A Perfect Sacrifice
Father, thank You for the honor of blood donation. That You would create us so that we could share such a vital substance is awesome. The intricacy and versatility of Your creation are astounding!
John 1:14 (<<click here to read the passage)
How often in life do we wish for some instrument that would take volatile circumstances and bring peace? What if you had something as simple as a garage door open with a button that instead of opening the door to your garage would instantly bring peace.
Work environments, not to mention families, are quite often places where anger can run amuck. Wouldn’t it be great if with one push of your “peace control” the anger would just melt away? How great would it be if the red would fade from the chief antagonist’s eyes and understanding would come to be known and peace would reign?
I remember when Massey was just a little guy, and something would upset him to the point of hot tears flowing down his tiny face. On more than one occasion we would slip into a public restroom stall giving me a chance to get down on his level and get him to just breathe. He wasn’t in trouble, but I would say, “OK, Mass, just take a big breath.” With all the emotion still playing through him, he would do so, a bit shaky at first but he just needed help getting himself under control. Once that happened, everything was cool.
The last thought from my study Bible* of John 1:14 says that when the Word became flesh, Christ became the perfect sacrifice – Jesus came as a sacrifice for all sins, and his death satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of sin (Colossians 1:15-23).
In verses 19-20 of the first chapter of Colossians the Apostle Paul writes,
For God in all his fullness
….was pleased to live in Christ,
and through him God reconciled
….everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
….by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. NLT
Jesus was the only “peace control” able to help us get ourselves under control. For the most part, we are utter failures at maintaining peace. Our world is a mess. Something is said or done and “BOOM!” we blow up and anger takes control. We can’t stop it and once it’s underway we can’t seem to slow it down.
But once and for all, Christ gave Himself up to bring true and unending peace. Through His sacrifice, God reconciled everything to himself. And it wasn’t just for one or two incidents of strife and division. Because of Christ’s sacrifice – His perfect sacrifice – by means of Christ’s blood on the cross, God made peace with everything in heaven and on earth… (emphasis mine)
We simply cannot maintain peace. Even in relationships where we truly love one another, far too often, peace is shattered over some trivial matter. Words are said, actions are taken, and peace is gone.
Lord Jesus, we call out to You. You are our only hope. And not just with each other in our time here on earth but most importantly, Your sacrifice satisfied God’s requirements for the removal of sin from our lives and now peace – eternal peace – with You is ours. Praise Your holy name!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Feb 18th, 2021, Thurs, 7:23 pm
Even Me!
Father, my praise rises to You. You are my Provider. You are my Creator. You are my Savior. You are my Sustainer. May I always be mindful of these, and so many more, of Your mighty and majestic attributes!
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My brain needs a change of direction, so I’d like to step away from John 1:14 and write about something, as many of you well know, that is near and dear to my heart…music!
I love many of the old hymns and regularly have the pleasure of singing them. One thing about the whole pandemic is that it has necessitated virtual worship. And to keep costs to an absolute minimum, I have chosen to not spend money on any kind of licensing that would allow me to use newer hymns. Everything that we sing or play in our services falls into the category of public domain. Each of them is no longer copyrighted.
I have a book published in 1990 (Oh, my, that was 30 years ago!) entitled Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. The hymn for today is “Jesus Loves Even Me”. It was one of many songs written by Philip P. Bliss. Bliss was an associate of evangelist Dwight L. Moody and Major Daniel W. Whittle (an acclaimed lyricist in his own right – he wrote both “I Know Whom I Have Believed” and “Showers of Blessing”). At the age of 38 Bliss’s life tragically came to an end when he and his wife were killed in a terrible train accident.
Bliss wrote “Jesus Loves Even Me” in 1870. Growing up, I knew it as a children’s hymn, but it applies to all children of God. After attending a service where the hymn “O How I Love Jesus” was sung repeatedly, Bliss thought, “Have I not been singing enough about my poor love for Jesus and shall I not rather sing of His great love for me?” Soon he completed both the words and music… (p.58)
The Apostle John records Jesus as saying,
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love…” John 15:9 NLT
As I read through the six verses he wrote, the last one grabbed my attention.
In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blessed;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.
How many times do we feel that the world has just run over us like a Mack truck? That old deceiver, the devil, stands smirking over us with the attitude that once more he has taken us down. I love the last two lines, Satan, dismayed, from my soul now doth flee, When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.
There is power in our relationship with Jesus! If we do as Jesus admonishes us, “Remain in my love” then the powers of earth and hell itself cannot stand against us! The devil flees, just knowing that Jesus loves us!
The closing sentence of the devotional sums it all up. Take time to thank your Lord once more for His great love for you personally, a love that cannot be comprehended but can only be gratefully accepted by faith.
Here’s a nice rendition of the hymn and it even includes the verse I noted. Enjoy!
Feb 17th, 2021, Tues, 8:29 pm
Follow the Perfect Example
I am grateful for Your long-suffering love, Father. Where would I be without You? I would surely be lost. Though I so often am unsteady, You are my rock. May I stand beside You each day and strive to be like Your Son in everything I say and do. Amen.
John 1:14 (<<click here to read the passage)
I was a part of a group of boys who ended up in the principal’s office when I was in the 5th grade, for running in the hall. Parents were called as we suffered the consequences for disregarding the rules of safety.
If we exceed the speed limit and a police officer pulls us over, we often suffer for our actions by receiving a ticket.
Over the course of our lives, if we overindulge and avoid exercise, it is a distinct possibility that our bodies will suffer from all kinds of potential reactions as a result of our misdeeds and neglect.
I could go on and on for we all have suffered in some way for things we have said or done that were out of line. And truly we deserved whatever punishment we received.
But here’s the question…have you ever suffered for doing good?
The second portion of the note from my study Bible* regarding the first few words of verse 14. (And the Word (Christ) became flesh… AMP; So the Word became human… NLT) states that by the Word becoming flesh, becoming human, Christ became the perfect example as a model of what we are to become, he shows us how to live and gives us the power to live that way (1 Peter 2:21).
Peter’s words from the noted reference read as follows:
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:21 NLT
Hmmm…I would say that for most of us, that is a lot easier said than done. I know I’m pushing the obvious, but I can say that I would stand for what is right and that I would do the right thing but when push came to shove…would I?
We all would like to think we would…but would we?
In school, a student who just doesn’t fit in with the crowd is once more being ostracized. We want to sit with our friends but that still small Voice in our heart of hearts suggests we sit with the rejected student. Do we just ignore the Voice…or will we sit with someone who needs a friend?
On my bus, on occasion, I hear students using words such as “gay” and “retarded” in very demeaning ways. Do I pretend I don’t hear them, or do I call them out?
It’s easy to sit back and act as if everything is hunky-dory but if it’s not…what do we do?
Of course, these examples are pretty mild. But what would we do if someone went off on a profanity-laced tirade about how there is no God and that people who think that way just need to get a life? Would we stay tight-lipped, just wanting to avoid any confrontation? Do we lay into them, yelling that they are the one who needs to get a life? Or do we patiently…lovingly…share why we disagree and see where the Lord leads the conversation?
The Word – Christ – is the perfect example for us and models what we can become by showing how to live. And – here’s an important part we cannot miss – He not only shows us how to live but gives us the power to live that way. He empowers us to stand strong but only if we stand in Him.
Lord Jesus, help us to closely follow Your example and to suffer for doing good if that’s what it takes as we follow in Your steps. Amen.
Feb 16th, 2021, Tues, 7:49 pm
The Perfect Teacher
Our snowy adventure continues! With several inches still on the ground from the last heavy snowfall a couple of weeks ago, we are due to get more tonight, possibly eight or more! Father, my prayers go out to all those who must be out – those who are driving plows, law enforcement, health care professionals, to name a few – and for those who foolish enough to not take conditions seriously. Amen.
John 1:14 (<<click here to read the passage)
I hold a very high regard for teachers and I’m sure in that I have lived with one for almost 35 years does influence my opinion to some degree! Karen is a wonderful 1st Grade teacher and has impacted literally 1,000s of lives and continues to do so.
I can recall a few of my teachers from so very long ago. I remember my 1st Grade teacher from Quick Elementary in West Virginia. Her name was Miss Fleshman. Mr. Goodwin was my 6th Grade Social Studies teacher in Mason, Ohio. I was in his class in 1976 and remember drawing a political cartoon of Anwar Sadat – then president of Egypt – regarding his failed attempt at peace with Israel. My high school band teacher was Miss Marshall. At the time, our high school didn’t have a choir and she consented to direct a Christian musical made up of several students in our area. The next year, Tucker County High School had a choir!
Each of these individuals impacted my life. And of course, there were many more, some I remember…others are a little fuzzier in my memory. None were by any means perfect, but each one of them we gifted and gave of themselves to further me along in my educational journey. And I am the better for it.
As I read through the notes of my study Bible* I was intrigued by what it had to say about the first few words of verse 14.
And the Word (Christ) became flesh… AMP
So the Word became human… NLT
The initial part of the study note stated that by the Word becoming flesh, becoming human, Christ became the perfect teacher – in Jesus’ life we see how God thinks and therefore how we should think…
It then gave Philippians 2:5-11 as a reference. The New Living Translation is far less wordy but, oh my, I just had to share the Amplified Bible version of it. (This is one of those passages that you must read slowly to catch it all!)
Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], who, although He existed in the form and unchanging essence of God [as One with Him, possessing the fullness of all the divine attributes—the entire nature of deity], did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped or asserted [as if He did not already possess it, or was afraid of losing it]; but emptied Himself [without renouncing or diminishing His deity, but only temporarily giving up the outward expression of divine equality and His rightful dignity] by assuming the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men [He became completely human but was without sin, being fully God and fully man]. After He was found in [terms of His] outward appearance as a man [for a divinely-appointed time], He humbled Himself [still further] by becoming obedient [to the Father] to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also [because He obeyed and so completely humbled Himself], God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow [in submission], of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father.
Wow! Jesus was a teacher who led by example…an example that we are to follow. As we are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) so we should follow His example with the same exuberance! We are truly blessed to have such a great teacher leading the way before us!
Feb 15th, 2021, Mon, 7:40 pm
Be Ready! It’s Coming!
Father, thank You for Your presence throughout the day, from our time of worship together to our day spent together as a family. May tonight be a night of restful sleep for us all and may tomorrow be full of promise as we seek to follow Your will and guidance. Amen.
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There are times when we are caught unawares at the arrival of snow or ice where we live. Fog can be an unexpected issue, as well. Our leadership, i.e., our school superintendent and our transportation director, are responsible for making the determination if roads are safe enough for buses and student drivers to get to school. They take these duties very seriously. They are out on the road themselves to make the best judgment call on road conditions hours before bus drivers and students would be out and about.
Many times, it is a last-minute decision on whether to have a delay to the start of school or to cancel school altogether.
Recently, the storm didn’t sneak up on us, but we knew what was coming. Forecasters were warning of heavy accumulations of snow, and many schools actually canceled the night before school, giving parents and school workers ample to prepare for childcare and whatnot. Wisely, we were part of that group.
We are off for President’s Day tomorrow, but we have a pretty big snowstorm forecasted for our region. We may get 8-10 inches of snow, with some areas getting upward to 12 inches of snow! Time will tell. There’s a very good chance that we will not have school on Tuesday. But again, time will tell.
The last couple of days, we ran a few errands picking up some things for ourselves and Karen’s parents just to make sure we are prepared for whatever may come. Many places we stopped were packed with urgent shoppers. There were many bare shelves. We weren’t the only ones getting ready!
Over two thousand years ago, Jesus made a very reliable forecast. As recorded in Matthew 24:44, Jesus proclaimed, “You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” NLT
We know that He’s coming but…are we ready? He said we must be ready all the time…We prepare for a possible large quantity of snow – we have bread, milk, and toilet paper ready! …but are we ready for the guaranteed arrival of Jesus?
May we take seriously the admonition of the Apostle Peter as found in his letter to fellow believers.
The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]. 1 Peter 4:7-8 AMP
Be ready! It’s coming! Specifically, He is coming!
Feb 14th, 2021, Sun, 8:31 pm