Jesus Died For Me - 08/12/00 04:47 PM
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh.
The cross of Calvary appeals to us in power, affording a reason why we should love our Saviour, and why we should make Him first and last and best in everything. We should take our fitting place in humble penitence at the foot of the cross. Here, as we see our Saviour in agony, the Son of God dying, the just for the unjust, we may learn lessons of meekness and lowliness of mind. Behold Him who with one word could summon legions of angels to His assistance, a subject of jest and merriment, of reviling and hatred. He gives Himself a sacrifice for sin. When reviled, He threatens not; when falsely accused, He opens not His mouth. He prays on the cross for His murderers. He is dying for them; He is paying an infinite price for every one of them. He bears the penalty of man's sins without a murmur. And this uncomplaining victim is the Son of God. His throne is from everlasting, and His kingdom shall have no end.
Come, you who are seeking your own pleasure in forbidden joys and sinful indulgences, you who are scattering from Christ, look upon the cross of Calvary; behold the royal victim suffering on your account, and while you have opportunity be wise, and seek the fountain of life and true happiness. Come, you who complain and murmur at the little inconveniences and the few trials you must meet in this life, look on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. He turned from His royal throne, His high command, and, laying aside His divinity, clothed Himself with humanity. For our sakes He was rejected and despised; He became poor that we through His poverty might be made rich. Can you, beholding by the eye of faith the sufferings of Christ, tell your trials, your tale of woe? Can you nurse revenge in your heart while you remember the prayer that came from the pale and quivering lips of Christ for His revilers, his murderers: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"?
There is a work before us to subdue the pride and vanity that seek a place in our hearts, and through penitence and faith to bring ourselves into familiar and holy converse with Christ. . . . We must deny self, and fight continually against pride. We must hide self in Jesus, and let Him appear in our character and conversation. While we look constantly to Him whom our sins have pierced and our sorrows have burdened, we shall acquire strength to be like Him. Our lives, our deportment, will testify how highly we prize our Redeemer, and the salvation He has wrought out for us at such a cost to Himself. And our peace will be as a river while we bind ourselves in willing, happy captivity to Jesus (Signs of the Times, Mar. 17, 1887).
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Happy Sabbath to all of God's Children. As I was reading for part of my devotions this morning I read the above quote from the "Pen of Inspiration". This had touched my heart this morning. I have read this before but for some reason this morning this passage has a bright light around it for me. As we all know Satan loves for us to think of the things that have been done to us unfairly in this world. I sure have had my share as I know you all have...Satan loves for me to ask myself, "if Jesus loves you so much Avalee why did He let this happen to you...why did He not set things right for you?" I praise God that those questions do not come up in my mind as much as they use to. These are God's problems...not mine. I did my part in whatever the problem might be...and now it is in His hands. He knows how to take care of it all....I MUST trust in Him to take care of HIS children in the way HE knows how. I know what I would do....but maybe that is not the correct way to straighten out the problem at hand. It has been a very very hard lesson for me to learn..my prayer is that each time something comes my way I am able to do what I know is the right thing and leave the rest of it all up to God. When I do not leave it at the foot of the cross for Jesus to handle my mind is all stirred up all the time...I do not have that "inner peace" that I have found by trusting and loving Jesus. Have a very blessed Sabbath Day everyone.
In The Blessed Hope
Avalee