I saw this image today. My first reaction was to laugh. But then I realised we do need the Bible to give us CPR like help. We need the Bible to restart our hearts and lives to help us to follow God’s ways, not the worlds ways.
Many years ago I came to realise that Jesus died for me. This was a complete revelation of something I didn’t understand. There was a big disconnect.
Like most people in Australia I enjoyed the Easter public holidays each year. We would get Good Friday and Easter Monday off school or work. It was a long weekend!
I knew that Jesus died on the cross on the Friday and He rose on the Sunday, but I did not know why. I didn’t understand why it was necessary or what it meant.
In 1989 I read a pamphlet given to me by a friend. It told me that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin. He took our punishment on the cross, so we could be right with God.
The pamphlet also listed some common things we all do wrong. I realised I had done most of them. I also realised that as a sinner I needed God’s forgiveness. I needed to confess my sins to Him.
This is where the disconnect made sense. I was a sinner. Jesus died on the cross for sin. He died for my sin. This understanding changed my life. I could be right with God because of what Jesus did for me!
The truth is we can all be right with God because of what Jesus did for us. He died on the cross for the sin of the world. He took our punishment so we could all be right with God.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I thank You that Jesus came and died on the cross for my sin. Right now I ask for Your forgiveness for all of the wrong things I have done in my life. Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, that You died on the cross for my sin and that God raised you from the dead. Right now I surrender my life to You and I ask you to be my Lord and Saviour. Please guide me and lead me in all I do by the power of Your Holy Spirit and help me to live for Your Kingdom. Amen.
What are your morning rituals? What does the first hour of your day look like?
Today’s question on WordPress was “what are your morning rituals?
For me it involves at cuppa, my Bible, prayer and some type of devotional. This is how it has been for many many years. While the format of tools may change slightly at times, it is always first thing in my day.
Sometimes I use an electronic Bible on my phone or iPad, sometimes it is my real paper Bible. Sometimes I do Our Daily Bread and other times I do a Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app. And it always involves prayer.
For me this morning ritual helps me to start my day right. It is helps to focus in on God and His kingdom. It helps me to think less about myself and more about others and the work God has for me to do.
What’s something most people don’t understand?
Over the years I have talked to a lot of people about my faith in Christ. Some just don’t understand it.
Some think following Christ is about obeying a set of rules. When in reality God gives us boundaries to keep us safe. The Bible says we follow a narrow road for our own good.
Some think it is about living a good live to find God’s acceptance and salvation. When in reality is is about accepting what Jesus has done for us in dying for us on the cross.
Some think this life is all there is and we are born, live and die. When in reality the Bible says we are eternal beings who will spend eternity with Christ or without Him.
Often the people I speak to have never read the Bible. So this is where I start them. I encourage them to read the Bible. I encourage them to read either Luke or John and take note of Jesus’ words that are normally in red letters.
When they read the Bible they start to see the real Jesus, not how the world paints Him. And when they see the real Jesus, they see it is more about what He has done for us. This is when they start to understand.
Today I would encourage you to start with the Bible. Read about Jesus. Find out who He is and what He has done. It is my prayer that this will help you to find true understanding.
It you don’t have a Bible you can find one at www.biblegateway.com or look for the YouVersion Bible app in your app store. They are both free to use.
Hope is a simple word, but something we all need desperately. In an ever changing world, we all need hope to hold on to. Hope keeps us looking forward to the future with the expectation of good things happening.
Before I came to Christ in my early 20s I thought I had hope. Despite not being in good health, I hoped to find my wife, get a good job, buy a home and that my health would improve. All of these things did happen, but they were all limited to this life.
After I came to Christ I found the hope I really needed. It was a hope for this life and a great hope for the next. I was now right with God, my sins were forgiven, I had a calling to serve and I had a heavenly hope for when this life is over. I would spend eternity with Christ.
After following Jesus for more than 30 years my hope is stronger than ever. Despite the world around me not looking good at times, I still have a great hope that is found in Christ. He is my true north or my anchor when life is tough. He holds me in the palm of His hand and He is far greater than anything life can throw at me.
Hope for me today is all about H.O.P.E. It is about Holding Onto Promises Eternal. This is true hope. The hope we have in Christ. The hope that He is preparing a place for us. The hope that He is coming back. The hope we will spend eternity with Him.
Yes I still have hopes and dreams for this life, but my ultimate hope is in Christ. My ultimate hope is eternity with Him. This life may last another 5, 10 or 20 years for me, but my true life will begin when I take my last breath here and I see His face. Oh what a great day that will be!
In the meantime I hold onto promises eternal.
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