Month: April 2015

“We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

A friend reminded me of this verse when I was sharing with her a troubling situation and fearing a poor outcome. My thoughts sometimes get carried away with seeking human solutions to problems that are not mine to solve. Thankfully, God’s plan is so much better than mine.

“It is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21b

If I could see ahead perfectly, I would not need faith. And the Lord requires faith.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

I love those accounts of faith that are described in Hebrews 11 of Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab and others. They trusted the Lord for that which they could not see.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1

When I am peering into the future, trying to live by sight, I am not giving Christ his rightful place in my heart.

“I pray that… he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit…, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16, 17a

Jesus died on the cross as He said He would. His body was placed in the tomb. He was raised from the dead on the third day, as He promised. He returned to His disciples, reminding them of God’s plan to save mankind from their sin.

It was their mission, and ours, to share the redeeming power of His promised death and resurrection with the world.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Jesus promised to be with them and to send the Holy Spirit to empower them for the mission He gave them. We can claim these promises as well.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

It was after Peter received the promised Holy Spirit from the risen Christ that he was able to say to the crowds of people who had come to Jerusalem for Pentecost, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38

The promise of forgiveness and receiving the Holy Spirit is for all who answer the call to follow Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers living each day for the Lord, and sharing Jesus Christ with others. We can trust absolutely in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us.

The promises of Jesus Christ are sure. He is a promise keeper.

Our calendars mark the day of Jesus Christ rising from the tomb to live again and forever, as Easter or Resurrection Sunday. Women who loved Jesus and mourned his death on the cross returned to the tomb where his body had been laid to find it empty.

An angel appeared to these woman and said “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ Then they remembered his words.” Luke 24:6-8

And then Jesus appeared to his disciples. “He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” Luke 24:46-48

This is the hope we have in Jesus Christ: He died for our sin, He conquered death, and He lives at God’s right hand interceding for us.

“but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25

Today I received a lovely card from a friend and mentor who wrote, “Because He lives, I can_____” and invited me to fill in the blank. I invite you to do the same.

This is the day the calendar is marked to remember what we call Good Friday. It is the Good News of Jesus Christ. It was the day for which Jesus was born, to die on the cross for the sin of the world. His whole purpose for coming to earth as a man was to die for our redemption from sin. He lived every day of his life for that end. My gratitude is inadequate for His great faithfulness in living and dying for me.

Jesus did not live a king’s life during his brief 33 years on the earth. He disappointed many who hoped he would become their earthly king and rescue them from their earthly bondage. But He stayed focused on his purpose, constantly in tune with the Father.

Jesus lived a perfect life and therefore was able to accomplish our redemption through his death on the cross. It was God’s plan to redeem individuals from their sin debt so that their relationship with Him could be restored. With Jesus’ death came our hope and promise of eternal kinship as sons and daughters of the Almighty God.

My aim is to live a life that proves my faith in His atonement, one day and one decision at a time. May I live increasingly focused on and obedient to the will of God, my Father in heaven.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:16-21