Sing and Make Melody - Hold To God's Unchanging Hand

    As we continue our "Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart" series, I would like to focus this week on a song that encourages us to cling to God, no matter what. The song I have selected for today is: "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand" written by Jennie Wilson (in 1904) and set to a tune made by F L Eiland (in 1905).

Time is filled with swift transition;

Naught of earth unmoved can stand.

Build your hopes on things eternal;

Hold to God's unchanging hand.

Chorus:

Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Build your hopes on things eternal;

Hold to God's unchanging hand!

Trust in Him who will not leave you,

Whatsoever years may bring;

If by earthly friends forsaken,

Still more closely to Him cling.

Covet not this world's vain riches

That so rapidly decay.

Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures;

They will never pass away!

When your journey is completed,

If to God you have been true,

Fair and bright the home in glory

Your enraptured soul will view.

    This hymn encourages all to cling to God. Cling to Him, knowing life is frail and temporary; having hope in life eternal through Him. Cling to Him, knowing people in our life can hurt us, but God can heal us. Cling to Him when the world encourages you to accumulate more and more "things"; let your abundance be in your faith and good works (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

    If ever a verse could be described as beseeching - the chorus surely fits this description! "Hold to God's unchanging hand! Build your hopes on things eternal; hold to God's unchanging hand!" The chorus is begging you to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8)! It earnestly encourages you to trust God; to be assured of His promises and His help!

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and comes down from the Father of lights, with 

whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." 

(James 1:17 NKJV)

    This is God's unchanging hand! Cling to it! Hold it! Trust in it!

    God, through the prophet Isaiah, assured Israel of His help when He declared, "Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am Your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand... For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" (Isaiah 41:10; 13)

    Today, we too, can be assured of God's help because God is faithful and what He promises He also fulfills. We can trust Him. "All the promises of God through Christ are yes and in Him Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20) - there is no fluctuation or variation - if He said it, it stands - it will be, just as He said it would. His promises are yes. That is God's unchanging hand!

    Let us be like Abraham who "did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was was also able to perform" (Romans 4:20-21).

    Trust that God's hand is unchanging! There is blessing and reward (Hebrews 11:6). There is help (Hebrews 4:16). There is hope (Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25). Cling to Him with your whole heart, mind, and soul!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Link to listen to the hymn:

Sing and Make Melody - I Stand in Awe

    Good morning! As we continue in our "Singing and Making Melody in Your Heart" series, I've selected a hymn that helps us magnify God:

"I Stand in Awe" 

(Written by Mark Altrogge, 1987)

You are beautiful beyond description,

Too marvelous for words,

Too wonderful for comprehension,

Like nothing ever seen or heard.

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

Who can fathom the depths of Your love?

You are beautiful beyond description,

Majesty enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You;

I stand, I stand in awe of You;

Holy God, to whom all praise is due,

I stand in awe of You.

    David proclaims, in Psalm 33:8, "Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him."

    I find myself stuttering somewhat (in mind and mouth) when I've reached the limits of my own vocabulary in trying to declare how wonderful God is! I feel like David when he openly stated in Psalm 139:6, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."

    How do we comprehend God in all His glory?

    Philippians 4:7 informs us that the peace of God "surpasses all understanding" - but we can experience it! Paul's prayer for the saints in Ephesus was that they, "being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:17-21). He finishes his prayer with giving praise and glory to God: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."

'the love of Christ which passes knowledge'

'filled with all the fullness of God'

'able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think'

    WOW! No matter what lofty level of intelligence humankind can attain, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than that!!

    As we grow in the Lord we begin to comprehend the glory of God and the love of Christ. Throughout our lives we should continue to comprehend more and more as we study and grow in our understanding of His word and in appreciation of His gracious blessings.

Magnificent! Majestic! All glory and praise to our glorious Father!!

    Meditate on the bible verses mentioned today and let prayer and praise flow from your heart! How would you describe God and His glorious attributes? How do you describe Christ's love? Share your descriptions in a comment below!

    With the words of praise in your mind, click on the link and join in singing today's prayerful song!

"Remember to magnify His work, of which men have sung." 

(Job 36:24 NKJV)

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing and Make Melody - Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen

    This week, we will look at a spiritual song that teaches us as we sing:

"Let the Beauty of Jesus Be Seen"

Written by Albert W T Orsborn (1916) 

Stanzas 2-3 written by George L Johnson (1934)

Let the beauty of Jesus seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity.

May His spirit divine all my being refine;

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

When somebody has been so unkind to you,

Some word spoken that pierces you through and through,

Think how He was beguiled, spat upon and reviled,

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

From the dawn of the morning to close of day,

In example, in deeds, and in all you say,

Lay your gifts at His feet, ever strive to keep sweet,

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.

    Jesus exemplified the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We need to walk as He walked (1 John 2:3-6) so that the fruit of the Spirit can be developed in us as well!

    This song, I believe, is based on 1 Peter 2:18-24. I encourage you to read this passage. I will highlight some of the thoughts written there:

    First, Peter speaks of servants submitting to their master, the kind masters and also the harsh. He says in verse 19, "...this is commendable if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully." "...when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God." (v. 20)

    What?? Why??

    Here's why: "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps." (v.21)

• Jesus committed no sin
• There was no deceit (deception/fraud) found in Jesus' mouth
• When Jesus was reviled (criticized in an angry, abusive, and insulting way), He did not revile in return
• When Jesus suffered, He did not threaten
• Jesus committed Himself to "Him who judges righteously"

    Think about that for a moment. Jesus was in the middle of a trial for His life and saw and heard all the hate-filled lies being said about Him and instead of reacting, He committed Himself to the only One who knew the truth - the One who judges righteously - His Father in heaven.

    Do we trust that God knows the truth? Do we trust that He knows our heart and our clear conscience in a matter when we are being accused of wrong? Do we commit to Him in these situations, knowing He is the righteous judge who sees what man does not/cannot?

    Jesus bore our sins on the cross. Why did He do that? Why did He suffer wrongfully?
Why did He silently allow these things to happen to Him?

    So that we, having died to sins (Romans 6:2-4), might live for righteousness!! It was by Jesus’ suffering/death that we have a hope - that we have healing!!

    How do you live for righteousness?

    You follow Jesus' example!

    Though you may face times of struggle and hurt you do not revile nor spit out angry, abusive, insulting words. You do not threaten - nor even think it in your heart! You trust that God sees and God knows, allowing you to be still. You let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you!

    Pray to the One who judges righteously! Ask Him for wisdom and help to live like Jesus, in the beauty and holiness of humble obedience!

    Meditate on 1 Peter 2:18-14 this week and let this song remind you of Jesus' beautiful example and His desire for you to live for righteousness!!

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing and Make Melody - I Will Wake The Dawn With Praises

We have so much to be thankful for, don't we! As soon as we wake up in the morning, we have already been showered with blessings: life, breath, a new day, eyesight, smell, taste, feelings, touch... innumerable blessings!!

The song I have selected for this week is "I Will Wake The Dawn With Praises" written by Sarah J Fuhrman in 2001.

Dawn and sunset, fierce and joyful,

Each reflects His mighty ways.

With the sea and sky before me,

I will give Him all my praise.

Chorus:

I will wake the dawn with praises!

I will speak His name abroad.

I will worship Him forever,

He my Lord, my only God.

Stars will joy in praises from me;

"Lesser light" will know my voice.

When I give my God His glory,

Night will hear me and rejoice.

Shout His glory, brothers, sisters;

Laud His name and do His will.

Like the sands upon the shoreline

Are the praises due Him still.

(Copyright 2001 Sarah J Fuhrman and Glenda B Schales)

    In the book of Psalms, David declared, "I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth." (Psalm 57:8-11 and 108:1-5)

• To meet each new day with a heart that is "steadfast" (Psalm 57:7 and 108:1), whose constancy is in its gratitude for the Lord. 
• To approach each new day with ready thanksgiving for the blessings you have received upon waking, the blessings you have received that have brought you to this day, and the blessings you trust to receive as you go through your day because you wholly trust in God's promises for help, care, love, and provision. 
• To want to wake even before the day has started to declare God's greatness, thank Him, and give Him the glory due His name 

    What a beautiful way to begin any day!!

    Pause and thank God each day for as many blessings as you can list. May you praise Him for His abiding love and glory and sing this song with love and understanding! 

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing And Make Melody - How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?

    The song I have selected this week asks a question: How Shall the  Young Secure Their Hearts? It is a teaching song (to us) as well as a declaration of the wondrous beauty of God's truth - the Bible!

How Shall The Young Secure Their Hearts?

(written by Isaac Watts in 1719)

How shall the young secure their hearts

And guard their lives from sin?

Thy word the choicest rules imparts

To keep the conscience clean,

To keep the conscience clean.

Tis, like the sun a heav'nly light

That guides us all the day,

And through the dangers of the night

A lamp to lead our way,

A lamp to lead our way.

The word is everlasting truth,

How pure is every page!

That holy book shall guide our youth

And well support our age,

And well support our age.

    This hymn is based on several passages found in Psalms 119. Look at these wonderful verses:

"How can a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed according to Your word.

With my whole heart I have sought You;

Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

For Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You."

(Psalm 119:9-11 NKJV)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

(Psalm 119:105 NKJV)

"You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth.

Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old 

that You have founded them forever."

 (Psalm 119:151-152 NKJV)

    I encourage you today to make time to read the whole of Psalm 119. It is a wonderful psalm of joyful submission to God's word, and a song of depending on God and His faithfulness for help! Please read it!

    Consider the last verse of the hymn: 

God's word is everlasting truth, how pure is every page!
That holy book shall guide our youth and well support our age.

    1 Peter 1:25 states "the word of the Lord endures forever." In Psalm 119:89 the psalmist declares, "Forever, O LORD, Your word stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations." All generations! We've already read verses that declare the benefits of seeking God in our youth and applying His instruction as we develop but we need to remember that we also have support in our older years; God does not forget us, His word does not fail us. His instruction grows in value and His teachings result in increasing wisdom, so we in turn can encourage a new generation to seek Him!

    Look at this picture of old age:

"The righteous flourish like the palm tree

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

They still bear fruit in old age;

they are ever full of sap and green,

to declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."

(Psalm 92:12-15 NKJV)

    God is good and greatly to be praised!! Encourage the young to seek Him! Encourage the old to trust in Him! No matter your age, secure your heart to Him!! Only in Him do we have the Lamp and the Light that can guide our way! Please read Psalm 119 this week and sing this hymn with understanding!

You can do it! So can I!! 

Sing And Make Melody - It Is Well With My Soul

    This week in our 'Singing and Making Melody' series I've selected a hymn that declares a willingness to continue to trust in God no matter what happens in life: "It Is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873

    Horatio Spafford was a prominent American lawyer who, invested in significant properties in Chicago in the 1860s, and then lost a sizable amount of his investment in the Great Fire of Chicago of 1871.

    Two years later, wanting to take a family vacation in Europe, knowing his preacher friend, Dwight L. Moody, would be preaching in England in the Fall, planned the trip accordingly. Due to business demands Spafford sent his wife, Anna, and their four daughters, Anna "Annie" (11), Margaret Lee "Maggie" (9), Elizabeth "Bessie" (5), and Tanetta (2), ahead of him, planning on joining them a short time later.

    On November 22, 1873, while sailing across the Atlantic, an iron sailing vessel struck the ship Anna and her daughters were on. 226 people lost their lives, including all four of the Spafford children. Anna sent a telegram to Horatio stating, "Saved alone."

    It was while Horatio sailed across the Atlantic himself to be with Anna that he thought of these words; as he followed the same course and traveled over the waters where his daughters perished, this hymn was shaped and written.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say,

"It is well, it is well, with my soul."

Chorus:
It is well (it is well) with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate
and hath shed His own blood for my soul. 
[Chorus]

My sin - O the bliss of this glorious tho't! -
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 
[Chorus]

And, Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend -
Even so, it is well with my soul.
[Chorus]

(as written in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs", Copyright 2012, Sumphonia Productions LLC)

    Could you write a hymn to the Lord after such tragedy?

    Mr. Spafford never turned his back on the Lord. It seems that he leaned on him even more heavily for help and comfort. We can learn much from this!

    Consider these words found in Habakkuk 3:17-19:

"Though the fig tree may not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labour of the olive may fail,

and the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

and there be no herd in the stalls -

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills."

(NKJV)

    We have a Lord who can sympathize with our struggles and troubles (Hebrews 4:14-15). He tells us to "come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). This is a true statement - a real promise of help!

    Almost nine years ago, I lost my Mom very suddenly (of a heart attack), she was only 65 years old and had just had a clean bill of health from her cardiologist. But on a Sunday afternoon in late April, after worshiping with the brethren and going out to lunch with a few of them, my Dad & Mom returned home. My Mom went into the house, walked to the fridge to put the bottle of communion juice away, turned to put her slippers on and collapsed, never to open her eyes in this world again.

    Within a couple hours of this happening, we arrived home (we live four hours south of my parents), and were met by my Aunt & Uncle and cousin, who accepted the role of bearing the heartbreaking news to my family (and my siblings).

    I went with my husband and daughters to worship service that evening and was embraced by my spiritual family there (the church is a wonderful blessing from God!) and spent most of rest of the night praying to God.

    I asked Him to help our family, to help and be near my Dad who was 4 hours away, in the house by himself, in shock at the loss of his wife of 47 years. I praised God for the blessing of my Mom - I had her for 41 years - I am blessed! I thanked Him for her love and gentleness and her example in following Him in her walk as a Christian. He blessed me with moments of sleep and when I would wake I would again ask for help, praise Him, and thank Him.

    Through Him, Mom had hope. Through Him, I have hope. I will one day stand again, shoulder to shoulder with my Mom as we, together, join with all the others who have 'gone on', to sing God's praises!

    I, and my family, faced the next several days with a peace that was indescribable! That's what the peace of God is - see Philippians 4:6-7 - it surpasses understanding and it guarded our hearts and minds!!

    Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!! 

    God's promises are REAL!! He is faithful to keep them!! Never turn from Him! Always, and with all your being, turn to Him!! Lean on Him, receive help, comfort, peace, grace, and mercy from Him in your time of need!

    Think on Habakkuk 3:17-19 today. Thank God for His faithfulness! Thank Him for His care and provision in good times and bad! Sing the song selected for this week with understanding. Declare for yourself that, no matter what happens in this life, because you wholly trust in God "It Is Well With Your Soul."

You can do it! So can I!!

Sing and Make Melody in Your Heart

    It's time for a new series of study: "Sing and Make Melody In Your Heart" 

    I've been thinking of this for a little while now and thought, as we near Spring, it would be a great time to run with it! 

    This week I chose a hymn of praise that happens to be one of my earliest remembered favourites: "Holy, Holy, Holy" written by Reginald Heber in 1826. This hymn is based on the scene and song mentioned in the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation, this song is one of beautiful praise to the "LORD God Almighty."

Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God over all and blest eternally.

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting downs their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Who wert and art, and ever more shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful men Thy glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy, there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! LORD God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God over all and blest eternally.

(As found in the hymnal, "Psalms, Hymns, And Spiritual 

Songs," Copyright 2012, Sumphonia Productioons, LLC)

    In Revelation 4:8 the four living creatures "do not rest day or night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" and when the four living creatures give "glory and honour and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever" the twenty-four elders "fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever" they cast their crowns before the throne saying, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created."

    Read the whole of Revelation chapter 4. Take the time to meditate on the beauty described within that scene of praise and honour and glory! Take note of the jewel-like description of the One who sits on the throne. Take note of the rainbow around the throne, "like an emerald." The "sea of glass, like crystal" that spreads out before the throne of God. It's breath-taking!!

    Pause for a moment and think on Revelation 4. Picture it in your mind. Isn't it wonderful? Now, sing this hymn of praise ~ I've attached a link, if you are in need of the tune!

    If the Lord wills, bring the scene in Revelation 4 to your mind each day this week. Let the tune of this melody flow through your heart as you consider the worthiness of God to receive glory and honour and praise-filled thanksgiving!! Magnify Him in your heart as tune your lips to sing His praise!

Sing and make melody in your heart!

You can do it! So can I!!

 

Worthy of Jesus - None of Self and All of Thee

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    Over the past several weeks we have looked at what it means to:

• let go of the past (parental teaching/religion) if it isn’t according to God’s truth
• look to the future by helping your children to seek God first and foremost in their lives
• deny your own self and be fully committed to obeying God, willing to make any changes needed to be right in His sight
• take up your cross by committing yourself so wholly to following Jesus that you do not return to your former life (ideas, notions, practices, etc.)  

    If you are content to simply know what you have always known, do what you’ve always done; if you are willing to surrender your leadership to your children’s wishes, wants, and desires without regard for where their wants may lead them, if you are unwilling to deny even yourself (your own self-centered wants, wishes, and desires) nor commit yourself wholly to following Jesus for life, then Jesus says that you are not worthy of Him. If you are doing these things you aren’t following Jesus – you aren’t even on His pathway – you’re creating your own (Romans 10:2-3) and man-made pathways will never get you to heaven (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25, Matthew 7:21-23).

    Instead, let us have a disposition like Paul, who willingly submitted to God’s truth when He heard it, and followed Jesus’ path:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV)

    Paul took up his cross, died to selfish interests and pursuits, and used his time and ability to magnify Christ in all he did. He declared God’s greatness, he spoke the gospel Truth and he lived by it! When we read some of Paul’s epistles (consider Philippians) we quickly come to realize the joy he truly felt, even though in prison, even though nearing physical death; Paul was overjoyed in following Christ and being faithful to God and obedient to His commands. That is why he kept telling others about Jesus, no matter where he found himself!

    We can do what Paul did! He encouraged us all to do just that when he wrote “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

    Are you ready and willing to trust God enough to let go and follow Jesus? Are you ready to let conviction win over convenience? Are you prepared to love your children enough to love Jesus more? To guide them by example to always seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33)? Are you pleased to put God ahead of yourself, take up your cross never to return to your former, sinful ways, and commit yourself wholly to following Jesus through study and practice (James 1:25)? Then you are worthy of Christ!!

You can do it!! So can I!!

From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!!  

 

Taking Up Your Cross Requires Endurance

“…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    We spoke last week of what it means to take up your cross: committing yourself wholly to Christ, understanding you will never return to your former life.

    While under Roman rule people would have watched those carrying their crosses to the place of crucifixion. Some, without pity, would have mocked and ridiculed those who were bearing their burden. When Jesus instructs us to take up our cross and follow Him we understand that in following Him we will be mocked just as He was (Mark 15:16-20), ridiculed just as He was (Mark 15:29-32), and hated just as He was (John 15: 18-21), and still we will continue to follow Him.

“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world. Just as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14 NKJV)

    The world will judge you and criticize you for following Jesus, because in following Him you are no longer living “in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God”(1 Peter 4:2). Those who happily accompanied you in your former activities will “think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation” (1 Peter 4:4, read verse 3 for definition of dissipation), and then what will they do? They will speak evil of you; they will mock you and your cross, they will ridicule you simply because you have chosen a different – and better – way.

    Jesus endured it and so can you (Matthew 10:22)! Jesus has already walked the path we are on. He knows and He understands (Hebrews 4:14-15)!

“…when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable to God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we , having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21-24 NKJV)

    Jesus left us a perfect example of how to endure suffering at the hands of the world (consider also Matthew 5:44-48), and not only that but He gave His very life in obedience to the Father so that we who have died to sins (Romans 6:1-14), having taken up our cross to follow Him, might live for righteousness!

    To be worthy of Christ you must be willing to die to sin and live for righteousness – Jesus provided all we need to do exactly that! He provided the means through fulfilling God’s plan (Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:22-23, John 17:4, 19:30), He left us an example to follow, and He is ready and able to help us as we walk in His steps (Hebrews 4:16, John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5-6)!!

    God has provided all through Jesus. Be willing to take up your cross and follow Him, be willing to do whatever is necessary to be worthy of Him – no matter what the world says – trust God and continue to follow Jesus!!

You can do it!! So can I!!

Want to Be Worthy of Jesus? Take Up Your Cross

“…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    Taking up one’s cross was a significant and instantly understood concept in Jesus’ time. Under Roman rule, death by crucifixion became a terrifying reality for those convicted; when one had to take up his own cross it was known by all that he would not be coming back.

    Jesus tells us that if we are not willing to take up our cross and follow Him, we are not worthy of Him.

    Are you willing to take up your cross, turn away from your former life, never to return to it, to follow Jesus?

“No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62 NKJV)

    Jesus wants us to commit wholly to Him. He wants us to have a willingness to die to self, to die to the world and its ways, to “put to death the old man of sin” (Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 4:22-24, Romans 6:3-8), and walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4) by carefully following His example in righteousness and obedience (Ephesians 5:1-21, 1 Peter 2:21-24, 1 John 2:3-6).

“”But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to destruction, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38-39 NKJV)

    If you are still considering the cost of following Christ, if you are still trying to figure a way to keep a foot in the world while ‘exploring’ a life with Christ, I beg you to let go and simply trust that God’s way IS the best way. What He has in store for His children in this life and beyond this life is SO much better than anything the world could ever offer us! God’s way is lasting and eternal, the world can only offer momentary pleasure – don’t forfeit your soul for a moment’s pleasure – find lasting peace, contentment, and joy in following Christ! Let today be the day!! 

    If you have taken up your cross and are following Christ – keep going! Don’t look back! What is ahead of you is SO much better than anything you left behind! Do all that is necessary to stay the course, keep your hand to the plow, and walk worthy of Christ! We are not of those who look back nor draw back to the old ways that lead to destruction. Let’s keep pressing forward, growing in resolve to follow Jesus!!

You can do it! So can I!

 From wherever you are right now – BEGIN!

  

Want to be Worthy of Jesus? You Must Deny Self

“…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38 NKJV)

    We have learned that to be worthy of Christ we must love Him more than those with whom we share the closest earthly bonds: our parents and our children. We have learned that we must choose conviction over convenience, choose to focus on the eternal to keep ourselves from getting lost in the temporary “want du jour”.

    Christ desires that we neither settle for nor give in to what is not according to God’s will and truth. It can be hard to let go of our past (parental upbringing) and to maintain a constant regard for our future (bringing up our children) but Christ tells us to prove to Him that we are worthy of Him by doing just that! And not only that, we must also prove ourselves in the ultimate test – likely the MOST difficult of all – to love Christ more than our own selves.

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 NKJV)

    Are you willing to set aside your own notions/ideas of what you think is right and take the time and effort needed to truly know and understand what is right in God’s sight by reading and studying His word, and only His word? Are you willing to put your whole trust in God and His awesome ability rather than trusting only in your own abilities to gather wealth, health, wisdom, status, etc.? Are you willing to put aside your own wants and desires in order to be available to help others in need (Romans 12:10-13, Philippians 2:3)?

    Each moment of each day you are blessed with is an opportunity to prove that you are worthy of Jesus. Each time you can choose Him over the world (1 John 2:15-17), choose to obey His commands (John 15:9-14, 1 John 5:3), use your time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17), see opportunities to do good and do it (Galatians 6:9-10), meditate on good and proper things instead of giving the reins over to worrisome, anxious thoughts (Philippians 4:6-8).  

    Denying self is a life-long, daily battle, but we can grow stronger and more able when we consistently choose conviction over convenience, the Word over the world, and the eternal over the temporary.

One day or Day One? – You decide!!

 Let today be the day!!