who would have thought that Jesus would be resurrected?
Jesus had told His disciples that this would happen but it didn't make sense at the time. Maybe they thought all His talk of a resurrection was allegorical. Surely He couldn't mean that He would actually die and come back to life.
As they say, "The proof is in the pudding!" Meeting Jesus after His death and resurrection changed everything. It had to be experienced. It had to be seen with their own eyes.
Nothing has really changed. We either meet Jesus personally or we talk about someone known by others. We experience Him and our lives are changed. He comes to live within us.
Then, the resurrection makes sense.
I serve a living savoir; He's in the world today; I know that He is living whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart.
Matthew 28:7 (NIV)
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
Still, Peter and John take off running to the tomb to see for themselves. John, the younger of the two, caught Peter but did not go into the tomb. Peter goes in, sees the burial clothing and leaves marveling. He certainly didn't expect this. Who would have thought that Jesus would be resurrected?
Jesus had told His disciples that this would happen but it didn't make sense at the time. Maybe they thought all His talk of a resurrection was allegorical. Surely He couldn't mean that He would actually die and come back to life.
As they say, "The proof is in the pudding!" Meeting Jesus after His death and resurrection changed everything. It had to be experienced. It had to be seen with their own eyes.
Nothing has really changed. We either meet Jesus personally or we talk about someone known by others. We experience Him and our lives are changed. He comes to live within us.
Then, the resurrection makes sense.
I serve a living savoir; He's in the world today; I know that He is living whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, and just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives; He lives within my heart.
Matthew 28:7 (NIV)
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
Saturday, April 3, 2010
The Christian's Spamblocker
Like most of you, I have a spamblocker on my email. It keeps most of the unwanted spam from ever getting to me. This way my inbox only has about sixty emails a day rather than whatever the number would be without the spamblocker. I can only imagine.
Of course, I peruse that list occasionally to see if an email I want was blocked. I only find one of these blocked but wanted emails every few weeks. The efficiency of the spamblocker makes my inspection unnecessary most weeks.
Spamblockers keep our email flowing more smoothly. They make our time more productive. They keep us on task. They keep us from being distracted by those who offer deals too good to be true. They do their best to make sure that the emails we receive are pertinent to what we need. I appreciate my spamblocker.
It is amazing how many people don't have spamblockers for their lives. They do not filter anything that comes in. For example, I have Netflix. I am on the "one movie at a time" plan but I also have the ability to stream movies to my tv. Last night I streamed a series that I thought would be interesting. I watched about twenty minutes of it, realized that it had inappropriate material, stopped the streaming and deleted the series. I didn't need those images and that content in my memories. I know that the images of sin will cause me to permit more sin. I do not understand how I can please my Lord and participate in sin. Therefore, I "blocked" those images from getting to me.
I went to work with my wife yesterday. I sat in a hospital waiting area or the cafeteria, read and watched people. One man whom I saw several times would use "Jesus Christ" as an expletive. I wondered why he would allow the Savior to become just a word. Jesus said that our words reveal our hearts. His continued verbal explosions were damaging and revealing his heart at the same time. He needed a blocker to keep that from ever happening. He said it often and loudly as if he were proud that he could say the name of Jesus in such a disrespectful way.
One of my daughters called me when she was a sleepover with friends years ago. (I think she was ten or eleven.) They were about to watch an "R" rated movie and she wanted to know if it was okay. I told her that we don't watch those types of movies but I thanked her for calling. She knew not to watch the movie but she needed her dad to be her excuse for not watching it. Peer pressure can get you into all types of trouble. She needed a "blocker" to give her permission to say "no." She would have been forced to watch something she didn't want to watch if I had not blocked her from it. I don't know how her friends responded to my action. She never complained to me about the matter.
What is the Christian's spamblocker? What keeps the Christian from participating with the world in things that are harmful? It is the mind that is set on the Holy Spirit. When we set our minds on Him, we will not give into the desires of our flesh. What you will block and what you will allow will reveal if you are setting your mind upon the Spirit. It brings life and peace.
Romans 8:5-8 (ESV)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds of the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. Fore the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Of course, I peruse that list occasionally to see if an email I want was blocked. I only find one of these blocked but wanted emails every few weeks. The efficiency of the spamblocker makes my inspection unnecessary most weeks.
Spamblockers keep our email flowing more smoothly. They make our time more productive. They keep us on task. They keep us from being distracted by those who offer deals too good to be true. They do their best to make sure that the emails we receive are pertinent to what we need. I appreciate my spamblocker.
It is amazing how many people don't have spamblockers for their lives. They do not filter anything that comes in. For example, I have Netflix. I am on the "one movie at a time" plan but I also have the ability to stream movies to my tv. Last night I streamed a series that I thought would be interesting. I watched about twenty minutes of it, realized that it had inappropriate material, stopped the streaming and deleted the series. I didn't need those images and that content in my memories. I know that the images of sin will cause me to permit more sin. I do not understand how I can please my Lord and participate in sin. Therefore, I "blocked" those images from getting to me.
I went to work with my wife yesterday. I sat in a hospital waiting area or the cafeteria, read and watched people. One man whom I saw several times would use "Jesus Christ" as an expletive. I wondered why he would allow the Savior to become just a word. Jesus said that our words reveal our hearts. His continued verbal explosions were damaging and revealing his heart at the same time. He needed a blocker to keep that from ever happening. He said it often and loudly as if he were proud that he could say the name of Jesus in such a disrespectful way.
One of my daughters called me when she was a sleepover with friends years ago. (I think she was ten or eleven.) They were about to watch an "R" rated movie and she wanted to know if it was okay. I told her that we don't watch those types of movies but I thanked her for calling. She knew not to watch the movie but she needed her dad to be her excuse for not watching it. Peer pressure can get you into all types of trouble. She needed a "blocker" to give her permission to say "no." She would have been forced to watch something she didn't want to watch if I had not blocked her from it. I don't know how her friends responded to my action. She never complained to me about the matter.
What is the Christian's spamblocker? What keeps the Christian from participating with the world in things that are harmful? It is the mind that is set on the Holy Spirit. When we set our minds on Him, we will not give into the desires of our flesh. What you will block and what you will allow will reveal if you are setting your mind upon the Spirit. It brings life and peace.
Romans 8:5-8 (ESV)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds of the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind of the Spirit is life and peace. Fore the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Going Beyond the Minimum
I believe some people just barely make it to the end of the day. They don’t do one thing extra. They go to work and do the minimum. They come home to do the minimum. They have the minimum training they can have to get their jobs. They don’t want to learn another thing. They live their lives waiting for Friday nights, holidays and vacations. They hate what they do and don’t have a lot of love for who they are.
These are the people who are the last ones hired and the first ones laid off. They are only needed in desperate times. They will get you through a time when you can’t find anyone else and you must have someone. They become expendable and the company looks forward to the day when they are no longer needed. They do not care about the places they work, always believe their bosses should be paying them more and believe the company can’t do without them. All the while they are barely worth having.
This is not your story. You, on the other hand, are valuable to the place you work. You go the extra mile. You are a voracious learner. You take on new projects and do things beyond the minimum. You were the first one hired and the company will only lay you off if it is closing its doors. They will keep you during the lean times because you make more for your company than you are paid. You will find a job soon even if you do get laid off. You are that valuable to any company you work for.
Your boss knows that you can work in other places. He or she appreciates the fact that you work for him or her. This boss works to keep you.
I want everyone on my staff to be learners. I never want a staff member that can’t serve somewhere else. Each staff member should have opportunities to serve in other places. They should be asked but continue to work for me because they are called to this place. They should do more than the minimum all the time. They should be a great example of those who go the extra mile. Their character and work ethic should prove them to be examples of someone who has given their hearts to Christ. He wants them to do things with excellence.
I have seen staff members who do the minimum. They come in when it is required and leave the moment they can. They never give an extra minute of their day to the work. They learn as little as possible and gripe each time they are asked to do something beyond their routine. I see this as job rather than a call to the ministry. They value their paycheck and see no reason for a sacrifice to the Lord. They fail to understand the ministry because they fail to understand the lordship of Jesus Christ.
Each of these “ministers” should do their churches a favor and admit they are not called into the ministry. A calling should always be a struggle. The minister should struggle to balance the ministry and their time with their families. The family should not be neglected but neither does the ministry. Their relationship with Jesus should permeate their entire lives. It should order every day, all day.
I struggle with folks who do the minimum. Some come to me for help. They have never done more than the minimum. They are laid off from the jobs frequently. They wonder why this keeps happening to them. I can tell them. They suffer for doing wrong rather than right. They suffer because they have have done the minimum.
The following scripture applies even though we no longer have slaves. We work for Him first and we will work best for our bosses.
Ephesians 6:5-8 (TNIV)
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, anw with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one of you for whatever good you do whether you are slave or free.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on a Cross?
Most Christians understand that Jesus died for them. They understand the substitutionary atonement of Jesus death for their sins. However, they don't know why it had to be on a cross. Why wasn't Jesus executed by some other means which wouldn't have been nearly as painful?
Jesus' death on the cross was predicted. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states, "If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." Sin is a capital offense according to Romans 6:23. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:24, " He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." Jesus' bearing our sins put Him under God's curse. It meant He would die on a "tree" for our sins.
Jesus' death on the cross was public. The Romans chose crucifixion for enemies of the state so that their execution would be a public reminder to prevent future insurrections. The Jews required witnesses for any capital offense. The The public crucifixion was a testimony of Jesus' death. Many would have seen Him die. It would be hard to refute. The completion of Jesus' sentence was established legally. There would be too many to see this execution for others to legitimately say that it didn't happen.
Jesus' death on the cross was the price. It was the most cruel and painful means of execution known. It would establish forever the egregious nature of sin. It would point toward the love of our God to sacrifice so much to save us. A careful look at the cross will bring us to our knees. Why would God die for us? Why would He go through such pain to see us forgiven? What parent would let his son go through such pain for others? Only God.
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." The price of my sin was the cross. The price of your sin was the cross. I look on the cross and see the life of Jesus given for me. I am grateful and I know it had to be the cross.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus' death on the cross was predicted. Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states, "If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance." Sin is a capital offense according to Romans 6:23. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 2:24, " He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." Jesus' bearing our sins put Him under God's curse. It meant He would die on a "tree" for our sins.
Jesus' death on the cross was public. The Romans chose crucifixion for enemies of the state so that their execution would be a public reminder to prevent future insurrections. The Jews required witnesses for any capital offense. The The public crucifixion was a testimony of Jesus' death. Many would have seen Him die. It would be hard to refute. The completion of Jesus' sentence was established legally. There would be too many to see this execution for others to legitimately say that it didn't happen.
Jesus' death on the cross was the price. It was the most cruel and painful means of execution known. It would establish forever the egregious nature of sin. It would point toward the love of our God to sacrifice so much to save us. A careful look at the cross will bring us to our knees. Why would God die for us? Why would He go through such pain to see us forgiven? What parent would let his son go through such pain for others? Only God.
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." The price of my sin was the cross. The price of your sin was the cross. I look on the cross and see the life of Jesus given for me. I am grateful and I know it had to be the cross.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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