“Here I am! I stand at the door and
knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he
with me.”
(Revelation 3:20 NIV)
Oh, the sovereignty of God! There is a sweet peace when I think of Jesus coming to me. I cannot save myself. In fact, I have pushed the Holy Spirit away too many times to count. He never gives up. He pursues those He loves. I will listen for His knock and ask Him to live in my heart. I hope you will, too!
“We demolish arguments and every
pretension
that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)
“What was I thinking?” I ask myself several times a day. Thoughts are not random, as I once thought, but babies birthed from my heart. I should be asking, “What is in my heart?” Paul instructed the church at Corinth to capture every thought for Christ. I will try very hard to do just that. I hope you will, too!
“Because through Christ Jesus the law
of the Spirit of life
set me free from the law of sin and
death.”
(Romans 8:2 NIV)
One of my favorite gospel songs
is “He Set Me Free”:
Once like a bird in prison I dwelt
No freedom from sorrow I felt
But Jesus came and listened to me
And Glory to God, He set me free!
“This is what the Lord says:
‘Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in
it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
(Jeremiah 6:16 NIV)
Jesus quoted this passage from Jeremiah in Matthew 11. The tried and true ways of Judah’s ancestors would have led God’s children back to Him. But they thought they knew better than the Creator of the Universe. Sounds familiar to me! I will walk on the ancient paths. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore, there is now no
condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 8:1 NIV)
The law brings condemnation because it points out, stimulates, and condemns sin. The Christian is no longer under “the law” but controlled by the Holy Spirit. I am united with Christ through faith in Him. I am allowed to enter into the presence of the King only through His blood. When my heavenly Father sees me, He sees His Son, too. I will rejoice in my freedom in Christ, my Brother. I hope you will, too!
“Because He Himself suffered when He
was tempted,
He is able to help those who are being
tempted.”
(Hebrews 2:18 NIV)
Jesus experienced every kind of temptation a person can have, and did not sin. He is the only One who could claim sinlessness, because He created it. The Creation messed up His plans, allowed by His perfect love. I cannot grasp that love, but I do not have to. I will thank Him for taking my place of punishment and paying my debt to Him. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore He is able to save
completely
those who come to God through Him,
because He always lives to intercede
for them.”
(Hebrews 7:25 NIV)
Because Jesus lives forever, He is a permanent priest. He is the ultimate Priest, the High Priest of all creation. It is humbling to know He talks to the Father about me. When I stumble and fall, He picks me up and presents me in His righteousness. I will stand up for Him and thank Him for standing up for me. I hope you will, too!
