The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
Who takes away our sin
He came the sinless Son of God
To cleanse our hearts within
He hung upon the blood-stained cross
Thinking of you and me
Dying like some hardened criminal
His body in agony
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For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in him shall not perish but have ETERNAL life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to SAVE the world through him. (John 3:16-17)
Read more of John 3
This week I’m reminded of all that I have been given through my Savior! I’m a sinner, saved by grace. I did nothing to deserve all that I have through God’s hand of mercy. I’m adopted as a daughter into the family of God. All because I surrendered my life to the King of Kings. The One who has called me by name. The One who took time to form me in my mother’s womb (Psalm 139). The One who set me aside for a purpose (Jeremiah 29:11). The One who said that my sin would no longer separate me from His grace! I’m walking in the abundance of who God is because of what Jesus did in my place! I have joy, hope, and peace because God sent His Son for me.
I do believe that this Easter season is a time to reflect and remember who Jesus is. It’s a time to say, “I believe.” I believe what Jesus did on that cross was for me. He loved me enough to die for my sins! He loved me enough to pardon me from what I deserved. God made a plan of escape from the penalty I deserved for my sins. He sent His Son, so that I would not be condemned to Hell for the choices that I make. For the sinful behavior that I often have. For the ugliness that remains inside and that I battle with daily.
God sent His Son to save ME! He sent His ONE and ONLY Son to save you. There is only One Jesus! Only One man who died for your sins! It was not an easy road. He did not do it because it was fun. He didn’t do it because it felt good! He did it so that we could have fellowship with God! We no longer have to walk with that deep black hole inside of us. We can have meaning in our life! We can have purpose! We can strive after something that gives us hope in eternity! Do you know where you are going? Do you know what will happen if you die today? Is your soul ready to face eternity?
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Do you know someone who has yet to experience the message of the cross? Can you be brave this week and invite them to your Easter service? I pray each one of us will invite at least one new person to church this weekend. Who can you invite?
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:7-8)
Read more of James 4
Let’s break down the four elements of this passage: (1) Submitting to God (2) Resisting the devil (3) Drawing near to God; and all of this is made possible through number (4) cleansing our hearts and making our way right with the Lord. It’s time to dive in deeper to all that God has for us.
Some people do not like to hear the word submit. They want control over their own lives because somehow they think they can do better than God can. I know I can’t. I see the beginning of this passage and I recognize my complete need to surrender my life before the Lord. He is the One with the answers, the One who knows the plans He has for my life, and He alone will be my strength through all things I face. It is my true delight to simply surrender to the One who gives me life.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:14)
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:9-12)
I saw a great example of this passage of Scripture the other day when I was walking with a friend, let’s just call her “Charlie”. Charlie has often mentioned the grace of God and all that she’s been given. But on this particular walk, my friend decided to take the complaining route. Charlie launched into a whole discussion about what she doesn’t have and how unfair it is. Just as Charlie was getting to the tip of her feelings, we walked by a little boy crying. This was great! I turned to Charlie and said, “That’s how you sound to God right now!” We both got a good laugh out of it and enjoyed the rest of our walk.
Unfortunately, many of us take the route of complaining and often sound like the little boy crying because his sister is beating him on a race with her bike. We cry, we complain, and we crowd out the grace of God by our whining. Our mouths are filled with fresh water and salt water on a daily basis. We choose to daily surrender our desires and our hopes to the Lord. We choose to be fresh water or salt water every day.