“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Paul proclaims this remarkable benediction at the end of Romans 11. What a glorious reminder to us that Jesus Christ is the centerpiece and apex of all things.
John places this statement at the beginning of his gospel: "without him was not any thing made that was made." Notice also these following statements found elsewhere in the New Testament. He is before all things and He holds all things together. He upholds the universe by the word of his power. He is truly Lord.
Paul also says in Philippians that God has given him a name that is above every name. What is that glorious name that God reserves only for His son? Is it Jesus? Is it Christ? Listen to verse 11 in Philippians 2: "and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (emphasis added). The name God has given His son is “Lord”. One day, across the universe, angelic beings and all the heavenly hosts, all human beings and beasts, and all demonic beings and even Satan Himself will fall to their knees and confess aloud that Jesus Christ is LORD.
Why will we all do this? For the glory of the Father! The concluding display of all things on this earth will be the wonderful magnification of Jesus Christ as Lord for the total satisfaction and glory of our God.
Oh Jesus, how we want to presently and continually bow the knee and make confession with our lives that you are truly Lord of all to the glory of our eternal Father.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Better Than Life
The Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 63:3 "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you". As I meditate on this truth in God's Word, I am overtaken by the weight of this statement. Do you realize what David is saying? He is saying that the consistent, everlasting, never-failing love of God is better than life itself!
How did David come to realize, experience and therefore be able to truly say such a statement? I'll tell you how; he discovered this wonderful truth by shepherding, singing and sorrowful repentance. As he grew up, he came to know His creator as almighty protector and lover of his lonely shepherd soul. God defeated bears, lions and other life-taking dangers as David watched over Jesse's sheep. When he was Israel’s king in waiting, the troubled king Saul attempted to take his life by spear and sword. Even then, David experienced the better-than-life love of God upholding, guiding, and protecting him.
When David had succumbed to sin as an adulterer, a murderer and deceiver, he was able to truly know God's everlasting love. Here are his words in Psalm 51:1a, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love." What hope did David plea against for God’s mercy? His steadfast love, of course. He knew that he must cry for mercy and repent "up against" the attribute of God's consistent, never-changing love in order to receive forgiveness from his God.
And so it is with you and I. Our hearts will come to know through the experiences of this wonderful, Christian life that God's steadfast, rock-solid, never-shifting love will always be there to see us through anything! Therefore, we can know that this kind of love is far better than life itself.
How did David come to realize, experience and therefore be able to truly say such a statement? I'll tell you how; he discovered this wonderful truth by shepherding, singing and sorrowful repentance. As he grew up, he came to know His creator as almighty protector and lover of his lonely shepherd soul. God defeated bears, lions and other life-taking dangers as David watched over Jesse's sheep. When he was Israel’s king in waiting, the troubled king Saul attempted to take his life by spear and sword. Even then, David experienced the better-than-life love of God upholding, guiding, and protecting him.
When David had succumbed to sin as an adulterer, a murderer and deceiver, he was able to truly know God's everlasting love. Here are his words in Psalm 51:1a, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love." What hope did David plea against for God’s mercy? His steadfast love, of course. He knew that he must cry for mercy and repent "up against" the attribute of God's consistent, never-changing love in order to receive forgiveness from his God.
And so it is with you and I. Our hearts will come to know through the experiences of this wonderful, Christian life that God's steadfast, rock-solid, never-shifting love will always be there to see us through anything! Therefore, we can know that this kind of love is far better than life itself.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Entrance of His Word
Psalm 119:130 says, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." It is interesting to note the distinct change in the atmosphere when certain persons enter a room. The conversations may change or even stop. People's attention may turn to that person in order to speak or recognize their presence. This is particularly apparent when it is considered a person of import and influence.
However, when God's Word makes an entrance, the change is most apparent. His word penetrates from darkness to light, from deceit to truth, and from wicked to righteous. The beauty of His word is that it produces the same life-changing results in the greatest thinkers or simplest hearts. He creates life, calms seas and storms, subdues demons, and, in the end, will defeat "that old serpent" and his followers by the word of His mouth.
That being said, doesn't it make perfect sense for us, as His disciples, to bow under the authority and security of God's Word? Even when His word comes into direct conflict with our beliefs, traditions or desires, what He says takes precedent over any and all of these.
Lord Jesus, may you purify and cleanse our hearts that they may be continually filled with the entrance-changing light of your Word!
However, when God's Word makes an entrance, the change is most apparent. His word penetrates from darkness to light, from deceit to truth, and from wicked to righteous. The beauty of His word is that it produces the same life-changing results in the greatest thinkers or simplest hearts. He creates life, calms seas and storms, subdues demons, and, in the end, will defeat "that old serpent" and his followers by the word of His mouth.
That being said, doesn't it make perfect sense for us, as His disciples, to bow under the authority and security of God's Word? Even when His word comes into direct conflict with our beliefs, traditions or desires, what He says takes precedent over any and all of these.
Lord Jesus, may you purify and cleanse our hearts that they may be continually filled with the entrance-changing light of your Word!
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