(Friends: during this series, the messages may frequently be longer than usual due to the subject matter. Thanks for your patience, and I think you will find the considerations interesting, and hopefully, helpful in our walk with the Lord. Glen)
Part 14 – “To Bleed”
Casting out demons thrilled followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, sent by Him to free people from Satan’s influence. The Savior, however, deflected attention from the power of God’s hand to the pardon of God’s heart.
“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke10:17-20).
If any aspect of our faith fascinates and fills us with wonder more than God’s saving grace provided by His suffering Son, we need to still ourselves for a moment until reality once again rules our heart. Our names are “written in Heaven,” inscribed with the holy ink, as it were, of Christ’s own lifeblood. This speaks of God’s character, nature and way in terms more defining and descriptive than thousands of exorcisms or other displays of power could ever reveal. Indeed, in order to create a vast universe of beauty, complexity and order, our Lord had but to speak. To save our souls, however, He had to bleed.
Certainly, we require God’s working on our behalf, and we appreciate His ongoing actions whereby He supplies for needs, vanquishes enemies, solves problems, and thwarts devilish attacks by the power of His hand. Nevertheless, that which most wins and secures our increasing devotion involves growth in the knowledge of our Lord’s heart toward us. Such illumination reveals God’s “Who?” and “Why?,” as opposed to merely considering what He does for us. Indeed, the gospel of the Lord Jesus offers to us such personal knowledge of God’s motivation, as revealed in His Word, by His Spirit, and through His church.
The cross of the Lord Jesus will comprise the frequent theme of these holy agencies of God’s light . The Apostle Paul went so far as to declare he would glory in nothing but the cross (Galatians6:14). Paul knew that frequent remembrance, appreciation and affirmation of the Savior’s suffering and death would go far in both drawing unbelievers and endearing those already born of the Spirit. The cross serves as perhaps the brightest light whereby we discover the answer to God’s “Who?” Or, we at least begin the discovery, because eternity will not be long enough to mine the golden vein of “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). His love “passeth knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). However, that which we can know of God’s heart beckons our own hearts to venture ever further into the Love that begets love…
“We love Him because He first loved us.”(I John 4:19)
No comments:
Post a Comment