Our only Hope

I really appreciate this post from ICR by Henry Morris that speaks to the pervading pressure of people and the media to diminish the value of who Christ is.
"The thought that the death of Jesus and His shed blood were somehow the ransom price paid to redeem lost sinners from an eternal prison in hell has been a stumbling block to many of those very sinners. Yet that is the teaching of Scripture, whether it appeals to their reasonings or not. "Ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold...But with the precious blood of Christ" (I Peter 1:19-19). HMM
He will keep right on being the Christ of God no matter what puny little mankind has to say about the fact. All will bow the knee on that day and have to acknowledge him as the only Saviour acceptable to God. Therefore, God help us to be patient and wait for His positive commitment to His Word. Know that's Hope.

Haven't posted in a long time. Many excuses mostly. Even grown-ups get priorities all mixed up at times and I did just that. I'm glad that the God of all grace is ready to forgive and heal. Failure to maintain the means of grace or outright sinning is not consistant with God's children, but we are many times guilty of it anyway. " If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ". Restoration would not be necessary if we kept walking in the light, but I'm glad God provided for all those who return in repentance, confessing and forsaking sin and reafirming faith in the all adequate blood of Christ. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" is a fact for sinners and christians alike. Its not the will of God that any man sin but God provides grace " but if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Falling on our face after trying to walk with God or slipping along carelessly while trying to walk is not God's intention, but neither does He intend for us to remain in our dilemma--GRACE restores, renews and strengthens. Amen

Thoughts of Hope worth sharing

Most of the time I feel that I have little to share because who am I but a mere mortal stumbling along trying to keep my eyes on Christ. Todays comments will be a sharing of wise council from a godly man I receive daily devotionals from, Dr. Henry Morris's son.
Talk about hope, real hope, read on. Speaking of Christ's death on the cross....
"And as He completed His sacrifice, He cried out "with a loud voice" (Luke 23:46). the awesome victory cry. "It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost"
But death does not end the story, for the grave could not hold the Creator of life. He rose in victory over death and the grave, thereby conquering sin, its power and penalty forever, for " when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" Hebreews 1:3) Hallelujah, what a Saviour! JDM (John D. Morris of ICR)
The following day he shares another awesome truth....
"Furthermore, we are powerless to change our situation. Our sins demand the death penaly, "and without shedding of blood is no remission" Heb9:22. Either the guilty party must die to pay sin's penalty, or a guiltless party must substitute and pay the penalty instead. And so, "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly....God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us" Rom 5:6-8.
This transaction removes our sin from us. We stand before a Holy God just as if we had never sinned, and just as if we had always done right, "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Rom3:24
"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement" Rom 5:11
What more is their to say except, Amen

Hope Available

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4

Read the Book. Our only hope in a confusing world is between its covers and in acquaintence with God the Holy Spirit who inspired it.

In Christ the final battle is already won

I daily receive a short devotional from the Institute for Creation Research-ICR. Todays devotional was too good not to share. So, here goes.
In Jesus' Conquering NameOctober 8, 2009 "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:37) The first verse of the well-loved hymn "Faith Is the Victory" describes preparation for the battle between the forces of light and darkness. The second verse tells of marching into battle, and the third, of the actual attack. For the soldier of faith, empowered by love and obedience to the commandments of God, the victory is assumed. The last verse relates the rewards of victory and a commitment to wise governing, once the battle is over. To him that overcomes the foe, White raiment shall be giv'n;Before the angels he shall know, His name confessed in heav'n.Then onward from the hills of light, Our hearts with love aflame;We'll vanquish all the hosts of night, In Jesus' conq'ring name. Jesus, when the Apostle John saw Him in His present glorified, victorious state, made this promise to the churches: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels" (Revelation 3:5). Earlier, He had made a companion promise: "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). In this life we will have battles to fight, but the ultimate victory has already been won. As He left this world following His resurrection, He said: "Go ye therefore . . . and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20). No wonder, then, as we see in our text, we are "more than conquerors" in every situation, as we battle in Jesus' conquering name. "Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14). JDM
What more to say, The battle is won in Christ.

Hope in the Valley

We all like to enjoy the sense of God's presence in our services and relish the sense of God's power and all sufficiency. But then, we have to go back to the daily grind and sometimes nosedive into despondency.
Oswald Chambers has this comment from his book My Utmost for His Highest -Oct 1.
"We are not built for the mountains and the dawns and aesthetic affinities, those are for moments of inspiration, that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle. We feel we could talk like angels and live like angels, if only we could stay on the mount. The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time."
Oct 3rd Chambers shares this thought.
"Can I face things as they actually are in the light of the reality of Jesus Christ, or do things as they are efface altogether my faith in Him, and put me into a panic?"

OUCH

I think we often mistake our "faith" on the mountaintop for emotional elation. Faith can operate at all times in all places if we remember that "God can do anything" is true in the valley as well as the mountaintop. This faith has to grow, therefore I must show my faith by my works in all circumstances and be ready to see God at work everywhere and at all times. God help me to believe his word and trust his grace always.

Comment from Doctor Henry Morris of ICR

I receive an inspirational message from ICR -The Institute for Creation Research- each morning. Please read carefully what this godly man has to say.
"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) The fact that Jesus Christ is actually in each believer is both a great mystery and rich in glory. In fact, it is our very hope and assurance of glory in the age to come. How Christ may be both seated at "the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3) and yet living in us is surely a mystery, yet it is fully true. He Himself told His disciples: "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. . . . Abide in me, and I in you. . . . He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing" (John 14:23; 15:4-5). The apostle Paul also confirmed this great truth: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20). One of his prayers for the Ephesians was "that Christ might dwell in their hearts by faith" (Ephesians 3:17). The mystery as to how this can be is resolved in yet another mystery--that of the tri-unity of the Godhead. Christ, the Second Person, is present in His people through the Holy Spirit, the Third Person. Christ said: "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter. . . . Even the Spirit of truth; . . . for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you" (John 14:16-17). In fact, as our text says, His indwelling presence is our very hope of glory, for "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). Thus, where we go, He goes; whatever we say, He hears; even what we think, He knows. Christ, by the Holy Spirit, is our ever-present comforter and guide and counselor. This is, indeed, a glorious mystery! HMM"
I won't further comment as this servant of Christ has said it well.