The question that we all need to consider is this. Why would Jesus -- the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Creator of all things in the earth and in the heavens, but most of all, Almighty God who willingly becoming flesh -- shed His precious blood on a cross so that you and I might find life eternal in Him? (John 1:1-18)
In other words, why would He care enough about His creation to die on a cross for us? As I thought about the abundance of love that God must have had for His creation -- even from the beginning -- I realized how it must grieve our Lord God and Saviour when we do not accept His free gift of salvation and love.
Even when we learn that Jesus "will give unto him [us] that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Revelation 21:6) Indeed, Jesus said, "He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:6)
This is the same living water that Jesus offered the woman at the well. Therein, Jesus said, "whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14)
You see, He loved us enough to give us the kingdom, if we would only reach out and ask Jesus into our heart and lives, seeking His righteousness over worldly things.
"But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared -- not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)
"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the word, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love ... having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded to us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself ..." (Ephesians 1:4-5)
This is the salvation message that God intended for His people from the very beginning -- that He -- the King of kings loved us enough to shed His precious blood on a cross for you and I.
Sadly, not every one will accept His grace and mercy.
John wrote: "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not ... but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on His name ... which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-12)
It is this latter promise that we need to take hold of. Why? Because this explains why our Lord God and Saviour Jesus -- the Christ -- invites us to come and stand in His presence, and to drink of the living water that springs up into everlasting life. This is why Paul the apostles said, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
John wrote: "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not ... but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, to them that believe on His name ... which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-12)
It is this latter promise that we need to take hold of. Why? Because this explains why our Lord God and Saviour Jesus -- the Christ -- invites us to come and stand in His presence, and to drink of the living water that springs up into everlasting life. This is why Paul the apostles said, "I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
His salvation message to mankind cannot be emphasized enough. That is, "in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded to us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself." (Ephesians 1:7-9)
Therefore, ask Jesus into your heart today. Make Him the King of kings in all your daily endeavours. And, as Peter standing with the eleven instructed the first three thousand believers on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-38)
So, when the worldly struggles emerge against us, "let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms, for the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." (Psalm 95:2-4)
Stand in the offering plate.
Therefore, ask Jesus into your heart today. Make Him the King of kings in all your daily endeavours. And, as Peter standing with the eleven instructed the first three thousand believers on the day of Pentecost, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:37-38)
So, when the worldly struggles emerge against us, "let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms, for the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods." (Psalm 95:2-4)
Stand in the offering plate.
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