The good news of Christ
Lord Jesus, save me from my sin,
From harm without, from guilt within.
Throw every wrong in the deepest sea.
A holy man of God make me.
Lord Jesus, save me from this world:
Its surface teems with creatures wild.
Its prince our simple innocence stole.
Restore to me the harmless soul.
Lord Jesus, save me from myself:
The hardened heart is blind and deaf.
Give purpose greater far than I
And life eternal for when I die.
While the ant scurries away, unworthy of the crumb it carries, I am aware of how I could bless (or overwhelm) its life with the entire cake I hold. Such is God’s grace to us. So, how should we respond? Probably like Paul did for the grace God showed the Christians in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:4-9).
I. 2 Corinthians 8:3-7. A busy seaport city, Corinth was filled with immorality and idolatry, and despite the problems that Paul would address in his letters to them, he begins by giving thanks to God for the grace that He has shown them. He later urges them to show grace in giving like the churches in northern Greece have shown, letting them know that God has so much more from His abundance that He can give them (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). We, as they, might sing:
Thank You, Lord, for loving me And thank You, Lord, for blessing me. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole And saving my soul.
Let us all with one accord Sing praises to Christ the Lord. Let us all unite in song To praise Him all day long.
Please reveal Your will for me So I can serve You for eternity. Use my life in every way, Take hold of it today.
Thank You, Lord, for loving me. Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul.
II. 2 Peter 1:3-4. Paul was thankful to God that He continued to give to the Corinthians and would sustain them until the end. Since God has already given us His Son, all else is small in comparison (Romans 8:32). He gives all we need for life and godliness through His great and precious promises so we might participate in the divine nature with Him and escape this corrupt world. Our response should be a song of thankfulness from our hearts:
For all that You’ve done, I will thank You. For all that You’re going to do. For all that You’ve promised, and all that You are Is all that has carried me through, Jesus, I thank You!
And I thank You, thank You, Lord. And I thank You, thank You, Lord.
Thank You for loving and setting me free, (how I) Thank You for giving Your life just for me. How I thank You, Jesus, I thank You, gratefully thank You. Thank You.
III. Romans 7:21-25. Paul was also thankful that Jesus was able to present them guiltless (Jude 24) because God is faithful. And so, we can also trust in Jesus’ work in the gospel for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Access to the Tree of Life that was denied mankind to live forever (Genesis 3:22) is now opened to those who obey the gospel (Revelation 22:14). Lamenting his struggle of the spiritual war waged within himself that we all share, Paul gave thanks to Jesus for his salvation:
Is thankfulness the song of your heart? Do you reflect on all the ways that Jesus helps you and what He has given you? May you overflow with thanks to God for His grace that He’s already given You and love He’ll continue to shower you with.
From the critical spirit, which sees only wrong things in everything, save me, Lord.
From pessimism, which thinks that no one wants to know the Good News of Christ, save me, Lord.
From spiritual laziness, which lacks the strength to resist the devil, save me, Lord. Continue reading “Save me, Lord”
2 Corinthians 12.15
The world away from me is vast.
I would despair and stand aghast
Were it not for the Lord who said
We must not fear nor feel its dread,
For he is with us to the end.
Oh, God, may I be spent and spend.
Americans have a history of rebelling against what they perceive is wrong. From the Boston tea party through Rosa Parks to stadiums erupting in “Let’s Go, Brandon!” they find ways to let the status quo know how they feel. So, how does a Christian rebel? Perhaps in ways like 1 Thessalonians 5:18 begins by telling us to “give thanks in all circumstances.” We’re not just thankful when things are going our way–but even when there’s no earthly way the things we are going through can be good (Mark 8:34-35). Take that, world!
I. Matthew 5. To rebel against the world, we must choose man’s weakness. The Sermon on the Mount is a Christian’s Declaration of Independence! In it, Jesus turns all of man’s wisdom and weapons upside down. In it we are blessed if we are poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted. It’s only with God’s wisdom that we’re better off if we mourn or hunger and thirst for righteousness, and isn’t it weak to love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, and turn the other cheek? Yet, Jesus showed us at the cross that this denying of ourselves works!
II. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22. We must also choose God’s strength. In the closing of his letter, Paul outlines actions that the Christians in Thessalonica could do to rebel against the world like admonishing the idle, encouraging the fainthearted, helping the weak, being patient and our brother’s keeper, doing good, rejoicing always, praying unceasingly, and giving thanks in all circumstances …. Just as Jesus chose the Father’s will over His own (Luke 22:41-43), so must we if we are a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2). It is only by doing what is most difficult that we carry our crosses!
III. Matthew 27:28-31. Finally, we must choose Jesus’ path. We lose many, especially boys, when we only portray a meek and mild Jesus. Both the Jesus who loves and judges must be balanced. As the Lamb of God, He is concealed; as the Lion of Judah, He is revealed. The same Jesus who asked the little children to gather to Him is the Word of God on a white horse with a sword coming from His mouth to strike down the nations. We must be willing to drink His cup (Matthew 20:21-23) while we walk as He did (1 John 2:5-6). Only then can we live in true rebellion against the world!
If you only live a little different in degree but not character than the world, then you are in a very silent rebellion against it. How will you win souls for Christ with your example or your teaching if you’re not denying yourself, taking up your cross, and following Him?
In Western thought the rich ruler’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” might be thought of as an event, but the Greek indicates the concept of abiding. Perhaps it would be better asked, “How must I abide to inherit eternal life?” Jesus goes to the heart of what is separating this man from Him by getting him to address his love of material possessions. Once he has done that, then Jesus tells him to “come, follow me,” a continuous action to abide with Him (Luke 18:18-23). The song, “Abide with Me,” encourages us to take hold of the heavenly joys that could be ours:
Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; The darkness deepens: Lord with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
I. Matthew 6:19-21. The rich ruler chose earth over eternity. Where our treasure is, there our heart is also. So, is yours in heaven or on earth? The rich ruler went away sad because he loved this world that is temporary and passing away (1 John 2:15-17). The hymn continues:
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
II. James 1:13-15. The rich ruler chose sin over strength. The tempter tempts us from the evil desires within us, yes, but we each are guilty when we give into that temptation and sin. We choose our comfort in what pleases us rather than trusting in Jesus (John 14:1-6). The song speaks of this too:
I need Thy presence ev’ry passing hour: What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Thro’ cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!
III. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10. The rich ruler chose terror over triumph. We’re bound to have struggles in this life, but only through Jesus can we have victory (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). And only in an abiding relationship with Jesus can we truly know His love (John 17:14-23). Let us not, choose to be condemned with the world instead:
I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me!
For each of us, there may be something different that keeps us from abiding with Jesus. Let us not be like the rich ruler who was sad because he was unwilling to give up temporary treasure for a heavenly reward. As the song concludes:
Hold Thou thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies; Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!