"Jesus,..Pure Unbounded Love Thou Art"

"If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  (Luke 23:37)

He couldn't.  That is, if He is to save you and me.

This is a most sobering passage of any ever written------ by anyone, anywhere.  Here we see the King of Creation on trial by the creation.  Who could have thought up such?!?  This can only be the Creator Himself.  The creation rebels, and the Creator takes the "blame."  The creation rejects the Purpose of his creation, and the Creator pays the "consequences."

Humanity has always had difficulty understanding Cosmic Justice and Redemption.  If we mess up, why not just forgive and forget?  Well, humanity, that is exactly what occurred in "the Christ Event," the Cross.  Jesus' Blood forgives; then Jesus "forgets."  But make no mistake; without faith/acceptance of this Supreme Truth, or to put it in His Words, "without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

Join me today as once again, "I Survey the Wondrous Cross on which the Prince of Glory died."  Join me as I worship Jesus, of Whom Wesley wrote,

"Finish, then, Thy new creation;

Pure and spotless let us be. 

Let us see Thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in Thee;

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in Heav'n we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before Thee,

Lost in wonder, love, and praise."

Father, in Jesus' Name, again today I have nothing to give but, "Lost in wonder, love, and praise."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Lord Has Announced His Victory"

"The Lord has announced His victory and has revealed His righteousness to every nation!"  (Psalm 98:2, NLT)

This was the Word from the Cross, "It is finished," and the following Sunday, "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."  This is indeed, "....announced...victory..."!

And, I can tell you with absolute certainty that Jesus is still, "....anounc[ing] His victory...," to Planet Earth and the Universe.  Life on other planets, other solar systems?  Who knows?  But there is a cosmic, universal declaration to the Universe here of which you and I need to be continually aware. 

There is a "mortality" about humanity which we must accept.  We will not live forever in our present state.  Everyone needs to hear, "The Word of God," in the Holy Spirit continually speaking our text to us.  The Cross and the empty tomb is, "....His victory and (His) revealed...righteousness."  And then there is the, "....announced...victory..," of Jesus' Eternal Reign in Psalm 29:10, which Jesus is still "announcing" to the nations, "The Lord [Jesus Christ] sat as King at the Flood; yes, the Lord [Jesus Christ] sits as King forever."  What does this say to a humanity living without Jesus Christ, living an ant-like existence?  It is an announcement that there is something so much more for them than their measly current life style.

What is going on with you right now, I mean, right now?  This is not something which I wrote last night.  I am asking you to consider your thoughts now, your struggles, perhaps questions, pain, suffering, joys, triumphs.  Whatever is the "right now" of your life, "The Lord [Jesus Christ] has announced His victory and...His righteousness to," you and me.  Let us embrace such Divine Announcement------- and walk therein for the remainder of, well, our lives.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You for once again "announcing" to me Your Great Triumph.  Amen.

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Please pray with us that the announcement of the Supreme Court Nomination Hearings will be in time for me to reserve a place in DC.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Today I Must Stay At Your House" (Jesus)

"And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.'"  (Luke 19:5)

The difference between the world's religions and what the Bible calls, "the faith of Jesus," is Jesus Himself.  The "others" did not do our text, "I must stay at your house."

One of the phrases which have been used throughout time concerning Salvation in Jesus Christ is "personal Savior."  Yes, Jesus is the, "Head of the Church," King of the Kingdom, and we see also quite clearly from the Gospel accounts that Jesus was/is indeed our Friend and Savior, Who is, "A Very Present Help in trouble....God with us....Abide in Me and I in you."

Our text reveals that a very lonely, rejected, small-in-stature personage was so valued by The King that in the midst of a great throng of admirers, The King, He Who the Bible calls, "the Bishop of our souls," did not send an assistant "pastor," or committee head to serve, "minister to" Zacchaeus.  King Jesus, the "Head...Bishop of our souls," went Himself. 

This is Who we have and Who has us, Jesus Who says moment by moment to us, "Today I must stay at your house."  Jesus does not say, "Come to my teachings," or, "Come to my cause."  Jesus invites us to, "Come to Me, all who...." 

Father, in Jesus' Name,

    "Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,

    Jesus, I come to Thee.

    Out of my sickness into Thy health,

    Out of my want and into Thy wealth,

    Out of my sin and into Thyself,

    Jesus, I come to Thee."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Your Shield and Rampart"

"'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him....With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.'"  (Psalm 91:16)

I memorized Psalm 91, along with several other Psalms, over 35 years ago when traveling behind the "Iron Curtain."  My first mission into Eastern Europe was over 42 years ago.  Open Doors at the time suggested that we not take a copy of the Scriptures into some of the countries, most notably Romania; therefore, memorized Scripture was our "Bible reading."

Psalm 91 has been a sustenance for Covenant People for millennia.  For me, the first verse's reference to, "the secret place," is relational.  It is dwelling in the Blessed Trinity, living and walking in Jesus Christ and His Words.  Only "there" can we be sure of, "the shadow of the Almighty."

Then we read that our Lord Jesus Christ is, "my refuge and my fortress....His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear....For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."  These Words alone should keep you and me today-------- and always.  "The Words of  God," is full of promises which are our, "shield and rampart."  May They/He be yours today.

Father, in Jesus'  Name, I continue to walk in Your, "faithfulness," my, "shield and rampart."  Amen.   

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2