salvation

Sown in Weakness

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 1 Corinthians 15:43 KJV

The year was 33 AD and the place; a barren hilltop outside of Jerusalem. Some of the crowd pressed in to watch the terrible details while Mary, John and Mary Magdalene stood further back shuddering to think of His suffering. Hands that once held bread to bless were now helplessly nailed to a wood beam. Feet that had walked on waves now painfully pressed down against the cross to lift Him just enough to take His next breath.

Even those who had sung His praises were now silent for fear of the Roman soldiers and  their spears. Others who had privately hated him now cursed Jesus openly as they watched His weak body writhing in pain on the cross. Finally at His very lowest moment He cried out, “Why have you forsaken me?”

black and white cemetery christ church

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Often we think of our own weakness and struggle as if at that moment we are also farthest from God. But when Jesus was being sown in dishonor and darkness, there was being accomplished in Heaven the glory of our salvation. As in weakness He tasted the vinegar and took His last breath the power of sin was broken for anyone who came to Him. We must never accept that there is no purpose to our weakness; only that God’s purpose has not been yet seen. No matter that our friends fall silent or that our worst enemies seem to have the upper hand. At our weakest we are joined with our Lord and one day at the time of His choosing we will understand when we see His face in glory.

Buying the Hat

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Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.             1 Peter 1: 18-19 ESV

While shopping at Walmart with my wife we happened to pass by a display of hats that caught my eye. So for a just a moment I paused to try a few on. First I glanced in the mirror and after I discovered one I liked I asked Nancy what she thought. But no matter how much she or I liked that hat, it still didn’t belong to me until it was paid for

My browsing the hat section is a lot like people treat the church. They like what they hear and maybe even try the Christian hat on for size; but then they put it back on the shelf, walk out the door. What is missing is that a transaction has never occurred. In order for salvation, to become ours someone must pay at the register. That someone is Jesus Christ. He stands waiting by the door for us to come to him so that our transaction can be completed. Today is the day to do more than try on the Christian hat for size. This is our time to meet with Jesus Christ and know for certain that everything we will ever need has been paid for in full with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!

 

Have You Been Adopted?

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Have You Been Adopted?

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  Ephesians 1:5 NLT

“Have you asked Jesus into your heart Madeline?” I asked our grand-daughter as she sat on my lap.  P1030885

“Oh yes Poppy. Just last week.” she answered

“Then do you know what to do next?” I asked with a smile.

“Get baptized!” she said with a big laugh. And I’m getting baptized this Sunday.

Madeline is special to us because she is adopted and because after six grandsons she became our first granddaughter. I was so excited to learn that Madeline has accepted Jesus and become not just a part of our family but a part of the family of God. She is now adopted into both our family and into the family of God. In fact the only way for any of us to get into

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God’s family is to be adopted. He only had one Son born in the manger, but the rest of us get in by adoption. Becoming a Christian is such a simple thing. Jesus never said we needed go through any mysterious or complicated process. Instead He invited us to enter into His kingdom like little children. Just like Madeline all we have to do is to believe and ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior!