The Lord saves us from what? In a single word – condemnation. John 3:18 tells us that from the womb we are condemned already…destined to Hell. No amount of good works will ever save you. Nor will you ever make it to Heaven on your believing Grandmother’s shirt-tails. But most strikingly, you will never be able to save yourself. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can deliver you from the wrath that is to come. Only He can offer you freedom from an eternal sentence of Hell.
Tag: lord and savior
Malachi 1:14 “For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and My name is to be feared among nations.”
You are the Lord Almighty. The mightiest Warrior…the all-powerful King of Israel. Your Rulership is over the entire universe. By Your power, You have created all things, and You stand ever ready to preserve their existence. We thank You Lord for Your faithfulness, and stand in awe of Your total authority.
Zechariah 1:3 ” ‘Return to Me’, declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you’…”
Job 22:23 says, “If you return to the Almighty you will be restored.” The responsibility lies on our shoulders…the decision, squarely on us. For only we can resolve to turn around and come back to the Lord. God’s position has never changed…it’s us that have wandered so far away. But if we only turn our hearts back to Him, He will restore and rebuild our lives that are in shambles.
I Thessalonians 2:4 ” On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, Who tests our hearts.”
There will come a time when you’ll come to a crossroads and you’ll have to make a hard decision…do you please man, or God. Sure, pleasing man is easy, painless and non-confrontational…for the moment. But it usually comes with compromise and difficulties in the end. When we intentionally and deliberately focus our conduct on what the Lord would want us to do…people will see that our walk matches our talk.
Numbers 15: 37-38 ” The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue cord on each tassel.’ “
These tassels were to be a visual reminder to obey the Lord’s commands, but in Matthew 23:5, Jesus accused some of the Jewish Leaders of making their tassels so extremely long as to make a show of their religious look. He went on to say, “Everything they do is done for men to see…” In many ways we can do the same, attempting to “look” super spiritual when we’re in certain crowds. God doesn’t look at our outward appearance…He looks at the heart. The Lord is saying to us – trim your tassels …get rid of your religious spirit and focus back on Me.
Psalm 10:1 ” Why, O Lord, do You stand far off? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble? “
We just think God is far off or even worse – hiding from us when times are tough. But it’s only our own apprehension and doubt that causes us to question. In Psalm 46:1 it states, ” God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” The Hebrew meaning for the word ever-present is – to be exceedingly present or found, emphasizing the speed, completeness and might of the Lord’s help. The truth is…God has never left, nor will He ever leave you. Just because we think He’s not “doing anything” does not mean He’s not working in ways we aren’t aware of… for He’s still in control of the entire situation and will work things out for the good of those who love Him.
III John 11 ” Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.”
“Has not seen God…” A perfect case in point for this scripture is when the prophet Isaiah saw the Lord seated on His throne high and lifted up. (Isaiah 6:1) At that moment Isaiah cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” When we perceive the glory, majesty, and power of the living God we suddenly become painfully aware of just how unclean and totally inadequate we are. Our sinful life is laid bare before Him…we have no excuses, no defense before a totally righteous and perfect God. Our only hope then is in the Lord’s unwarranted grace and forgiveness.
Psalm 112: 4 ” Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.”
When a fellow Believer is going through suffering and misery, we sometimes look heavenward and ask God, “Why?” We see examples in the Bible of powerful, Godly people who went through very dark times…and again we ask, “Why?” But if you talk to a Believer who’s gone through a traumatic event, in hindsight they will speak of God’s grace and mercy…of how He carried them when they were exhausted and weak…and of how His peace undergirded them to be able to move ahead day by day. Yes, just like Daniel, we will all spend a night in the lions’ den…but take hope, for God is right there beside you in the darkness until the sunrise.
II Peter 1:4 ” Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”
You can be part of this world, but not polluted by it. (James 1:27) God has given you everything you need to live a victorious life here on earth. The Bible is full of His assurances that you can do it…just take a look.
Job 24: 13 ” There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know Its ways or stay in Its path.”
The light of Jesus has come into the world…but men love darkness, (John 3:19-20). They resist God, not recognizing or acknowledging His majesty and the gift of salvation He offers. He calls all of us to be children of light…for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. (Eph. 5:8-14).
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