Author’s note: If you are new to my blog and are interested in reading the 23.xx series, please first read the 23.01 through 23.09 in order to best get the idea of what I am attempting to communicate. They are built like chapters in a book, one building on the previous one. Consider the points made in each article to help you understand where I am coming from in hopes I can make a connection with you on your spiritual journey.
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The Bible is a treasured collection of revelations from God. The preservation of the ancient writings is tremendous representing over 1600 years of written history. It ranges from the Laws and stories given to Moses to the Book of Revelations written by John the Apostle. The Holy Bible, despite being written over a period of 16 centuries and involving over 60 authors, evidences the distinct fingerprint of God and His plan for the redemption of humankind.
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SOME THOUGHTS REGARDING BIBLE STUDY AND SAVING GRACE
Through the study of the Bible, God’s instruction book for life and love letter to every human being, we can discover who God is, what He is like, much about the failures of human nature which leads to death, and God’s solution which leads to life.
Perspective is one of many benefits of dedicated study of the Bible. Through it one becomes knowledgeable of the Sovereign Creator and His many perfect and mighty attributes including His gentle qualities of faithfulness, compassion, mercy and lovingkindness.
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Here’s a word of exhortation whether you are a believer in Christ or not.
While John 3:16 is important, God did give His only begotten Son for the ransom of all, it becomes your personal decision to accept this extraordinarily magnanimous and life transforming gift. Gifts must be received. This unmerited gift of God’s love and Grace is one that we cannot earn or achieve with any amount of work of our own. God knows our inability to save our eternal-selves and reaches out to us despite our unworthiness that separates us from Him.
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“MY BURDEN IS LIGHT”
To achieve eternal salvation, do you rely on good works or deference to man established rules?
God in His wisdom, knowing no amount of work can achieve adequate parity with His righteousness and holiness, offers Jesus’ invitation of comfort and relief, “Come to me all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
God’s gift of Grace is accepted with humility and contrition, but once one truly understands the sacrifice that was made and why, once you really get it from your heart, with pretense gone, the fit is natural. Natural would mean a sincere acceptance of the truth, and it is no less sincere if it is preceded by a life of cynicism and rebellion.
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NO GREATER LOVE
You may have experienced a sacrifice made on your behalf in this life already, especially if someone gave their life to save yours. You know it is something that you truly cannot repay; however, a life founded on deeply held gratitude may be your response.
The Scripture reads “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). How much more the sacrifice for God to offer His only Begotten on our behalf, to take each person’s punishment, including that which you and I deserve.
If your life has been saved by such sacrificial love from another human being (or even from a service animal) and you have that sense which extends beyond human words, touches upon eternity and the sanctity of life, you may begin to perceive the off-the-scale magnitude of the sacrifice that was made by the Son of God on the Cross.
Ones heart devoted to God becomes essential in the life of a believing Christian. It’s not something we just call ourselves, it is who we become.
Jesus Christ is the perfect model for servant leadership, exhorting all of this followers to learn not only obedience, but mercy and love for others and most of all, a love for God who has reached mercifully out to all. In the greatest act of sacrifice, Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who knew no sin, placed His crown aside and suffered taking upon Himself the agony of our sin and suffered death in our place.
Jesus spoke of the greatest Law, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
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“MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT”
John the Baptist, the last Old Testament prophet whose work directly preceded Jesus’ ministry was one of readiness, to “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.” (Isaiah 40:3) by calling people to repentance. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2). God’s message of repentance is repeated throughout the Bible.
The benchmark for God’s Law is the Ten Commandments. Taking a tour of these Laws will help gain clarity on what’s expected to be “good”.
I’ll give that some thought in a future post.
CKY
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