"How Great?"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"How Great?"

      

    "How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

    How great is our salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ?  Or more to the point, how great is the Savior who Himself comprises the very essence of salvation?  Scripture provides numerous answers.  We begin our consideration with but a few of the many Biblical affirmations that proclaim the eternally surpassing greatness of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf.  "His greatness is unsearchable" (Psalm 145:3).

   "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

   "The love of God is shed abroad (generously bestowed) in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us" (Romans 5:5).

   "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).

   "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39).

   "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30).

   "He hath made Him to be sin, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

   "God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (II Corinthians 9:8).

   "Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all ye ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).

   

   On and on, Scripture proclaims a Savior whose loving and involved presence in our lives bears witness to the assurance, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).  We must respond with growing confidence and confession of "so great salvation" and so great a Savior.  This will involve many times when appearances seem to contradict the Truth.  It will not always look or feel as if "exceeding, abundantly above" sets the standard of God's provision in Christ.  He supplies according to His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, as opposed to our perceptions of how He should work and provide.  Sometimes the abundance of His supply appears to be an empty void.  We cannot see with earthly eyes the richness of God's Heavenly provision.  Thus, "we walk by faith, not by sight," choosing to believe in an abundance of Christ wherein "the Light shineth in darkness" (II Corinthians 5:7; John 1:5).  We affirm the promise of His Word when we cannot see the presence of His heart and hand.   "I will trust" declared the Psalmist and the prophet, both of whom experienced times when the absence of supply rather its abundance greatly challenged their faith (Psalm 56:3; Isaiah 12:2).  David and Isaiah believed nevertheless, and their testimony of God's faithful abundance glimmers on the pages of their Spirit-inspired writings.

   Let us apply this truth to whatever challenge we may presently face, particularly if the problem seems greater than the provision.  Is the Lord Jesus who Scripture proclaims Him to be?   Does His "so great salvation" pertain to the problem, need, lack, pain, conflict, or difficulty that seems insurmountable?  It most certainly does.  "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness" (II Peter 1:3).  Our calling and privileged responsibility involves believing the Truth, regardless of evidence, appearance, or feeling.  Thus, we must heed the Apostle Peter: "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 3:18).   The more we increase in knowing the Bible's revelation of a superabundant salvation as provided by a superlative Savior, the more we  will respond in the confidence of God's promised "exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think."   How great?  Eternity will not suffice in fully revealing such "unsearchable" glory.  Moreover, this day provides opportunity to seek further illumination as we respond to our Lord's invitation…

"Call unto Me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not."

(Jeremiah 33:3)

"The grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."

(I Timothy 1:14)

Weekly Memory Verse

    Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

(I John 4:10)

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