Sue O'Donnell. 26.11.20
“I now regard those things (of the world) as worthless compared to the greatest privilege of all, of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord.” (Philippians 3 v 8 The Truth)
Jesus instituted the Sacramental Mystery,
The reality of His Presence a foretaste which is heavenly.
After His Last Supper and time at Gethsemane,
Jesus falsely tried and convicted most unjustly,
Walked the road to death knowingly.
Because of the accuracy of prophecy,
He knew what was to happen accordingly.
Jesus knew salvation for fallen humanity,
Lies within the jurisdiction of the Lord God Almighty.
Jesus, having done nothing wrong, no sign of iniquity,
Carried His own † to Calvary.
His life was to be annihilated, terminated in the Paschal Mystery.
He chose no other way to end His earthly task.
Jesus had come to earth to show us how to be holy.
He taught wisely, He preached charismatically,
He enlightened many by His gospel message,
Illuminating the reality of how we,
Made to be family find our heavenly Father.
Jesus made it abundantly clear regarding spirituality.
Living obediently, full reverently, the right way,
He told us of the necessity to pray and believe.
“Everyone who has received the new birth that God gives overcomes the spirit that influences the world around him (her). It is our faith in Jesus and what He has done that gives us victory over worldliness.” (1 John 3 v 4 The Truth)
But as well as all of this accomplishment
In three quickly passing years of ministry,
The highest reason for Jesus’ life came at Calvary.
Jesus lived to die on the † sacrificially,
He, full lovingly, wanted to draw everybody
To believe in Him, to receive blessing from the God of mercy.
In that time on the †,
When momentarily, He became separated from God
By our sin, the iniquity of all the world,
Upon which the holy Father could not bear to look.
In that time spent completely sacrificially,
The Saviour Jesus accomplished His highest work.
Jesus, our true glory throughout eternity.
Jesus, the Saviour, the Redeemer of all humanity.
Jesus, showing such courage under trial, a full humility.
Jesus, the Alpha and Omega of our destiny gives daily.
Jesus, the Creator, renewing our identity as being made holy.
Jesus, promising us fullness, found in His divinity.
“ ‘My portion is the Lord,’ says my soul, and so I will hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3 v 24)
“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful...For the word of the LORD is right and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice, the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” (Psalm 33 v 1, 4, 5)
Lord Jesus, You are life to us, to all who place their hope of heaven in You, because they know You are their Saviour. Thank You for all You accomplish for us.
Your saving love gifts us not only hope, but peace as You have established forgiveness for our sinfulness by offering the perfect sacrifice of Your life on the †.
You are not only hope and peace but joy, full joy to us. You promised us fullness, and we found this meaning and purpose to life in Your presence.
Our hope, our peace, our joy, all praise and thanks is ever due to You as the Saviour of the world winning forgiveness of us. You have redeemed us from our eternal punishment.
Thank You for all You have accomplished in teaching, preaching and healing. Thank You for being the cornerstone of our faith, its one foundation and its development. Thank You for sharing Your holiness with us.
Without this we would be lost to our Father’s merciful love and forgiveness. We deserved to be abandoned, but You brought forth Your healing help.
Thank You for sending us Your Spirit as the Paraclete, to stand beside us to support us, especially throughout trial and tribulation, challenge and worry.
It is so comforting and reassuring to know You shared our human life, so have experienced our feelings and concerns, and can thereby identify with us.
We know You as Brother, turn to You as Saviour, love You as the Word of God, our Father’s perfect plan for our most merciful redemption.
Lord Jesus, truly You are life to us. Thank You for Your life, Your sacrificial death and Your rising again to be with us as Saviour forever.
We rejoice to put our hope in the living Lord we can run to, talk with, pray through asking our Father for favours. We are truly grateful that Your love cares for us at all times.
I pray for those who as yet have not met You, asking that the Holy Spirit impacts upon their hearts and opens their minds to make ready to receive of You, for there is no true satisfaction in life without You.
Thank You for raising our heart and mind to the mystery of faith, meaning that we keep puzzling about our Father’s loving kindness. Why this?
Then with humility, owning our need of You to overcome sinfulness, we can respond to the Holy Spirit’s invitation to ask and receive of You, to pray to and through You.
Still we remain alerted, for we must be wary of false doctrine, understand the necessity of God’s law and the reality of the role of grace, whereby You came to save us from sinfulness.
Thank You for being the Mediator between us and our Father, born as a Man and living as one of us, but in a perfectly honourable and holy way, an example to us.
You both set and help us to reach the highest standards for life, so as to delight our Father. Yet in spite of all of this, “The mystery of Your godly nature is undoubtedly great.” (1 Timothy 3 v 16) You intrigue us!
You fascinate us!
You are indeed life in all fullness to us because of Your godly character reflecting the nature of our Father.
You are so generous and kindly towards us, ever let us praise You.
You make us one in family, reminding us by the Holy Spirit, that true godliness reaps a rich harvest of blessings now and eternally. We not only praise You, Lord, we thank, love and admire You profoundly.
You tell us that the true worshippers which our Father hopes for, worship Him in spirit and in truth. You send us Your Holy Spirit, our Father’s Spirit for this purpose.
You are the truth we live by, stand on, claim against counter claims. So You are everything to us pertaining to holiness and happiness. Lord, there is no real life without You.
Thank You that You will ever be our Saviour, the Prince of Peace and King of kings, our way of life and means of worship. You lead us home to heaven.
No longer need we fear death and final, total, eternal separation from our heavenly Father. He has sent You to us to rectify that threat.
Thank You seems so inadequate when we truly rejoice to be in Your presence, to know You as our Saviour Brother, and to want to remain as Your anointed works in proves, journeying home to heaven with You at
our side.
You are life’s fullness, its richness, its goodness. Please ever, ever be to the holy Trinity, the source and force of all love and mercy. We rejoice! Amen.
Images by Artist Christine Garwood
http://www.christinegarwoodartist.co.uk/
Season
Key Themes
UNDERSTANDING
JESUS
