Why Jesus Died, Part 1

Chuckle: After reading Romans 3:23 NIV, one pastor said to his audience, Let's all bow our heads and pray for our falling shorts."

Great Quote: "Man's way leads to a hopeless end . . . God's way leads to endless hope." --Unknown Source

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit..." (1 Peter 3:18 NIV).

The answer to the question, "why did Jesus die"?, seems incomprehensible to those who have never heard and understood the gospel message. Someone who has never been led to understand the dimensions of God's love for each and every person has a hard time accepting the reason Christ died such an agonizing death on a cruel wooden cross two millennia ago on a hill outside Jerusalem known as Golgotha.

But because of God's unfathomable love, we learn from Scripture that God sent his Son, Jesus, to the earth for this specific divine purpose. "For God so loved the world that he gave (sacrificed) his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 NIV).

Since Adam and Eve, every man, woman, and child who has ever lived, was born under the burden and penalty of sin. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3-23 NIV). "There is no one righteous, not even one" (Romans 3:10 NIV). The penalty of our sins is death. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 NIV). But God's love reigns supreme. "God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 NIV).

The fact that Jesus died to pay our sin debt once and for all is a simple truth that we learned prior to beginning our Christian experience, but it is also a profound truth that rings in the hearts of believers and fills us with deep gratitude and amazement all the days of our lives. An old chorus proclaims,

"He paid a debt He did not owe,

I owed a debt I could not pay,

I needed someone to wash my sins away,

And now I sing a brand new song

'Amazing Grace' all day long

Christ Jesus paid the debt that I could never pay."

Love, Jerry & Dotse

Have a Great Thanksgiving

"Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation! Let us come before Him with thanksgiving. Let us sing Him psalms of praise" (Psalm 95:2 NLT). "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done." (1 Chronicles 16:8 NIV)

                              

                                           Love, Jerry & Dotse

Reasons to be Thankful, (3)

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Chuckle: "Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but he or she can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake!"

Quote: "But the thing that awakens the deepest well of gratitude in a human being is that God has forgiven sin. . . When you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vice, constrained by the love of God." --Oswald Chambers

MORE REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord" (Psalm 90:2).

We should be thankful for the kindnesses shown us -- as we show kindness to others. Please reflect on all the kindnesses that others have shown you. Few people go through life without major setbacks: divorce; a rebellious child; abusive spouse; untimely death; or career failure, etc. When we go through such difficult times, we should be thankful for those who are there for us with kindness and understanding. Likewise, we should always throw ropes of kindness, not rocks of criticism, to those around us who are experiencing hard times. Jeff Ray, a long-time seminary professor was heard to say, "Young men, be kind to everyone, because everyone is having a hard time." Prayer of young girl: "God, please make all the bad people good, and all the good people kind."

Finally, and most important, we should be thankful for our salvation. God has provided what we need most in life -- a Savior. "If our greatest need had been information . . God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been technology . . . God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money . . . God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been pleasure . . . God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness . . . So God sent us a Savior."

When we think of what Christ did for us, we should fall on our knees in gratitude. All He has done was by His love and grace, not by our merit. Our righteousness is as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6) -- like those worn by the lepers. But God claimed us, cleansed us, and clothed us in his righteousness.

Is Jesus perplexed by our lack of gratitude -- like He was with the nine lepers? We must never be so enamored with the gift that we forget the giver. As Israel approached the Promised Land, Moses warned, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery" (Deuteronomy 6:12 NIV).

This Thanksgiving, "Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song" (Psalm 95:2 NIV). Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love, Jerry & Dotse

Reasons to be Thankful (2)

 

 

Chuckle: A woman wrote on an accident report: "I had to back out of the driveway and by the time I had backed out far enough to see if anything was coming, it already had."

Quote: "Do not take God's gifts for granted. When you receive an unexpected blessing, thank God for his continuing love and be alert to recognize the next time his blessing overtakes you!" --Henry Blackaby

MORE REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6 NIV).

Give thanks for all those who help you. Just pause for a moment and think of the people in your life who are always there when you need them. They lovingly place your welfare above their own. We should thank God for them and pray every day for them: wife, husband, mother, father, friend, neighbor, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. They all help us every day in thousands of ways -- through prayers, encouragement, gifts, kind words, calls, e-mails, etc.

The Christians in Corinth helped Paul by their prayers. ". . . as you help us by your prayers" (2 Corinthians 1:11). The kindnesses and prayers of our Christian friends and family help us in more ways than we can enumerate. The Lord has convicted me that I don't say "thank you" nearly enough to all those who help make my life more enjoyable.

Be thankful for adversity. It has been said: "Travel broadens you and trouble deepens you." As unpleasant as it seems, adversity is good for us. As we saw in previous lessons, God often uses adversity to test, strengthen, and mature us in our faith. J. C. Penny once was asked about the greatest motivators in his life. He said, "I can tell you in four words, Jesus Christ and adversity." Adversity taught him never to give up.

Adversity is to our lives what temper (heat) is to metal -- it makes us stronger and more resilient. Even our Lord had to suffer many adversities during his life here on earth. Like Job, we don't understand all the Lord's ways, but we should always trust him to see us through difficult times. There is no way around adversity and no way over it -- the only way is through it. By God's grace, it builds Christian character.

Be thankful for the time you have. We should relish the moment and never live our lives anchored in the past or in apprehension about the future -- be thankful and enjoy the here and now. Life is precious and extremely brief. "Your life is a mist (vapor) that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14b NIV). We have no guarantee of tomorrow, next week, or next year, and should be thankful for the time God has given us -- time to prepare to meet him when this life is ended. And we should be thankful for the time he has given us to serve him, to show kindnesses, to love, to worship, and to serve others.

Love, Jerry & Dotse

Reasons to be Thankful (1)

Quote: "Thankfulness is a conscious response that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source." --Henry Blackaby

REASONS TO BE THANKFUL

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1 NIV).

Our passage begins a beautiful expression of praise and thanksgiving to God as the Creator and as Deliverer. God's everlasting love is the basis for everything for which we should give thanks. In the next three lessons, we will be reminded of several reasons we should be thankful this Thanksgiving season and all year long. As simple as this exercise will be, I think it important to consider what God has done, and continues to do, for us.

Give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy. Today, I am reminded that Christians are being persecuted all around the world. They are being imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Their Bibles and other Christian literature are being confiscated. They gather for worship under the constant threat of being rounded up as criminals.

We live in a wonderful country, even with all its flaws. God continues to bless us with freedoms that many never experience. Please take the time to thank God for his blessing of freedom. Also, remember that freedom isn't free. Many have sacrificed their lives to protect these freedoms we enjoy. Please pray for those who put their lives on the line every day to guard our freedoms.

Give thanks for material blessings. God does not choose to bless all of us with the same abundance of material things. You may have little or much of this world's goods, but God wants all of us to be equally thankful for what we have. I'm reminded of the words of an astronaut years ago when he described the planet earth, as seen from space, as "an oasis in space." If the earth is an oasis in space, the USA must be a paradise in a barren wasteland compared with much of the world. In this country, our dogs and cats eat better than most people of the world. Our garbage cans tell the tale. I've read that we throw away 10 times our body weight per year. In many countries, people throw away nothing.

John Steinbeck once wrote these words to Adlai Stephenson, "If I wanted to destroy a nation I would give it too much and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, and sick." Do you think America may have reached this point?"

Love, Jerry & Dotse

Things That Last

Note: I’m taking a break for a few days. I plan to be back on Nov 20th.

Chuckle: A patient said to his dentist, "Doctor, I have yellow teeth, what do I do?" The dentist replied, "Wear a brown tie!"

Quote: "Materialism has nothing to do with amount, it has everything to do with attitude" –Unknown author

THINGS THAT LAST

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God's right hand in the place of honor and power" (Colossians 3:1 NLT). "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20 NIV).

I'm always getting solicitations in the mail wanting me to purchase extended warranties on everything from our cars to household appliances. Such warranties are designed to protect us from the inevitable failures of the things we buy. They help give us peace of mind about the "what ifs" in life. Material things cannot be expected to last forever, although many seem to think they will. Without faith, it's much easier to focus on the things we can see and touch here on earth rather than the unseen things above.

No extended warranty is needed in your relationship with your Lord. The salvation we enjoy in Christ is complete and will never fail us or need repair or overhaul. Nothing in addition to what Christ did on the cross is ever needed. ". . . nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:19 NIV). When God designed our salvation, He intended it to last forever and to give us peace of mind that comes from our faith that our eternal destiny is secure in Him.

Our challenge is to think about things above and not be enamored with material things on earth. This is extremely difficult unless our focus remains on the eternal rather than the temporary. Setting our sights on heaven will help us put heavenly priorities into daily practice here and now. We do this by concentrating on acts of obedience to God. It includes ". . . seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these (material) things will be given to you as well" (Matthew :33 NIV).

What is most important to you? Is it the material things you have and the need for extended warranties to make them last? Our material things can easily push God out of our lives and cause our concern for the eternal to fade into the background. If we seek things of eternal value, we will continually look forward to the day when we will meet Christ face-to-face.

Love, Jerry & Dotse

Testing and Disciplining

Chuckle: "If the best things in life are free . . . why are the next best things so expensive?"

Quote: Virtue isn't virtue unless it slams up against vice so, consequently, your virtue is not real virtue until it's been tested ... and tempted.” –Unknown source

TESTING AND DISCIPLINING

"But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold" (Job 23:10 NIV).

According to the Scriptures, God tests us and disciplines us as his Children. Sometimes, it's difficult to discern the difference. Generally speaking, God's punishment comes as a result of sin; while testing comes to determine the dimensions of our faith. When God allows difficult and challenging situations to enter your life, the first question you should ask yourself is: Do I have unconfessed and unforgiven sin in my life? If the answer is "yes," then you should consider the possibility that God is disciplining you for your sins -- to draw you back to himself through your confession and repentance. Otherwise, it may be that God is testing you to strengthen and prepare you for a special service he desires you to perform. In either case, an appropriate question is: "Lord, what are you trying to teach me in this situation?"

Testing. God tested Abraham's faith and obedience (Genesis 22:1 NIV) by commanding him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. This was to determine if Abraham would obey God unconditionally regardless of what God asked of him. You may recall that after Abraham had proven his willingness to obey God by sacrificing his own son, God said to him: "Do not lay a hand on the boy . . . do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son" (Genesis 22:12 NIV). Because of his faith, God promised to bless Abraham and the whole world through his descendants. Through this testing, God was preparing Abraham for greater tasks for his kingdom. Testing burns off the dross of faithlessness, indifference, and disobedience in our lives in the same way that fire purifies gold. It is designed to make us instruments that God can use for His purposes.

Discipline: God punishes us for the same reasons you punish your children -- because you love them and want the best for them. "My child, don't ignore it when the Lord disciplines you, and don't be discouraged when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes those he accepts as his children" (Hebrews 12:5b-6 NLT). Who do you think loves his child more -- the parent who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects, trains, and even punishes the child to help him learn what is right? "Don't make your children angry by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction approved by the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4 NLT).

God's discipline may not be pleasant, but it's a wonderful sign of his deep and unconditional love for us. "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it" (Hebrews 12:11 NIV). When you sense God's correction, it's wise to see it as proof of his love, and ask him this most important question: "Lord, what do you want me to learn through this experience?"

Love, Jerry & Dotse

Thirst for Living Water

Chuckle: A man sat in the pew, scratching and scratching. Finally, the minister stopped his sermon and asked, "Why are you scratching like that?" The man replied, "Cause I'm the only one who knows where I itch!"

Quote: “The inward stirring and touching of God makes us hungry and yearning; for the Spirit of God hurts our spirit; and the more he touches it, the greater our hunger and craving.” --Jan van Ruysbroeck

THIRST FOR LIVING WATER

"On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, 'If you are thirsty, come to me! If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.' When he said, 'living water,' he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him" (John 7:37-39a NLT). "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6 NIV).

Do you have a deep and sincere craving/thirst for the Holy Spirit to fill your life? The Spirit-filled life begins with a thirst that nothing else can quench -- a desire growing out of discontentment with our current spiritual condition. This discontentment grows into a deep longing for a life filled with the Spirit. This is the first step toward experiencing the abundant flow and overflow of the "streams of living water."

When Jesus used the words "come and drink," he was alluding to the theme of many Bible passages that make reference to the Messiah's life-giving blessings. By promising to give the Holy Spirit to all who believed, Jesus was putting forth his claim that he was the promised Messiah. No one except the Messiah could make good on such an offer.

In John 4:10, Jesus spoke of "living water" to indicate eternal life. But, here, he uses it to refer to the Holy Spirit. Of course, this double usage makes sense because for whomever accepts the Holy Spirit, the Spirit brings eternal life. Jesus taught us much about the Holy Spirit and then the Spirit empowered Jesus' followers at Pentecost. Down through the ages, since that time, the Spirit has been available and resident in everyone who believes in Jesus as Savior.

When your thirst allows the Spirit to fill your life, you are taught, convicted, comforted, and led by Him in every aspect of your life. In other words, you are filled with the Spirit each day. Your thirst is quenched and you experience the power and peace of God in every thing you do. How about you -- do you have that thirst about which Jesus was teaching? If so, you will not be disappointed. These words by J. S. Baxter describe God's plan for his Holy Spirit in your life.

"What God chooses, He cleanses.

What God cleanses, He molds.

What God molds, He fills.

What God fills, He uses."

Love, Jerry & Dotse

The Open Door

Chuckle: My Mother-in Law is a master of the mixed metaphor. One day in Sunday school she outdid herself when she warned her students' parents that if they didn't teach their children properly, "their roosters would come home to croak." --Tod Smith

Quote: "In His love He clothes us, enfolds and embraces us; that tender love completely surrounds us, never to leave us." --Julian of Norwich

THE OPEN DOOR

Jesus to the church at Philadelphia: "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can shut. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me" (Revelation 3:8 NLT).

Think with me for a moment about this amazing truth. As a devoted follower of Christ, God has provided a door for you into His very presence, in the name of Jesus, which no power can ever close. No one can exclude you from God's kingdom; you can never be shut out. An open door into our homes and the presence of our families who love us gives us a sense of peace, comfort, and acceptance. A door into God's presence is far and away more significant and reassuring because it has eternal implications.

I remember, some years ago, that a motel chain made famous the comforting phrase, "We'll leave the light on for you." The voice of Tom Bodett had a slow folksy down home quality that assured weary travelers that the door to a clean and comfortable room would always be open for them any time of day or night. Incidentally, on its 50th anniversary, the motel chain began using the phrase: "50 years - the light is still on."

In this life, God fully understands that we are weak and weary travelers, but He encourages us by assuring us of the availability of His strength and protection when we obey His Word and are faithful in proclaiming His name. God opens the door into His presence and future kingdom, and after the door is opened, it will never be closed. No one can ever close it -- our salvation is certain.

The comforting words of Jesus, in our passage, assure us that our places in God's kingdom and presence has been eternally reserved and sealed. Jesus is now preparing a place for us in His eternal heaven -- a place of complete joy and peace. This is all because of God's never ending love for us. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NIV).

Love, Jerry & Dotse

You Are Wonderfully Made

Chuckle: “How’d you make out in that fight with your wife?” “She came crawling to me on her hands and knees.” “Yeah? what did she say?” “Come out from under the bed, you coward!” --R & R Magazine

Quote: "God creates out of the absolute superabundance of his mercy and love." --George Florovsky

YOU ARE WONDERFULLY MADE

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory . . . for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11 NIV).

Are there times when you feel people, even those closest to you, just don't understand you? They don't have a clue about who you are and what talents and abilities you possess. To fully understand a person, one would have to become that person and live as they live. When we think about how difficult it is to really know someone and fully appreciate their unique abilities and personality, it should remind us once again of the amazing attributes of God. He knows you intimately because He created you physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

You are you a unique creation of God. "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalms 139:13-14 NIV). There is no other exactly like you. As your Creator, He made you to suit Himself and knows everything about you.

You are God's treasured possession. "You are a chosen people, . . . a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). You are uniquely valuable and beautiful in His eyes. When God created you, He made no mistakes. You are just as He wanted you to be, and everything about you is lovely and precious to Him

You are a member of God's own family/household. "Consequently, you are . . . fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household" (Ephesians 2:19 NIV). Because of God's amazing love, grace, and mercy you have become a precious member of God's family -- if you have trusted Christ as Savior and Lord..

You are gifted by God with great potential for service. "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us" (Romans 12:6 NIV). These gifts and abilities are to be used as instruments of service to bless the lives of others for the glory of God.

The next time you look at yourself in a mirror, please remember that God made you, loves you, and wants you to know how perfectly you were created. Therefore, all of us should praise and honor God because He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. "In order to create there must be a dynamic force, and what force is more potent than love." --Igor Stravinsky

Love, Jerry & Dotse