Would there be enough evidence to convict you and me?
My sin hammered the nails into the hands and feet of Jesus my Saviour on the Cross. How did He repay me? He made me innocent of all sin and prepared a home in heaven for me. This is why it is so wrong (Colossians 3:13) not to forgive anyone for anything.
“Take the world with all its treasures and pleasures,
take them, take them, one and all,
give me Christ my precious Saviour,
He is far sweeter than them all.”
Were you with me at the Cross of Calvary? Will you be with me in heaven?
But Jesus went even farther, He called us (John 15:15) His friends. (Oswald Chambers) “The fruitfulness of friendship reveals itself in incredible humbleness, unsullied purity and absolute devotion to God.”
Although God does not protect Christians from the results of (John 16:33) living in a fallen world, I find that in these difficulties I experience the magnitude of God’s kindness and loving patience with me and deepens my relationship with Him. Impulse is the enemy of discipline. Therefore (2 Corinthians 10:5) we refute every argument and theory which sets itself against the knowledge of God and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. Yes, Omniscient wisdom and knowledge and Yes, Omnipotent power lavished on me by God’s Grace in Christ Jesus. All that I (Romans 8:32) freely receive came at tremendous cost to Jesus. Let me never forget.
Peter and John were commanded and threatened by the Rulers never to teach about the Name of Jesus. They replied (Acts 4:19-20) whether it is better to obey God or men, you be the judge. As for us, we will continue to proclaim the Truth. Many Bible-based preachers to-day believe that Christians will experience persecution in our country just as many believers do in other parts of the world. Their suffering is a message to their brutal persecutors. The Persecuted Church is a brilliant light shining on the supreme value, the matchless worth of Jesus. If you are not loyal to Jesus now in the tiniest details, you will cave in and utterly deny Him when the pressure comes. Statistics show that only 18% of evangelical Christians read the Bible daily. If we regularly nourish our souls on God’s Word, love, trust and obey Him, He will enable us to remain steadfast and loyal no matter what.
Mary Magdalene was just a weed-like flower, but by the miracle of Grace, Jesus transformed her into a beautiful flowering blossom in the garden of God.
This Grace is the touch of the Master’s hand that transformed Peter from a man who denied Jesus into a disciple who died for Him.
Saul was a bitter enemy of Jesus and His followers, but the Master’s touch transformed him into Paul, who was possibly the greatest Christian of all. He also was martyred for His unstoppable faith in Jesus and for continually teaching the Truth of the risen Lord.
This is what the touch of the Master’s hand will do for anyone who comes to Him for the forgiveness of their sin through the shed Blood and Atoning death of Jesus (John 3:36) and surrenders himself to His control, and subjects himself to His Lordship.
Almighty God the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) is my holy, heavenly seal of God’s ownership of me. God will energize me for every circumstance He engineers for me. The Lord uses our difficulties to strengthen our faith. The odds against Gideon (Judges 7:8) began with 3 to 1 then became 13 to 1 and ended up with 450 to 1. No chance for any Israelites to take any credit. The victory is accomplished by (Judges 7:10-15) to Whom numbers and obstacles count for nothing. God is working on both sides. We can learn and profit if we will read, heed and appropriate the Truth.
Remember that Jesus is (John 14:6) the only WAY, the only TRUTH and the only LIFE. “Without the WAY there is no going, without the TRUTH there is no knowing, without the LIFE there is no living.” (Dr. Swindoll).
Going back to the title of this meditation - - if the courts of our land outlawed Christianity and made it a crime for which there was severe and painful punishment - - would you and I be found guilty as charged? I hear Jesus asking a question (John 21:15) “Do you love me above all else?” You can judge and decide for yourself – is it better to obey God or men? There was a time when (Acts 17:6) the Church turned the world upside down. Sadly to-day we often see the world turning the church upside down. The world is like a strong current which can pull us off our course if we let ourselves drift. We dare not drift away from God’s Word. God meets our needs every day (Matthew 6:33) not for self-indulgence but to equip us for obedience. Wherever the Lord sends us, whether across the ocean or to the hospital or next door, if we co-operate with God’s plan to make Christ known and to share this Gospel as loving, willing servants of the Lord Jesus, we will be filled with the glory of God.
We can also encourage believers by showing hospitality to the saints and strengthen the family ties of the family of God. Cover everything by heart-to-heart prayer with our heavenly Father. This is (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5) the Mind of Christ.
After the full and final surrender of my will and of all my rights to God, my whole life (Oswald Chambers) “will be an aspiration for unbroken communion with Him.” - - at all times and in every circumstance.