I Cry Out!

Have you ever had one of those days when you did something that really let some people down and more importantly made you feel very upset with yourself? Well I had one of those yesterday! So today as I was reading my Bible I was led to the Psalms. I remember David let many people down, including himself...so I figured what better place to gain some consolation for my soul than the Psalms. Sunday in church our Psalter reading was Psalm 51 so I started right there. I kept reading and found myself immersed with the feelings of needing to be reconciled before God just as David was so profoundly expressing. In Psalm 57, I was stopped in my tracks by the words, "I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me!"

Just at that point of feeling sorry for my actions and more importantly for myself I realized it is God who fulfills His purpose for me. He didn't cause my actions or my feelings of sadness...that was something I did...but He did say that in spite of my shortcomings He has a purpose that is bigger and greater than my mistakes or my plans. Is that what David was experiencing? I believe David, just like me wanted to know that God was still loving him...caring for him...forgiving him and being the faithful guiding force in life.

I cry out to God Most High,
who sustains me
who fulfills His purpose in me.
I cry out to God Most high,
who gives love and mercy,
to forgive and cleanse me again.

I cry out - and He hears,
I cry out - and He answers,
I cry out - and He fills me,
I cry out - He is with me 'till the end.
I CRY OUT! Praise be to God!

The Real Reason Jesus Came

Do you know the real reason Jesus came to earth and took on the bodily form of mankind? I am sure you have many answers, such as...well he came to be our Savior, he came to die for our sins and reconcile us unto a right relationship with God the Father...he came to die for the world so that anyone who trusts him will be saved unto eternal life. Well you are all correct...except that this is not what Jesus said about why he was here! Remember that Jesus stood before the Sanhedrin but they turned him over to Pilate. In the book of Matthew, Mark and Luke we find Pilate asking Jesus if he was the King of the Jews. He responds "It is as you say." But in the book of John we find Jesus making a longer response to Pilate. (John 18:37) Pilate says, "So you are a King?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness (testify) to the truth. Everyone who is of truth hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?"

While most Christians know the truth, we very seldom proclaim it as truth. In today's world we are so caught up in political correctness that proclaiming truth to be true is seen as "close minded". We must not be so open-minded that we become "empty-headed!" We must proclaim what we know to be true and do so boldly and without apology.

Here in this small section of scripture and in a very few words we see the true evidence of God's redemptive plan. Jesus told us that the truth would set us free! He was the truth...the true and Living God. Are we free? Do we know the truth? Do we live the truth?

God has made it plain to us so that anyone, no matter what race, religion, station in life, or education level can approach Him and know for certain that they have just done the right and true thing. They have believed in the only true Savior of mankind and have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

May you realize the truth that Jesus is the only true Savior of the World! Testify of the Truth!

So it is Monday...Jesus has 26 days left before he is crucified. He knows He is facing certain pain, misery, torture, persecution, hatred, humility, and immense emotional trauma, but, in the face of it all He continues to keep his eyes on Jerusalem...the center of the world! God's plan of action is in place. Did anyone else know? Jesus had shared several times with the disciples about his going, but they did not fully understand.

Every Jew in the land is descending on Jerusalem. They are looking forward to selecting their sacrificial Lamb for passover. Little did they know that the actual Lamb would be the Lamb of God! They themselves would call for his sacrifice. His blood would be shed by them and for them.

Are you heading toward Jerusalem? Are you walking with Christ? Do you see His Glory? Do you understand the breadth of His sacrifice? Are you going to keep that to yourself or share it with others. This Easter...give the greatest gift of all...share about what it is like to be a Christ Follower! God will do the rest! God Bless you, have a great week.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

A couple of days ago while listening to Chuck Swindoll speak on this passage on Insight for Living, he gave the Greek word for workmanship (italicized above). That word is poiema, from which we derive our word "poem". We are a work, something made, a workpiece designed by God, literally a work of art poetically designed by the Master Creator. We are living artifacts of the creativity of a wonderfully majestic God who loves everything about us...such that He gave us the incredible gift of Jesus Christ through His immeasurable Grace! We don't deserve it, yet He has chosen to give it to us anyway! We are living artwork...poetry from the hands and heart of the Creator! Praise be to God!