Everyone needs Jesus

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6–11)

A friend said, “I don’t know why faith is a big deal. I believe in God and that Jesus died for the sins of the world. So no big deal.”

I replied, “But what about your sins?”

Silence, then he said, “Oh, I see what you mean.”

Redemption, justification, salvation, and being reconciled to God is a personal relationship, not a philosophy, and none of it happens without the recognition and admission of personal sin. Yes, Jesus died for the ungodly, and that means you and me, because all have fallen short. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Yes, He died for the whole world, but the benefit of that death is for those who believe in Him and receive Him into their life. All who do this realize that their faith is a gift and not their own doing — or at least we should for He said:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)

And the entire Bible repeats it. Salvation is not something anyone can do by ourself,  nor is faith: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9) 

And this is why I call Him “Lord Jesus” — because He is the Author and Finisher of my faith and uses all things to transform me into His image. I can only agree with Him, agree all that He says and asks me to think and to do, because He gives me the faith and the power to respond. Without Him, I can do nothing. (See John 15)

Lord Jesus, You gave me this new day to love and serve You, to pray, to care about others and do whatever You put before me. I am Your child and You are my very life.

 

The love of God. . . .

Today is considered ‘love’ day when special expressions of love are offered, expected, and appreciated. This is not a worldwide holiday. Several countries do not recognize it. A few designate it as a private thing, unlike North America where the stores are filled with red, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates.

Biblical love is generally not describe the same way we describe romantic love. Bible love is more about the love of God for those who know Jesus and how that love is expressed.

That said, today’s reading speaks of another idea about love. When Lazarus died, Jesus went to his sisters and one verse says, “Jesus wept.” At this, The Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36) This is oddly different from the words of both sisters who said, “If You had been here…” perhaps implying His love failed them. In other words, reading this brings out the fact that I cannot see hearts and know why people say or do what they do, particularly about love.

This reminds me of the pastor who saw a woman weeping during his message and assumed she was deeply touched by what he said. After the service, he found out she was crying because her cat just died!

As for the tears of Jesus, it seems wise not to interpret them by saying what made Him weep. Who knows? Sometimes we don’t understand the motivations of others.

The study of love languages gives more examples. One of my family feels loved when given gifts, but she is not greedy in the slightest. I feel loved when listened to and rejected when ignored. Others feel loved when touched, valuing a hug or a touch on their arm. It appears that the Jews interpreted Jesus’ tears as an expression of love but He may have thought something else. He also wept in another situation:

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41–44)

His tears did express love, grief, and loss, but not because a friend died. Instead, Jerusalem rejected His arrival as their Messiah and He felt great sorrow for them and for what they were missing. At the grave of Lazarus, He could have wept because of a similar lack of faith in His power to raise Lazarus.

When the Bible tells me to love others, I’m also seeing how love is not always what I might suppose either. One passage says biblical love comes from those who know God and His love — through knowing Christ and His salvation. Love from me is His love in me, not from just me. I must abide in Him, be certain of His love, be confident that I’m forgiven and without fear of judgment. I love God because He loves me, and can only love His way by being certain of His love. (1 John 4:7–19) I need to be filled with His Spirit to love in a way that makes others feel loved by God.

Scripture also describes love in more concrete terms that show how God's love is not about what most people think it is. Instead of loving someone for how good they make me feel, showing His love is an expression of care for others without any benefit in it for me:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:1–7)

PRAY: Lord, Your love is far beyond human description and ability. The closest I can come to understand it is by staying near the cross where You died. You say most of us would likely not  die for a righteous person, or maybe a good person, but in love, You died for us while we were still sinners. Enable me to never turn my heart away from this amazing and gracious ultimate expression of Your love, a love not based on performance or what anyone does for me, except that You love me and You died for me.  (Romans 5:7–8)

He is Number One

An early call took me out this morning before breakfast, before my hair was dry, before I picked up my Bible. On my way to the destination, I thought about the importance of putting Jesus Christ first, then laughed at that terminology. He IS first, King of kings, Lord of lords, Master of the universe. He saved me and keeps me. The term putting Him first is like personally putting our football team in first place when they are already in first place. My words about their standing have no bearing on reality. My words about Jesus Christ have no bearing on who He is because He IS who He is.

After a delightful diversion from all things Friday morning, I’m back at my desk and reading foundational truth. These words are the reason that I can say Jesus Christ is paramount, number one. My saying that it is so does not make it so, however. What He is and what He has done — the truth about Him makes it so.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6–11)

Salvation is true and real and mine because of what Jesus did. It isn’t about what I did or did not do. He died on the cross for my sins more than 2000 years ago, well before I was a bump in my mother’s belly, well before I realized the truth of it and believed it. He died on the cross, shedding His blood for me while I was still a sinner, reconciling me to God before I confessed and repented of my sin. He reconciled me to God before I acknowledged that I was under His wrath or even realized my lost state.

Salvation is a done deal, not because of me knowing it, or figuring it out, or even because of me believing it. It is finished because Jesus did it. He died for me. He lives for me. Of course He is number One, whether I decide He belongs there or not.

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Oh Lord God, You are the light of my life. I am so amazed at what You have done, for me and for every sinner. Salvation is secured, a gift from God that cannot be earned or deserved, only received and appreciated. You are exalted and occupy the highest place, not because I put You there, but that is where You belong. You are number One, for all time and for all people. Be exalted, Oh Lord, my God, be exalted!