ALL THINGS TOGETHER WORK FOR GOOD TUNE: “AM I A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS?” CM WORDS BY JIM BYRD
1. O may each child of God rejoice, As we our steps survey; For God ordained our earthly path, And wisely chose our way.
2. No need to worry or to fear, For all He does is wise; Our God is good in what He gives, And good when He denies.
3. The Lord is full of tenderness, Compassionate and kind; So let us bow before His throne, Unto His will resigned.
4. All things together work for good, This is His promise still; Rejoice and in all things give thanks, Contented with His will.
SCRIPTURE READINGS TODAY: MORNING: PSALM 121 EVENING: JOHN 9:1-16
“In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and His children shall have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26).
CHRIST’S GREAT WORK What is His work? The work which the Father gave Him to do; the work covenanted from before the world began; the work that shall crown Him with glory and honor for ever and ever; the work of fulfilling, of magnifying, and of honoring the holy law of God; the work of satisfying and of sheathing the sword of inflexible justice in His own heart; the work of vanquishing the powers of darkness, bruising the old serpent’s head, spoiling principalities and powers, taking away the sting of death, and removing the curse forever from all the election of grace. That is the work of God; that is the work of Christ, and it is freely given to the believer. –Joseph Irons, 1848
THE ALL-SUPPORTING NAIL Thomas Manton (puritan preacher) said, “the creatures hang upon God as a garment upon a nail; take away the nail and the garment falls down.” Charles Spurgeon commented on Manton’s words. “O Lord! I bless Thee that the nail on which creation hangs can never fail, for Thou faintest not; neither will my confidence be put to shame, for it hangs where hang the worlds. Till Thou dost Thyself cease from Thine almightiness, my soul’s hope is safe beyond all question, for it rests only upon Thee.”
THE MEANING OF OUR LORD’S RESURRECTION 1. His resurrection declared “Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh” to be “the Son of God with power” (Romans 1:3-4). The Savior had said, “I lay down My life for the sheep. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:15, 18). Who could lay down their life and take it up again but One who was God in the flesh? 2. His resurrection means the sins of God’s elect were put away by His substitutionary sacrifice. It means justification unto life has been accomplished, everlasting righteousness has been brought in, and His death on the cross has been accepted by the Father as full payment for the transgressions of His people, Romans 4:24-25. 3. His resurrection resulted in His exaltation as Lord over all. Because of His obedience unto death to accomplish the Father’s will of redemption, the God-Man has been rewarded with universal sovereignty and Lordship, Romans 14:9. 4. His resurrection means all of God’s people have an enthroned Intercessor and Advocate with the Father, Romans 8:34. Our risen Savior has entered into heaven and appears for us in the presence of God having obtained eternal redemption. He “ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). 5. His resurrection proves that the Father has committed all judgment to the Son. “He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). 6. His resurrection declares the validity and reality of the salvation of God’s children in, through and by the person and work of Jesus Christ, 1 Corinthians 15:14-20. “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” 7. His resurrection guarantees the resurrection and glorification of the bodies of His people. Though these earthly tabernacles must die and decay, since His people were all raised in Him when He arose, we shall each be raised to incorruption and immortality when He comes again in power and great glory. Christ told His disciples, “because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19). –Pastor Jim Byrd
Older
Top
