Salvation

Our salvation was not a random event.  Jesus prepared the way for our transition long before we entered this world.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God.  Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God.  Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God.  Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided.  These songs were carefully chosen.  Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord.  Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression.  Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study.  May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Almighty Creator of the universe, watching over us all, we praise your holy name.  Guide us toward your approaching kingdom as loyal followers of your every desire.  Thank you for all that you provide in our lives.  Bless us Father with your goodness and mercy, as we stumble our way through this life, and provide us with the ability to bless others in the same manner.  Keep our minds ever vigilant to the disruptive powers of the evil one.  Guide us on a path that avoids destruction.  You alone are our protector and deliverer.  We ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus.  Amen.

Salvation

It’s impossible for us mere mortals to fully understand precisely how God controls the universe.  Our God is responsible for the sun, the moon, the stars, and the life of every living thing on earth.  Obviously, the complexity of that task can only be accomplished in a supernatural way.  The Bible gives us some clues as to how God works, but no definitive answers.  One of the biggest mysteries is our salvation.  How does the shed blood of Jesus provide us with eternal life if we simply trust him as our Lord and Savior?  I don’t exactly know; but there is a clue in the book of Leviticus.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.”  Leviticus 17:11 (NASB)

This verse is telling us that God has provided us with a way to repair the damage done when we turn our back on God and allow the forces of evil to push us off in the wrong direction.  In this case, watching the life depart from an animal somehow significantly redirects our connection to God.  Life is in the blood.  God is the Creator of all life.  It is when we focus on that fact with all of our heart, that we our able to access the full measure of God’s power.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”  Romans 1:16 (NASB)

In the ultimate demonstration of His awesome power, God walked the earth as a man named Jesus and sacrificed his own blood in order to once and for all atone for every one of our sins, past, present, and future.  When we fully and completely place our trust in the work Jesus endured for us on the cross, turn our back on our selfish desire, and seek to follow him for the rest of our lives, we are granted salvation from death and eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8 (NASB)

Life is in the blood.  All life is in the blood of Jesus.  Jesus gave it all for us.  Now it’s our turn to give it all back to him.

Let this song lift your spirit.

What More Could I Want – Michael Neale

You have all my devotion

Every breath and emotion

I lay them at Your feet

Strip away my?distraction

All?that steals my?affection

I lay them at Your feet

Jesus,?O Jesus, what more could I want?

Jesus, O Jesus, oh, You are enough

I’m alive in Your presence, I could stay here forever

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

More than I could imagine

Your love rescued my passion

I worship at Your feet

You are all that I’ve treasured

Take my heart, I surrender

I worship at Your feet

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

Jesus, O Jesus, oh, You are enough

I’m alive in Your presence, I could stay here forever

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

Better is one day in Your house

Than a thousand anywhere else

A thousand anywhere else

Better is one day in Your house

Than a thousand anywhere else

A thousand anywhere else

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

Jesus, O Jesus, oh, You are enough

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

O Jesus, O Jesus, oh, You are enough

I’m alive in Your presence, I could stay here forever

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

Better is one day in Your house

Than a thousand anywhere else

A thousand anywhere else

Better is one day in Your house

Than a thousand anywhere else

Than a thousand anywhere else

Better is one day in Your house

Than a thousand anywhere else

A thousand anywhere else

Better is one day in Your house

Than a thousand anywhere else

A thousand anywhere else

Jesus, O Jesus, what more could I want?

Jesus, O Jesus, oh, You are enough

All to Jesus

Salvation comes from total dependence on God.  The blood that pumps through our veins and keeps us alive is provided by God.  When we seek to follow the teachings of Jesus, we demonstrate our understanding of God’s power in our lives.  This transformation is punctuated by full compliance – believers allow Christ complete control.

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”  Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

When we place our trust in Jesus, our lives are totally restructured; we think different, we feel different, we have new desires and passions, we act different.  Following Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s purpose in our lives.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Our new life as a Christian is not a life void of suffering.  In fact, we are to look for suffering to some extent as we sacrifice our lives on his behalf as he did for us.  We are to give of ourselves in ways that may at times feel burdensome – all to the glory of God.

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”  1 Peter 2:21 (NASB)

When we let go of ourselves and allow the hand of God to guide us, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.  It is this acknowledgment that God is ultimately in control that is the foundation of our salvation.

Let this song speak to your spirit.

Be Lifted High – Elevation Worship

Lay down my rights

Lay down my life

I will abandon

All of my pride

Focus my eyes

Away from myself

You become greater

I become less

You be lifted high

You be lifted higher

I belong to you

I am nothing without you

You be lifted high

You be lifted higher

I belong to you

I am nothing without you

Jesus be all

Consume every part

My greatest desire

I give You my heart

Focus my eyes

Away from myself

You become greater

I become less

You be lifted high

You be lifted higher

I belong to you

I am nothing without you

You be lifted high

You be lifted higher

I belong to you

I am nothing without you

In every victory

In every trial

My soul will sing

Be lifted high

With every heartbeat

All of my life

Jesus forever be lifted high

You be lifted high

You be lifted higher

I belong to you

I am nothing without you

You be lifted high

You be lifted higher

I belong to you

I am nothing without you

Mercy and Light

Jesus is light and truth.  When we make a decision to follow Jesus, our eyes are opened to a new understanding of the world.  We overcome darkness with a truth that transcends the deception of this world.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  John 8:12 (NASB)

Our salvation was not a random event.  Jesus prepared the way for our transition long before we entered this world.  He did this to demonstrate his awesome power and generous mercy to those who are totally undeserving.

“He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory.”  Romans 9:23 (NASB)

Praise be to God for sending his Son to save us from our sins.  Believers are eternally in the hands of Jesus, being changed from the inside out, into beacons of light and truth.  Our mission going forward is to share God’s love at every opportunity so that we may be found worthy when Jesus returns.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NASB)

Let this song speak to your spirit.

From the Inside Out – Hillsong UNITED

A thousand times I’ve failed

Still Your mercy remains

And should I stumble again

I’m caught in Your grace

Everlasting

Your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending

Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul

Lord I give You control

Consume me from the inside out,

Lord, let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love you from the inside out

Your will above all else

My purpose remains

The art of losing myself

In bringing You praise

Everlasting

Your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending

Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul

Lord I give You control

Consume me from the inside out,

Lord, let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love you from the inside out

Everlasting

Your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending

Your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart

Is to bring You praise

From the inside out

Lord my soul cries out

Thank you for spending this time worshiping God.

His door is now open to you.  You are in God’s presence.  Don’t leave without Him.  Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context.  Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations.  In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon.  Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.

Your Service to God