Let Us Set Things Right

All of us have done things in our past that we wish we’d never done. All of us would love to have the opportunity to revisit our past and make the right choice, take back a word wrongly spoken, or express a different attitude than the one that brought someone pain. How do we solve this dilemma? Trying to act better will not erase what has been done in the past, what has been said in the past, or what has been chosen in the past. There is no way that we can go back and undo what we have done, or unsay what we have said. Reading the Bible will not take care of our past, going to church will not heal our past, and doing good works will not erase our past.

God has provided the only complete and perfect solution to every regretful and sinful thing related to our past. God’s answer is not “do better” or “try harder”. God’s answer is not found in what we can do, but in what He has done. God sent His Son into the world to die upon a cross. He didn't’t die as a martyr, but as our Savior. He did’t die for a noble cause, but for our sins. Jesus Christ died to save us from every stain of sin, every shame of sin, and every pain of sin.

When Jesus shed His blood for our sins, God’s justice was satisfied. The blood of Jesus Christ stands as the only redemptive price God will accept for the cleansing and forgiveness of our sins. Because of the blood of Jesus, God says to us, “Turn to Me and I will cleanse you. I will wash you. I will forgive you. I will not only do this, but I will do even more, I will forget your sins completely and remember them no more.”

Have your sins weighed you down? Let Jesus lift you up. Have your sins broken your heart? Let Jesus heal you. Have your sins had you bound? Let Jesus free you. Have your sins condemned you? Let Jesus speak His words of forgiveness over your life. Let Him embrace you in His arms of grace; let Him cover you with His mercy; let Him draw you close to His heart.

Because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, God says to you, “Come now, let us set things right, though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow; Though they be crimson red, they may become white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NAB)

As you receive His forgiveness, hear Him say to you, “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-12 (KJV)

Triumphant Entry—There Was and There Will Be

There was a time when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem in a most unusual way. John 12

There will be a time when Jesus returns to this earth in a most unusual way. 1 Thessalonians 4:16

There was a time when He rode upon a young donkey. John 12:14

There will be a time when He rides upon a white horse. Revelation 19:11

There was a time when He came as the Sacrificial Lamb. John 1:36

There will be a time when He comes as the Righteous Judge. Revelation 19:11

There was a time when He came humbly and lowly. Zechariah 9:9

There will be a time when He comes to conquer and make war. Revelation 19:11

There was a time when palm branches were cast before Him. John 12:13

There will be a time when crowns will be cast before His throne. Revelation 4:10

There was a time when people proclaimed, “Hosanna.” John 12:13

There will be a time when people proclaim, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him.” Revelation 5:13

There was a time when the local crowds cried out His praises. John 12:13

There will be a time when people from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation will worship at His feet. Revelation 5:9

There was a time when a multitude saw His triumphal entry. John 12:12

There will be a time when everyone on earth will see His triumphal return. Revelation 1:7

—Roy Lessin

Jesus Died And Rose For You!

Jesus died and rose for you. Does this not say it all? The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was in the Father’s heart before the world was formed, before a flower bloomed, before a creature moved, before man walked in God’s garden!

For all the sins you’ve committed, God says,  “All is forgiven. By faith alone you are righteous in My sight because My Son died and rose for you.” For all the things you’ve done to try and earn God’s favor, He says, “Your righteousness will never be enough to save you or keep you. That is why My Son died and rose for you. By faith alone His righteousness can now be yours.”

Does God love you? Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.
Does God care about you? Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.
Will God save you and restore you? Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.
Will God provide for you? Yes, Jesus died and rose for you.

Jesus died and rose for you. If you only knew this one truth, it would be enough. If you only had this spiritual bread to eat it would sustain you.

If you only had this living water to drink it would quench your thirst. Yet, by His grace there is even more.

Jesus died and rose for you. Is this not the taproot from which the tree of life grows? Is this not the headwater from which the healing river flows?

Is this not the pen from which all doctrine is written? Does not justification, sanctification, redemption, and all the other truths of Scripture become yours because Jesus died and rose for you? The answer is yes. Yes, a million times over! Your life in Him is now an all encompassing “Yes” because Jesus died and rose for you. Today, hope is yours, life is yours, heaven is yours, blessings upon blessings are yours, because Jesus died and rose for you.

Jesus Did It All…

Jesus didn’t leave heaven because He was in need of a Savior…
He didn’t fulfill the law because He was waiting for the Messiah…
He didn’t die on the cross because He was guilty of sin…
He didn’t rise from the dead because He was in need of hope…
He didn’t become a High Priest because He was in need of prayer…
He didn’t send the Holy Spirit because He was in need of comfort…
He did it all because we were!
-Roy Lessin

Springtime In The Heart

“Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!” 2 Cor. 5:17 (MsgB)

When Jesus comes to live within us He brings springtime to our hearts. The cold, dark places in us are replaced with His glorious light.

New things come alive in us. The warming wind of His Spirit makes us feel fresh and clean.  Seeds of faith are planted in the rich soil of His promises. Blossoms of hope begin to shoot forth. Young fruit trees, with the sap of character and ministry, begin to flow.

Springtime in our hearts beckons us on to growth. The seeds of faith need to be established, the blossoms of hope need to flower, and the fruit trees of character and ministry need to come to fruition. The call of springtime leads us on—from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from glory to glory—as we are daily being conformed to the image of His dear Son.

Move On In Me

There is more to drink than what you’ve tasted,
Move on in Me.
There are more vistas to discover than what you’ve seen,
Move on in Me.
There is more to feast upon than what you’ve eaten,
Move on in Me.
There are more heights to climb than what you’ve conquered,
Move on in Me.
There is more grace to receive than what you’ve been given,
Move on in Me.
There are more joys to delight in than what you’ve enjoyed,
Move on in Me.
There is more love to embrace than what you’ve experienced,
Move on in Me.
There are more blessings to come than what you’ve received,
Move on in Me.

Here are some rich thoughts from a pastor who lives in Nortwest Arkansas... I trust they will be a blessing to you...

As I was studying this morning the Holy Spirit spoke something
to me from Genesis 22:1-14....emphasis on v. 14.....
The Holy Spirit simply said......"Howie, before Abraham could
know Me as "Jireh" (provider).....he had to be willing to give
his most treasured possession as a burnt offering unto Me."

That was pretty easy to swallow until I studied the word
"burnt offering".....it's literal meaning is the hebrew word
"o-lah"....."holocaust"......"going up in smoke."

The Lord simply quickened me to know that we have to be willing
to give our greatest possession to Him, and trust Him with it
even if it just "goes up in smoke." as an offering unto Him........

So many times we want to give so we can get.....but a "holocaust"
offering takes the greatest of faith and trust.....we simply must
place our "Isaac" in His hands, and trust Him with the outcome.....
And that is how we come to know Him as "jireh" ......provider.

Pastor Howie, Northwest Arkansas