REDEEMED BY THE BLOOD

30 Days to Resurrection Sunday

1 Peter 1:18  “Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ…”

 

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 PETER 1:16-24

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

 

REFLECTION:  Writing to Christians who were enduring “the trial of their faith,” the Apostle Peter urges, “Be ye holy!”  Anything less would not suffice.  “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.”  Only the “pure in heart shall see God.”

 

Throughout both of his letters, and here in our selected reading, the Apostle defines what he means.  “Be ye holy” includes “obeying the truth through the Spirit.” 

 

“Be ye holy” implies “unfeigned love of the brethren.” 

“Be ye holy means, “loving one another with a pure heart fervently.” 

“Be ye holy,” induces us to “purify our souls.” 

“Be ye holy” reminds us that we will one day stand before an impartial Judge.

“Be ye holy” moves us to “spend the time of our sojourning here with fear”—literally with the deepest respect and reverence of the Holy God we serve.

 

Lest we become disheartened along the way, Peter reminds us, “you were not redeemed with corruptible things.”  Our souls were not rescued and redeemed from our old life, that “vain conversation,” by the coin of this world.  It was not silver that saved us.  It was not gold that redeemed us.  It was not anything that is corruptible, or temporary, or of changing value in the markets of men, that has redeemed us.

 

No, we are redeemed with the “precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and spot!”  Hallelujah!  So then, honor His blood, honor the Lamb of God, honor the Holy One by loving Him and living for Him.

 

At the first Passover, as Moses led God’s people out of Egyptian slavery, God’s people were instructed to sprinkle the blood of a lamb on the posts and the lintel of the doors to their homes.  When the death angel passed over the land those who had obeyed would be spared, those who had not would suffer the death of their firstborn.

 

Why was it that the blood was required at the top and on the sides of the doors, but not on the threshold? The writer to the Hebrews answers, “how much sorer punishment, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing?” (Hebrews 10:29)

May God grant that we would never despise, disrespect, or dishonor the “precious blood of Christ.”  God help us to live our lives honoring the sacrifice Christ has made for us, by sacrificing our lives for Him.

PRAYER:  Our Heavenly Father, We thank you for your infinite love and the powerful, life-changing truth of your Word.  What a mighty God we serve.  We pray that today, and every day, we would honor the precious blood of Jesus.  Remind us of the blood that dripped from your forehead in Gethsemane, of the blood that you gave as the soldier’s whipped your precious body, of the blood that trickled down your face as the crown of thorns was pressed into your head, of the blood that poured from your hands and your feet as you hung on the cross in our place.  May we never get over that scene.  And may we always live our lives in honor of that precious blood—the blood of our wonderful Lord, who loved us, and gave himself for us, and in whose name we pray, Amen.  “Our Father &c.”

LINKS FOR YOUR INTERESTFaith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/

 

 

A NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME

31 Days to Resurrection Sunday

Philippians 2:9 “…A name which is above every name…”

 

SCRIPTURE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

REFLECTION:  Before He was born Jesus had a name.  Luke tells us, “His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel, before he was conceived in the womb.” (Luke 2:21)

 

Some have names with no specific significance.  Some have significant names but no significant success.  But Jesus had a significant name with matchless success. 

 

In heaven the angels will sing of the Crucified: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12).“Things in heaven.”(Philippians 2:10)

 

Every part of the creation that Christ himself spoke into existence, everyone, in every place, in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the sea, will declare of the Risen One, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever!”(Revelation 5:13).“Things in earth, and things under the earth.” (Philippians 2:10)

 

The sanctified children of God will testify of their Savior, “THOU WAST SLAIN AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD…” (Revelation 5:9).That’s a song the holy angels cannot sing.

 

But what of those who neglect and reject our Jesus?  What of those who have blasphemed His name? What of the many who have no regard for His name—who carelessly take his name in vain? 

Ah they too shall confess in that day!  For “Every knee should bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”Without exception, every child of Adam, and Adam himself will bow. 

 

It is not IF we bow that settles our eternal destiny, for all will bow at the last judgment.  It is WHEN we bow, and when we confess, that finally determines whether we will hear, “depart from me,” or “enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.” 

 

PRAYER:  Our Father, Hallowed be thy name!  From the depths of our hearts we thank you for sending your only Begotten Son to be:

our Advocate,

the Bread of Life,

the Christ of God,

the Dayspring from on High,

the Everlasting Father,

the First and the Last,

the Good Shepherd,

the Holy One of Israel,

the great I AM,

Jehovah,

the King of Kings,

the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,

a Man of Sorrows,

the Nazarene,

the Only Begotten Son,

our Prophet, Priest, and King,

the Quencher of thirst for the water of life,

the Resurrection and Life,

the Sun of Righteousness,

the Truth,

the Unleavened bread that came down from heaven,

the Vine of whom we are but branches,

the true Witness,

him who speaks from His more Xcellent glory,

the Yea and Amen, and

the Savior of Zacchaeus! And our Savior too!

In the name above every other name, the name of Jesus, Amen. Our Father, &c.

LINKS FOR YOUR INTERESTFaith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/

 

 

I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

32 Days to Resurrection Sunday

Galatians 2:20 “…I am crucified with Christ…”

 

SCRIPTURE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

REFLECTION:  We began these DAILY DEVOTIONALS by speaking of THE CENTRALITY OF THE CROSS. Next we delved into the Old Testament PROPHECIES OF THE CROSS.  We are now examining the IMPLICATIONS OF THE CROSS.  In a few days we will begin our JOURNEY WITH CHRIST TO THE CROSS.

 

The Apostle Paul came to the place in his spiritual life that he could honestly say, “I am crucified with Christ.”It was settled in his heart. He prayed and meant it--“not my will but thine be done.” 

 

One may doubt that many, or any, make it to this point, but the fact that the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle to make such a specific claim is confirmation that it is possible. 

 

Paul was never physically nailed to a cross.  (He was beheaded for his testimony.)  But he was spiritually crucified.  He died to his will, his wisdom, and his works.  The old “I” no longer remained.  He was dead to sin. To the Christians at Rome he wrote: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.”  (Romans 6:6-8)

Oswald Chambers, a great holiness teacher of the last century, saw clearly the implications of this passage.  He asked his students, “Has that breaking up of… [our] independence come?”  He then pressed the point:

 

“All the rest is religious fraud. The one point to decide is— will I give up? Will I surrender to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how the brokenness will come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Jesus Christ takes place. And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable— “I have been crucified with Christ . . . .”

 

Only when we die, wholly surrendering our will to God’s will, can we truly live by faith in the Son of God.  You can be sure that faith in the Son is never misplaced.  He loves us more than anyone ever has or ever will. “Love so amazing so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!” (Isaac Watts) 

PRAYER:  Our Father, We Praise you for your love and your holiness, your grace and truth, your mercy and your judgment.  We pray that we would see ourselves as you see us.  We are grieved when we disobey, and convicted when we refuse to surrender. We give up.  We surrender all.  Our will is no longer ours, it is yours. We surrender our heart, soul, mind, and strength to you.  And may we so live this day, and every day, so that in the world to come we would have life everlasting.  In Jesus name, Amen.Our Father, &c.

LINKS FOR YOUR INTERESTFaith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/
 

 

THE MIND OF CHRIST

32 Days to Resurrection Sunday

Philippians 2:5 “…Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus…”

 

SCRIPTURE READING: PHILIPPIANS 2:3-8

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

REFLECTION: To have the “mind which was also in Christ Jesus ,”I LET GO”—purposefully turning away from self-centered thinking, (repentance is a thorough change of mind),and “LET GOD,”— purposefully letting the mind of Christ reign in my life.

 

The self-centered mind is fed by feelings of self-importance and the accoutrements of authority.

The mind of Christ, compelled Him to Uwillingly leave the worship and majesty of His heavenly throne to live among us.

 

The self-centered mind longs to be well-thought of by others.

The mind of Christ made himself of no reputation.

 

The self-centered mind demands to be served.

The mind of Christ was determined to serve.

 

The self-centered mind considers itself better than the average, or the best of all.

The mind of Christ came to minister to the average and below.  “He came to me!”

 

The self-centered mind is proud.

The mind of Christ was humble.

 

The self-centered mind submits to no authority.

The mind of Christ submitted to men with no ultimate authority, and became obedient unto death.

 

The self centered mind recoils at the thought of sacrifice.

The mind of Christ was willing to suffer the shame and disgrace of the cross.

 

If only one person in each relationship (i.e. home, church, or work) would “let the mind of Christ”reign supreme it would be transformational. My father would say, "It takes two to argue."  If one has already surrendered to do the will of God then peace within that one is secure, and peace surrounding that one is made possible.  Decide right now to be that person.
 

PRAYER: Our Father, We thank you today for the example you set before us. We pray that we would have “the mind of Christ.”  If we are self-centered in any area of our life, forgive and cleanse us we pray.  May we ignore the praises of men and crave the approval of God.  May we serve Thee and others willingly and without complaint. May we humbly submit to your authority and submit to all who are in authority over us.  And may we live everyday saying, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”  All this we pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen. Our Father, &c.

LINKS FOR YOUR INTERESTFaith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/

BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED

33 Days to Resurrection Sunday!

Isaiah 53:5 “…and with his stripes we are healed…”

 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 53:5-10

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

 

REFLECTION:  Look again at maladies and the cures in Isaiah 53:5:

 

The malady: Transgressions.

The cure: He was wounded.Nails, thorns, and a spear wounded our meek Savior. (John 19:37)

 

The malady: Iniquities.

The cure: He was bruised.Fists bruised our Lord’s sinless body. (Matthew 26:27)

 

The malady: No peace. 

The cure: He was chastised.A reed that served as a mock scepter was taken from His hand and then used to beat his thorn-crowned head.  (Matthew 27:30)

 

When we come to the fourth cure, “By His stripes,” no specific malady is cited.  We know that the whip of the Roman Legionnaire shredded the flesh of our Lord’s body leaving the stripe-marks here mentioned. (Matthew 27:26).But Isaiah does not explicitly tell us what it is that the “stripes” will heal.

 

“Transgressions,” “iniquities,” and “peace-lessness,” are spiritual conditions.  We usually assume that the “stripes” were to bring about physical healing, but the context surely demands a spiritual significance.

 

That the Lord miraculously healed and heals the physically sick we are sure.  We are witnesses of His power over nature. Yet we are also sure that every person our Lord healed during his ministry, even those whom He raised from the dead, ultimately passed through the valley of the shadow of death. 

 

We believe that the cure for transgressions is permanent.  We believe that the cure for iniquities is enduring.  We believe that the cure for peace-lessness is lasting.  But if we see the stripes as the remedy for“physical ailments,” we must admit the cure is temporal at best.

 

The Apostle Peter refers to this Scripture in his first letter to the persecuted Church.  He urges suffering Christians to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who, “his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes we are healed.” (I Peter 2:24).  Here again there is no specific mention of physical ailment.  There is an explicit reference to spiritual health, evidenced by “righteousness.”

While in the Recovery Unit at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the doctors asked the respiratory therapists to remove the ventilator from my Father’s face.  He looked at his anxious wife and two sons, faintly smiled and whispered, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies.” (Psalm 103:1-4). I can’t tell you how thrilling that was for our family. 

 

Then within twenty-four hours my father was again requiring the ventilator.  Nine weeks later he was breathing the ethereal air of heaven.  He testified, “Bless the Lord… who healeth all thy diseases…” then infection took him from us. 

What is this healing to which David and Isaiah and Peter refer? It is first and foremost that healing of the sin sick soul.  That old African-American Spiritual had it right:

“There is a balm [cure] in Gilead

to make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead,

to heal the sin sick soul.”

 

Marvelous truth.  Christ came not only to forgive transgressions, wash away iniquities, and speak peace to troubled souls, He came to bring spiritual health to sin-prone souls.

 

He came so that we might be filled with “all the fullness of God,”(Ephesians 3:19) and that“the very God of peace” could and would “sanctify wholly.”He suffered outside the gate that He might sanctify us with His blood. (Hebrews 13:12) He did all that was necessary so that “our whole spirit and soul and body would be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).  To those who doubt the possibility of such spiritual healing, sanctifying grace, the Apostle Paul testifies, “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
 

PRAYER: Our Father, “My heart is thrilled when ere I think of Jesus!  That blessed name, which sets the captive free!  The only name, through which I find salvation! No name on earth has meant so much to me.”  I cannot possibly comprehend all that Christ accomplished “wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed,” but I can offer a heartfelt “Hallelujah!” for your sacrifice for me.  “I long to be perfectly whole, break down every idol, cast out every foe, now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow!”  Bless and make me a blessing today.  In the strong name of Jesus, Amen.Our Father, &c.

LINKS FOR YOUR INTERESTFaith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/

 

 

 

WE SEE THINGS AS WE ARE

34 Days to Resurrection Sunday

 

Isaiah 53:4 "We esteemed him smitten and stricken by God..."
 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 53

4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

 

REFLECTION:  How like fallen men:  The Savior is crucified and thy rationalize God is responsible!  Standing near the cross outside the city wall, pacing through the Temple downtown, huddling along the streets of Jerusalem in hush conversations, his accusers justified themselves:

It wasn't our fault that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our sin that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our deceit that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our blasphemy that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our hypocrisy that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our blindness to see the truth that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our self-sufficiency that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

It wasn't our self-righteousness that nailed Him to the cross, it was His.

"We don't see things as they are; we see things as we are," the Talmud remarks.  How true.

 

His accusers justified themselves.  Yet they were the ones who needed to be justified.  So Jesus died, the "just and the justifier." (Romans 3:26).

 

I like to think that if I had been there I would have seen the Savior for who He was, and is. I like to think that if I had been there I would have resisted the influence of the crowd, even though they were the leaders of the most spiritual church in town. I like to think that if I had been there I would have defended Him, and indicted myself.

 

But I fear that at best I would have run away with His disciples, and at worst--oh dreadful thought--I would have added my voice to the mob shouting "Crucify Him!"

 

Jesus was certainly not "stricken, smitten of God and afflicted."  It was my sin--my pride, my folly, my rebellion, my disobedience--that nailed Him to the cross.

 

Man of Sorrows! what a name

For the Son of God who came,

Ruined sinners to reclaim,

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

In my place condemned He stood;

Sealed my pardon with His blood,

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

 

Guilty, vile, and helpless we,

Spotless Lamb of God was He;

"Full atonement!" can it be?

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

 

Lifted up was He to die;

"It is finished was His cry;

Now in Heav'n exalted high.

Hallelujah, What a Savior!

 

When He comes our glorious King,

All His ransomed home to bring,

Then anew His song we'll sing,

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

            Words and music by Philip Bliss

 

PRAYER: Our Father, Hallowed be Thy Name.  We confess that we are easily confused.  Too often we accuse when we are at fault.  We recoil from thinking of our sins.  We resist the truth of our sin.  But you, Our Loving Heavenly Father, seeing the whole sorry scene, yet saw in us something of such infinite worth that you sent your only Begotten to redeem us from all iniquity!  How can we say thanks? What can we do to express the depths of our love for you today?  "Here Lord, I give myself away, 'tis all that I can do!"  Humble me. Teach me. Forgive me. Indwell me. Sanctify me. And make of me what you will.  This I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.  Our Father &c.

LINKS FOR YOUR INTERESTFaith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/

 

 

WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?

35 DAYS TO RESURRECTION SUNDAY

 

SEE OUR YOU-TUBE RECORDING "BLESSED REDEEMER"

http://youtu.be/aJAqBj6-WC8

 

Isaiah 53:1-4  “…Who hath believed our report?”

 

SCRIPTURE READING: ISAIAH 53:

1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

 

REFLECTION:

Who hath believed our report?  Who believes?

 

Not those who are blind.

Bertrand Russell, that famed atheist from the last century once quipped that if he ever did face God he would  “reproach Him for not giving us enough evidence.”  The Psalmist exalted: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” (Psalm 19:1-3).  Russell saw scant evidence for God.  The Psalmist looked at the same universe and saw evidence everywhere!

 

The Apostle Paul saw the evidence and believed everyone who would could see for themselves, “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;”  Everyone has seen enough that they are “without excuse:”  Paul warns that disbelief leads to darkness, and darkness to decadence.  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:20,21)

 

Not those who are of hard heart.

We say, “A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still.”  And so it is.  When a man’s heart is hard, he will not believe though mountains of evidence point to the truth.

 

The disciples found it difficult to believe after witnessing amazing miracles.  Jesus reasoned with them: “Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? Have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve. And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven. And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?”(Mark 8:17-21). 

 

Hardening of the heart is as spiritually fatal as hardening of the arteries is physically fatal.  The Writer to the Hebrews urges his readers, “Exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  (Hebrews 3:13)

 

Not those who could not believe.

John was a first-hand witness to the resistance of the Jews to trust Christ: “Though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:  That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, “Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again, “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” (John 12:37-40).

 

St. Augustine, a convert to Christ in the 4^th century commented on this passage, “If I be asked why they could not believe? I immediately answer, Because THEY WOULD NOT." Aug. Tract. 53.

 

They could not because they would not.  And they would not because they were unwilling to do the of God.  Only the willing will believe and know.  Jesus said, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)

 

Count Me In

As for me, “When they number the ones who believe in Him, count me in!”  I’m with Paul, “Iknow whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12). 

 

If you’ve struggled to believe, pray with the Father who brought his afflicted son to Jesus, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). 

 

You will discover that faith is proportional to your willingness to see, to sense, and to surrender to the Suffering Servant so aptly pictured in Isaiah 53. 

 

Who hath believed our report? Ah we have!  And we are so glad.  We can never be same again.

PRAYER: Our Father, The thought that you would reveal your mighty arm to us—That you would reach down, lift us from the horrible pit of sin, and set our feet joyfully traveling up the highway of holiness—is beyond our understanding.  To think that when we could not come to where Jesus was, “He came to me,” thrills our soul!  Lord open our eyes to see more of Thee.  Soften our hearts to sense more of Thy love. And may our wills be at one with your “good, acceptable, and perfect will,” for now and for all of eternity.  In the name of our crucified Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. Our Father &c.

 

LINKS FOR YOUR INTEREST
Faith Community Church www.FCCStLouis.org
Pastor Rick Jones' Blog www.PastorRickJones.blogspot.com
Pastor Rick Jones You-Tube www.youtube.com/user/rmjones58
Pastor Dennis Skinner http://bloomingtoncrusaders.org/
Pastor Marsh Jones http://www.fccurbana.org/