FOR ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST
When I wish, I like writing poetry. Here is one I wrote in 1991 about LIFE IS TO BE LIVED.
Philippians 1.21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
My life
My focus
My whole being
is
related to only one thing
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
From even my early years
God had a plan for me.
God knew just how to work in my life.
He knew just what I needed.
There were many times when my life was protected,
and though surrounded by life circumstances which were not stable, moving a lot, having uncertainty, and never knowing who God was, yet He directed my life.
Romans 2.4 suggest that
"the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance."
When things happen,
they are meant
to draw us closer to Him who made us,
and redeemed us.
What do I mean by that?
He "redeemed" us.
Jesus came from heaven to be born as that little baby in the manger, and it is TRUE.
What did Jesus say about Himself?
John chapter 3, verses 13 - 16
Philippians 1.21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
My life
My focus
My whole being
is
related to only one thing
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD
From even my early years
God had a plan for me.
God knew just how to work in my life.
He knew just what I needed.
There were many times when my life was protected,
and though surrounded by life circumstances which were not stable, moving a lot, having uncertainty, and never knowing who God was, yet He directed my life.
Romans 2.4 suggest that
"the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance."
When things happen,
they are meant
to draw us closer to Him who made us,
and redeemed us.
What do I mean by that?
He "redeemed" us.
Jesus came from heaven to be born as that little baby in the manger, and it is TRUE.
What did Jesus say about Himself?
John chapter 3, verses 13 - 16
v.13. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
v. 14. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.
v. 15. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
v. 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
That is what he said of himself. Most people who hear that verse 16 do not know that Jesus was speaking of Himself.
John declared of Jesus when he spoke to his disciples of him,
John 1.v.29 BEHOLD, THE LAMB OF GOD, WHICH TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.
Jesus said to his disciples that "The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him, and after that he is killed, he shall rise again the third day." (Mark 9.31) Another time, Matthew tells us "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go into Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised from again the third day. (Matthew 16.21). Again, he said "The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. (Matthew 17.21 - 23) Yet again, (Matthew 20.17 -19) it is recorded for us "And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him, and the third day he shall rise again."
He later comments (Matthew 20.v.26 - 28)
it shall not be so among you, but whosoever will be
great among you, let him be your minister;
and whosoever will be great among you,
let him be your servant;
even as the Son of man came
not to be ministered unto,
but to minister
and to give his life
a ransom for many."
As Jesus blessed the children
He told the disciples not to forbid them to come to Him.
He also told them
THAT AS A LITTLE CHILD
ONLY IN SIMPLE FAITH
CAN WE ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Yet He said, VERILY VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN."
JOHN CHAPTER 3.3
EVERYONE HAS ONE BIRTHDAY.
BUT WE CAN HAVE TWO
THE FIRST BIRTHDAY IS EARTHLY, OF WATER AND BLOOD, BORN AS A HUMAN BEING IN THIS WORLD, THIS EARTH OF OURS.
THE SECOND BIRTHDAY IS ONLY POSSIBLE AS WE ASK FOR GOD TO FORGIVE US AND TO WASH US CLEAN OF SIN, NOT ONLY BECAUSE WE SIN,
BUT BECAUSE WE ARE INDEED
SINNERS.
ROMANS 3.23
ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
AS THE LIGHTHOUSE BY THE SEASHORE WARNS SAILORS OF
THE CLOSENESS OF THE SHORE AND ROCKS WHICH WOULD BREAK
APART THE SHIP,
SO TOO, CHRIST HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH THE TASK OF
BEING A LIGHTHOUSE TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST.
JESUS AROSE FROM THE DEAD
AND IS NOW ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN
AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER.
AS THE PASSOVER LAMB HE BECAME OUR SACRIFICE
HIS BLOOD SHED FOR ME BECAME MY ATONEMENT
MY PEACE OFFERING
MY SIN OFFERING
AND
I AM FREE
TO
BE HIS CHILD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
with the dear Holy Spirit
whom Jesus sent
as our Comforter
I am now
a
child of God.
JOHN 1.12
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name, which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
ROMANS 5.8
God commendeth his love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
SO I CLOSE MY POST WITH THIS THOUGHT -
JUST AS THE FOR-GET-ME-NOT BLOOMS
EVERY SPRING - AND REMINDS US
OF THINGS WE DO NOT FORGET
OF FRIENDS WE WANT TO REMEMBER
OF THOSE WHOM WE LOVE
IT REMINDS ME OF HOW I CAME TO KNOW JESUS
AND HIS SPIRIT MADE ME A CHILD OF GOD
AND MY LIFE NOW BELONGS TO HIM
IT IS HIS SANCTUARY
AND HE LIVES IN ME
AND I AM NOW LIVING
CHRIST IN ME,
THE HOPE OF GLORY.
HE IS MY PROMISE.
HE IS ALL IN ALL TO ME.
WITHOUT HIM I CAN DO NOTHING.
WITH HIM I CAN DO ANYTHING HE ASKS OF ME.
WHY NOT ASK HIM TODAY
TO BE YOUR
SAVIOR?
NO BETTER DAY THAN TODAY.
Have a cup of coffee, and mull on who Jesus is
He is waiting for you to talk to Him.
Matthew 11.28 - 30
