Everyone likes to be a part of the winning team and that is what we have in Christ. Billy Graham, speaks of this confidence, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it’s all going to turn out all right.” But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57. Jesus Christ secured the victory over sin, death, and the devil once and for all with His death on the cross and His victorious resurrection. Because of this, death and the devil have no power over us. “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55. That does not mean that evil does not exist and the devil is going to give up. However, we know that we are victors in Jesus Christ and that God triumphs over evil. With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 60:12. God wants us to pay attention and focus on His love in our lives through studying and discussing His Word, worshipping in church, and being active in prayer. That way we can block out the lies of the devil. Max Lucado had a sermon on our thoughts and what we should focus on. Gnats are annoying and pestering creatures, but instead we can focus on the thoughts that come from our free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Each day we need God as the focus in our lives! There is an old saying that seven days without God makes one weak. For each day there is a different name. Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday and Shatterday. We need God’s presence and help in our lives every moment of every day. In the Lord’s prayer, we pray for God’s will to be done. Luther’s Small Catechism explains what happens when God’s will is done. “He breaks and hinders the plans of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which try to destroy our faith in Christ Jesus…He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith and helps us lead God-pleasing lives.” No matter what moment it is in our lives, we are better off being close to God. A beautiful hymn written by Sarah Flower Adams is “Nearer My God to Thee.” It is based on Jacob’s dream at Bethel in Genesis 28:11-19. Through the dream God spoke to Jacob and let him know, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. Genesis 28:15. It is the same promise that He makes for us. When the ship, the Titanic, was sinking, the band members choose to stay on board and play this song so that others could be saved in the life boats. They knew that they faced almost certain death, but were confident in their sacrifice because they knew that heaven awaited them. This was the act of people that know they are victorious through Christ. Only Christians could have this sense of calm and peace before meeting death because they know that death is not the end. It is only the beginning of a beautiful life in heaven. The second line of the hymn means that Christians are willing to bear their crosses even to the point of death and still sing with gratitude their hearts desire of nearer my God to thee. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me; Still all my song would be nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! References
Luther, M. (1529). Luther’s small catechism. St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House. Adams, S. F. (1841). “Nearer my God to thee.” Stohlmann, M. (2016). The world's greatest coach. Seattle, WA: CreateSpace.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Micah StohlmannChristian, author, and professor of mathematics education. Archives
May 2023
Categories |