Archive for October, 2018
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord , plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11, ESV
Do not be uninformed: this is a promise that suffering and pain will come, but there is hope for future good.
Ultimately, this promise falls to Christians awaiting eternity with Christ.
As we continue looking at hymns and songs that majorly impacted my my spiritual life – and I offer a reminder to check out the other blog I contribute to, ProverbialThought.com, and the daily thoughts on the Bible (specifically Proverbs) – I offer another two songs that directly relate to last week’s hymns.
What can take a dying man and raise him up to life again?
What can heal a wounded soul?
What can make us white as snow?
What can fill the emptiness?
What can mend our brokenness?
Brokenness[Chorus:]
Mighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the holy cross
Where the Lamb laid down His life
To lift us from the fall
Mighty is the power of the crossWhat restores our faith in God?
What reveals the Father’s love?
What can lead the wayward home?
What can melt a heart of stone?
What can free the guilty ones
What can save and overcome?
Overcome[Chorus:]
It’s a miracle to me
And It’s still a mystery [2x]
It’s a miracle to me
The power of God
For those who believeMighty, awesome, wonderful
Is the holy cross
Where the Lamb laid down His life
To lift us from the fall
Mighty is …
Mighty is …
Mighty is the power of the crossThank You for the cross [2x]
Love the cross [2x]
So Powerful …
What can take a dying man?
And raise him up to life again?Worship You Jesus
By your wounds we are healed
By your wounds we are saved
Mighty is the power of the cross [2x]
Thank You Jesus for the Holy cross
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Refrain]
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.For my pardon, this I see,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Refrain]
Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Refrain]
This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Refrain]
Now by this I’ll overcome—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Refrain]
Glory! Glory! This I sing—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.[Refrain]
As discussed last time, the cross is central to Christian theology and doctrine. It is the ultimate demonstration of love, that the Father loves us and the Son calls us friends, willing to lay His life down for us (John 15, 1 John 3:16).
Further, there is no forgiveness of sins but by the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9-10), and Christ’s blood being spilled is what has brought us peace with God and cleansed us of our sin (Isaiah 53, Hebrews 13).
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
James 1:13-14 ESV
It is not God’s fault that we are tempted and sin. The devil may tempt us, or his followers, but it really comes down to our desires and choices.
Yours, O Lord , is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord , and you are exalted as head above all.
1 Chronicles 29:11 ESV
God is the only one worthy of all glory and praise and worship, for only He could create and hold together everything and redeem His people.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV
The reward for trusting in Him is the salvation of pur souls.
That’s the power of love.
Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.
1 Peter 2:16, ESV
Do not say, “I can just ask for forgiveness later,” or “I have freedom in Christ, so I can do whatever!”
You are still a slave to sin if you use excuses to sin or to whitewash sin.
Be a slave of Christ, chained to righteousness and love.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24, ESV
Even Jesus had a small band of close friends (12) with an even smaller set of really close friends (James and John and Peter).
If you have hundreds of friends, but no confidants, you may find yourself alone when trouble hits.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Philippians 2:3-4, KJV
Do not cause problems or seek popularity or fame.
Take care of yourself, sure, but even more importantly take care of other people.
But, again, do not help others to seek favor, fame, or … revenge.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6, ESV
Jesus came at the right time in history to show us our need for God and His forgiveness, and He sacrificed Himself to bring that forgiveness. If we believe, we are saved from God’s judgment.
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.
Proverbs 15:31, ESV
The ultimate life-giving reproof?
You are a sinner in need a Savior, and Jesus of Nazareth is that Savior.
a simple man of God 