Praising God: April 2009 Archives
I want to share on this Easter what I learned during a study of Collossians in 2006
CHRIST IS ALL.
I can do nothing to atone for my sins. There is no sacrifice that
would be acceptable. I cannot atone for them by dressing plainly, by
not wearing jewelry, by not wearing make-up, or anything else.
There is no work I can do that will atone for my sins, either.
Jesus is ALL. He alone is the acceptable sacrifice for my sins. He
alone did the work acceptable to God to pay for my transgressions.
Furthermore there is no way in my own power that I can keep from
sinning. No amount of resolutions I make, no amount of lists I write,
no amount of schedules I devise will ever solve my sin problem. If I
continue trying to conquer my sin in my own power I never will.
But what I can do is confess and repent of my sins. I realize that my sins
were nailed on the cross with Jesus.
And what I also learned by this study is that unless I actually
READ the Bible I will not have right understanding of Jesus. Just listening to what I am told by others is not enough. I learned from this study was to actually READ God's word. And in fact, I did
not have a right understanding at all. Somehow thought that I could
atone for my sins by outward signs of piety. Worse, I took pride in my
"sacrifice".
Now I understand Jesus paid it ALL. All to Him I owe! Sin had
left a crimson stain. HE (and He alone) washed me white a snow! (What
a Great hymn!)
Have a blessed Easter!
CHRIST IS ALL.
I can do nothing to atone for my sins. There is no sacrifice that
would be acceptable. I cannot atone for them by dressing plainly, by
not wearing jewelry, by not wearing make-up, or anything else.
There is no work I can do that will atone for my sins, either.
Jesus is ALL. He alone is the acceptable sacrifice for my sins. He
alone did the work acceptable to God to pay for my transgressions.
Furthermore there is no way in my own power that I can keep from
sinning. No amount of resolutions I make, no amount of lists I write,
no amount of schedules I devise will ever solve my sin problem. If I
continue trying to conquer my sin in my own power I never will.
But what I can do is confess and repent of my sins. I realize that my sins
were nailed on the cross with Jesus.
And what I also learned by this study is that unless I actually
READ the Bible I will not have right understanding of Jesus. Just listening to what I am told by others is not enough. I learned from this study was to actually READ God's word. And in fact, I did
not have a right understanding at all. Somehow thought that I could
atone for my sins by outward signs of piety. Worse, I took pride in my
"sacrifice".
Now I understand Jesus paid it ALL. All to Him I owe! Sin had
left a crimson stain. HE (and He alone) washed me white a snow! (What
a Great hymn!)
Have a blessed Easter!
A year ago I was introduced to an frail elderly women named Hazel The very day I met her, she gave me the remains of her Christmas Cactus. The cutting was hardly an inch long. She said she had killed all her houseplants because she had been too ill to water them. A dried up sprig was all that was left. I took the little sprig home and stuck it in a Styrofoam cup filled with dirt. I did not see Hazel again for months. Our women’s Bible study group prayed for her all through the winter. Then in Spring, Hazel, shaky and frail, came to church. But, she was not well enough to stay for the entire service. As the days warmed Hazel got stronger. And my little sprig began to grow. Now a year later, Hazel is chipper and sprightly. She praises God for her return to health. The little sprig she gave me has produced a single bud, a pure white flower, large and full of luminance.
I can’t help but be reminded of my Savior’s death on the cross and His resurrection. JESUS my Savior was the inspiration of this rosemaling design.
I can’t help but be reminded of my Savior’s death on the cross and His resurrection. JESUS my Savior was the inspiration of this rosemaling design.
