I Believe Jesus Christ Was Crucified, Died, and Was Buried

Mark 9:31-32 (NIV) ³¹He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” ³²But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

Mark 15:24-25; 37-39; 44-47 (NIV) ²⁴And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. ²⁵It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. ... ³⁷With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. ³⁸The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” ... ⁴⁴Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. ⁴⁵When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

“I believe Jesus Christ was crucified, He died, and He was buried.”

So many details are included in the crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. There were many witnesses to this part of God’s redemptive plan. The disciples were forewarned, but they did not understand. Mary had pondered all things in her heart since Jesus’ birth, and now his crucifixion and death must have been heart-wrenching. Yet even Mary knew he was to be called ‘Jesus’ for he would bring salvation to the world.

At His death, the curtain of the temple was torn in two; thus providing direct access to the Holy Chamber. No longer would it be necessary to have one’s sins forgiven by a priest for through Jesus Christ now all persons have direct access to forgiveness. That includes me. That includes you.

“I believe Jesus Christ was crucified, He died, and He was buried.”

There are those in the world who believe Jesus did not actually die, merely that he fainted. Pilate asked for verification from the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross. Yes. Jesus was dead. The testimony of the centurion was true and accurate. Jesus was indeed dead.

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God (v. 43) took the body of Jesus down from the cross, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock (v. 46). Both Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of Joseph were witnesses to the place where Jesus was buried. A rock... not a small one, but traditionally one which would require assistance to move, was rolled over the entrance to the tomb.

“I believe Jesus Christ was crucified, He died, and He was buried.”

Revelation 5:6; 9; 12 (NIV) ⁶Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. ... ⁹And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. ...¹²In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

1 John 3:16 (NIV) ¹⁶This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

“I believe Jesus Christ was crucified, He died, and He was buried.”

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

Thank you for the gift of salvation at the cost of your Begotten and Beloved Son. His willingness to bear our penalty for sin is overwhelming; such amazing grace and love beyond compare. Your Son was crucified, He died, and He was buried; but in your Wisdom that is not the final end. Prepare our hearts to receive forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe Jesus Christ Was Crucified, Died, and Was Buried appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I Believe Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilate

Mark 15:12-15 (NIV) ¹²“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. ¹³“Crucify him!” they shouted. ¹⁴“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” ¹⁵Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:24 (NIV) ²⁴When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

“I believe Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

The favorite excuse of children is “It’s not my fault,  (_somebody) made me do it!” The favorite excuse of Christians is; “It’s not my fault, the devil made me do it!” The excuse of Pilate was; “It’s not my fault, the Jews made me do it!”

Do you want to know the rest of the story? Do you think you can handle the truth? Keep in mind, this was after Jesus had already been cruelly and undeservedly flogged.

Mark 15:16-20 (NIV) ¹⁶The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it [i.e., to fix securely, not lightly nor gently] on him. ¹⁸And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” ¹⁹Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. ²⁰And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Matthew 27:27-31 (NIV) ²⁷Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it [i.e., to fix securely, not lightly nor gently]  on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

“I believe Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

Isaiah 52:14 (NIV) ¹⁴Just as there were many who were appalled at him – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness –

“I believe Jesus Christ suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIV) ⁴Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

Although you have given me the ability to write; for the suffering of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I have no words – only a ripped heart that realizes how woefully inadequate I am to receive your grace and mercy. Neither do I have enough words to adequately express my gratefulness and appreciation that my Savior willingly did this for me. Forgive me. I give you my heart. May I somehow be of service to you for the remainder of my life – for however many years you will grant – and may I be found faithful in your sight.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe Jesus Christ Suffered Under Pontius Pilate appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I Believe in Jesus Christ, Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) ⁶For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:18, 20b-21 (NIV) ¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ... ^20b...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you  are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Luke 1:26-38 _(excerpts) (NIV) ^26b...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” ... ³¹You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. ... ³⁴“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

“I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”

The Nicene Creed provides more detail:

For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.

These passages of Scripture noted above are traditionally used during the Christmas season. Unfortunately the tendency to get ‘wrapped up’ _{(excuse the pun)} in the planning and festivities of the holiday season often submerges the true significance of Christ’s birth. In fact even the phrase “Jesus is the Reason” becomes so commercialized that we utter the words without deep thought on what that truly means. On the other side of the spectrum, there are those who deify Mary, who although recognized as ‘highly favored’ is not, nor ever was, part of the One Triune Godhead – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”

My challenge to you is to pause, clear your thoughts for a moment and consider the following:

·         Jesus Christ is One with God the Father Almighty and was with God from the very beginning including the creation of the earth. John 1:1-3 (NIV) ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning. ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

·         God knew in his omniscience that the world would need a Savior, someone to bridge the gap between a sinful and sin-filled, tainted and marred world and His own Holiness. Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) ²But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you. Romans 3:23 (NIV) ²³For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

·         The only Sacrifice sufficient to accomplish this would have to be perfect, sinless, blameless, without defect. John 1:29b (NIV) ^29bLook, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV) ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

·         The only perfect Sacrifice would have to be God’s Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, not conceived by mortal man, but of God’s Holy Spirit. John 3:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

·         Jesus willingly accepted this assignment – knowing full well it would mean leaving the throne of God, coming to earth in human form, growing up with all its human temptations and challenges and yet remaining without sin. John 1:14 (NIV) ¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 18:37b (NIV) ^37bIn fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.

·         Jesus knew this would eventually lead to rejection, persecution and death, but rising to once again resume his throne in glory at his Father’s side. I will write more on this in the coming devotions; however, my position remains clear:

“I believe in Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.”

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

Seldom do I take time to grasp the full depth of your omniscience, knowing that I would need a Savior even before the world as we know it began. Your wisdom and plan were fully in place; which also means your Son, Jesus Christ, fully knew the part he would fulfill in my Salvation. Help me, and also my readers, to pause in submission and full thanksgiving for the gift of mercy and grace you have provided.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe in Jesus Christ, Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I Believe in Jesus Christ, God's Only Son, Our Lord

John 1:14b (NIV) ^14bWe have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 8:42 (NIV) ⁴²Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me.”

Hebrews 1:3 (NIV) ³The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

1John 1:23 (NIV) ²³And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, my Lord.”

Earlier this week (November 4^th) I presented the example of water, ice, and steam being three separate states of matter, each with its own various properties and characteristics; yet all three being one single chemical composition known to us as H₂O. I explained how this simple earthly example can help us understand how one single Triune God can in fact be three distinct persons of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Indeed, Jesus Christ is the Holy and Only Son of God.

The Nicene Creed provides greater detail:

We [I] believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, my Lord.”

Not only is Jesus Christ God’s only Son, but he is also my Lord – our Lord – and my prayer is that He is also your Lord.

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)  ¹⁵But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

Jude v. 25 (NIV) ²⁵To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 (NIV) ⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ... ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Acts 2:36b (NIV) ^36bGod has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NIV) ⁶Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Romans 14:9 (NIV) ⁹For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.

Jeremiah 23:6b (NIV) ^6bThis is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, my Lord.”

In closing, I will leave you with a passage from Revelation. While I realize most people shy away from the book of Revelation claiming it to be too hard or too complicated for the common person to understand; I firmly believe that if God thought us incapable of understanding, he would have guided the compilers of the cannon to stop at Jude. Revelation is in the Bible for a reason. It is John’s Revelation of Jesus Christ and of things to come. The following passage is a beautiful promise of hope for it tells of the might and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ. Read it carefully and pray that God will open the eyes of your understanding.

Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV) ¹¹I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. ¹²His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. ¹³He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. ¹⁴The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

“I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, my Lord.”

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

I humbly come to you confessing the sins of my heart and mind; fully declaring the Name of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. Knowing in my heart that He is your Only Begotten Son, not made or created by you, but of you and one with and within you. Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, Your only Son and my Lord.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Only Son, Our Lord appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I Believe in God, Maker of Heaven and Earth

Genesis 1:1 (NIV) ¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Acts 14:15b (NIV) ^15bWe too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.

Hebrews 11:3 (NIV) ³By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

“I believe in God, maker of heaven and earth.”

For years, there have been those in science who say Christians believe in a ‘God of the gaps’ not complimentary, but implying that Christians use ‘God’ to explain anything they cannot understand. Ironically the more we learn about science, the more we understand that it is they who use ‘Science of the gaps’ to fill anything they cannot scientifically explain. There is so much more to this concept and I lack sufficient knowledge to fully explain adequately. But I can tell you this:

“I believe in God, maker of heaven and earth.”

Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV) ¹⁵The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Revelation 4:11 (NIV) ¹¹You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

Nehemiah 9:5b-6 (NIV) ^5bBlessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. ⁶You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Romans 1:20 (NIV) ²⁰For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that people are without excuse.

Psalm 33:6-9 (NIV) ⁶By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. ⁷He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. ⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. ⁹For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV) ²⁷So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV) ⁸Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Psalm 19: 1-4 (NIV) ¹The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ²Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. ³They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. ⁴Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to all the ends of the world.

“I believe in God, maker of heaven and earth.”

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

I believe in You. I believe in your wisdom you created the heavens and the earth, and all that they contain from the vastness of the universe to the infinitesimally microscopic components of cell structure. I believe creation was never a random occurrence or happy accident – it was designed and ordained for your purposes. I believe that although it is marred and tainted with human sin, you will one day restore it to the glory you intended. Thank you for the work of Your hands, that in your great love and mercy you created mankind and provided all the elements and components to sustain life on earth; but most of all, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, our pathway to salvation.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe in God, Maker of Heaven and Earth appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I Believe in God the Father Almighty

Exodus 3:14-15b (NIV) ¹⁴God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” ... ^15b “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.”

Exodus 6:2 (NIV) ²God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.”

Exodus 20:7 (NIV) ⁷You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Matthew 22:37 (NIV) ³⁷Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

“I believe in God the Father Almighty.”

In the Preface or Introduction of most Bibles, you can find an explanation given for the reason LORD uses all capital letters in the Old Testament and lower case letters Lord in the New Testament. Without belaboring the point too much and with a little simplification; the most traditional view is that in Hebrew the tetragrammaton YHWH was considered too sacred to be spoken aloud. It contained no vowels, and this wasn’t a mistake, it was purposefully done. Translating to English, vowels were later included to produce the name Yahweh, used as a proper title to represent the personal name of God revealed to Moses. In the New Testament, the Greek word Adonai is translated as Lord or Master, recognizing God’s authority. Perhaps it helps us to think of LORD (title, specific Name) and Lord (character traits, authority).

In addition, “LORD, God Almighty” encompasses all aspects of God’s deity, Name, authority, and character. He is supremely LORD, God Almighty. God is omniscient; knowing all things. God is omnipotent; all powerful. God is omnipresent; all places, all times (past, present, future), for He has always been, is now, and always will be.

Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV) ²³“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? ²⁴Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

Revelation 11:17 (NIV) ¹⁷We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.

“I believe in God the Father Almighty.”

And there is yet one more aspect of believing who God is – He is our Heavenly Father.

Matthew 6:9 (NIV) ⁹This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name...

John 1:12-13 (NIV) ¹²Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

“I believe in God the Father Almighty.”

One final thought to ponder. There are those who would doubt that the Trinity exists; or that God could be three different things – or conversely, that three different persons could be one God. Perhaps it might help to remember an example I used when teaching Sunday School years ago:

Water is a liquid with specific properties and characteristics; it’s chemical formula is H₂O. Ice is a solid with specific properties and characteristics; it’s chemical formula is H₂O. Steam is a vapor with specific properties and characteristics; it’s chemical formula is H₂O. Three separate properties and characteristics – One Name. Thus we have an earthly example to help us understand the One Triune God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

“I believe in God the Father Almighty.”

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

I believe in You. Your Name is precious to me. I am disheartened when I hear others misuse your Name or treat you callously. Quicken my heart to show you the honor and respect due to your Name. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son which paves the way for my Salvation and allows me to be your child. Yes, I believe in You, LORD God Almighty, my Heavenly Father.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe in God the Father Almighty appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I Believe in God

Genesis 1:1a (NIV) ^1aIn the beginning God...

Exodus 20: 2a, 3 (NIV) ^2aI am the LORD your God... ³You shall have no other gods before me.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) ⁶And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

“I believe in God.”

In a recent conversation with someone, a precious family member, who held faith in God as a child, but has since chosen other beliefs; I mentioned what is known as Pascal’s Wager which begins (forgive the oversimplification) with the simple choice of belief in God or disbelief in God. His response quite frankly floored me and I didn’t know how to handle it then. The young man told me that Pascal’s Wager was fine except that there were not two choices, there were many choices (e.g., Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Judaism, atheism, deism, pantheism, etc.). After that response I spent weeks, months, in sincere contemplation and Bible study; and what I discovered – and what I wished I had been able to express then – was this:

Pascal’s Wager holds true because there are only TWO choices... (A) Belief in God  -OR- (B) Belief in something that is not God – whatever that might be. Plenty of other options may exist... but they are still ‘not God’!

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NIV) ⁴The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

“I believe in God.”

I am reminded of an old camp song we sang at youth camp ages ago: “I believe in the sun, even when it isn’t shining. I believe in God, even when there’s no one there. I believe in God, yes, I believe in God, even when He is silent.”

 

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

I believe in You. I can’t see you, but I know in my heart that you exist, and that you see me, hear me, and you know my thoughts and what is on my heart. My choice is clear: I believe in God. My prayer is now for others to understand how clear that choice is... belief in You alone... or else nothing matters. There is no other choice that will bring lasting fellowship with You for all eternity. Yes, I believe in You, Lord God, my Heavenly Father.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  I Believe in God appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

My Testimony

Isaiah 7:9 (NIV) ⁹If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

I was born into an Advent Christian family in Massachusetts, we moved to Florida when I was five, and I was raised in and Advent Christian Church in Clearwater, FL. I was blessed to marry a wonderful Advent Christian man from Clovis, NM, and for years I was a member of the Advent Christian Church of Clovis, NM. Traditionally, Advent Christians hold to the belief of No Creed but the Bible. That’s fine and it works well as long as your Bible isn’t on a shelf somewhere collecting dust. To all my Advent Christian friends and family: I challenge you to find your Bible, dust it off, and start using it! Daily!

The Advent Christian Church of Clovis, NM no longer exists. After a local church burned beyond repair, the few handful left at our church felt led to turn our large facility over to that congregation – filling their need and ensuring that the building we loved but could no longer fill would remain dedicated to God’s service and glory. It was the hardest decision, but the clearest decision to make. They had people but no building; we had a building with approximately a dozen people. The few handful of our remaining congregation have since drifted off to join various other denominations. I currently attend a Global Methodist Church, and although my husband and I will remain Advent Christians at heart for the rest of our foreseeable lives; we feel quite at home in the Global Methodist church. We sing in  the choir, attend regularly and support with our tithes and offerings.

Our church – my church – a Global Methodist church – includes the Apostles Creed each Sunday. And occasionally, as we are currently doing, we recite the Nicene Creed, which is a bit longer with more details. A quick search online can provide all the details you need for a comparison of the two creeds and I will not reprint them in length. Reciting either the Apostles Creed or the Nicene Creed each week is fine and works well, as long as you mean each word you speak and do not allow the temptation for it to become rote, repetitious, robotic. To all my Global Methodist friends and family: I challenge you to find your Bible, dust it off, and start using it! Daily! When you recite each phrase of any creed; know the words you are using, understand the meaning of what you are saying, and renew your commitment with each phrase you speak.

Paul Harvey included the words ‘and now you know the rest of the story’ in his radio broadcasts even before his show by that title premiered in 1976. I have given you my testimony thus far, but now here is the rest of it.

Yesterday afternoon in a conversation with our eldest son, he said something I will long remember. He told his dad and I that he wasn’t quite sure what was happening to our Nation. He said, “Something’s not quite right. Something seems, I don’t know... ‘broken’.” Yes, son, on many levels our Nation has become ‘broken’ and generations have led to its brokenness. In large part because we have forgotten who we are as a Nation, the values we once held as a Nation, and our courage to stand strong in our faith has weakened.

Isaiah 7:9 (NIV) ⁹If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

So I ask you, dear Readers:  What do you believe? Prove it!

During the entire month of November, my heart has made it clear what I will write about. It will be my testimony. I will use the foundation of the Apostles and Nicene creeds that I recite each week, break them down into phrases, provide support from the pages of my Bible to tell you not only what I believe, but also why I believe it. My hope and prayer is that it will in some way encourage you to renew your own commitment to follow Jesus Christ, and renew your faith in God. Our Nation needs Christians with courage to be the stronghold of faith in God, to be the light  of Christ for others to follow, to be the source of help for the brokenness we see all around us.

Isaiah 7:9 (NIV) ⁹If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

 

Dear Lord God, my Heavenly Father;

I pray for wisdom and courage as I embark upon writing those thoughts you have laid on my heart. My request is that it might lead others to renew their commitment to you. Thank you for the gift of your Word. May it inspire us to live faithfully for you.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  My Testimony appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

The Solid Rock

Matthew 7:24-29 (NLT) ²⁴Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. ²⁶But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. ²⁷When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash. ²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹for he taught with real authority – quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

As we wrap up our two-week focus on our appreciation of some of the older hymns and the Biblical messages they bring, I’d like to close with one of my youngest son’s favorite hymns. Every time our church had a sing-spiration night and asked the congregation for their favorites... David was always first to call out #448 – The Solid Rock. This is a great hymn to wrap up our series for it tells of comfort, hope, and encouragement that can only be found when built upon the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ.

The author of The Solid Rock is Edward Mote – a humble cabinet maker in London. The year is recorded as 1834, when walking to the cabinet shop, the words flooded Edward’s mind. By the end of the day he had written four verses. They were later set to music by William B. Bradbury, who interestingly enough selected a repetitious and rhythmic cadence, complimenting the repetitious and rhythmic sounds of a carpentry shop. The author, Edward Mote, eventually became a Baptist minister; however, his hymn reflecting the solid foundation of life in Christ is still a favorite among many denominations today.

You might be familiar with the story of the two houses built by the wise and unwise builders... but today, take special note of the last two verses. Jesus taught with authority – he taught from his heart. It wasn’t, nor is it today, a matter of religious laws or beliefs – it is a matter of building on a solid foundation that cannot be shaken by the world’s views. Our world, our society, our educational systems and teachings, our surroundings are all full of sinking sand. Build your life on Jesus Christ the Solid Rock!

The Solid Rock (Edward Mote, 1834)

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found; dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

Lord God Almighty, our Father;

Thank you for the reminder in your Word and through the older hymns that our only hope is to build our lives on the sure foundation of Your Son, Jesus Christ. The world, our nation, our society, our school systems – all of it is sinking sand – all of it lures us away from You. Jesus’ blood and righteousness is redeeming hope for eternal life when Christ shall come again. Forgive our sins, and set us back on the right path.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

The devotional  The Solid Rock appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com  

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Advent Christian Hymnal, ACGC, Charlotte, 1967.

I Think When I Read That Sweet Story of Old

Matthew 19:13-15 (NLT) ¹³One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. ¹⁴But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” ¹⁵And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were well-known for complicating the rules, laws, and stipulations of being the ‘chosen ones’ – those belonging to God. Jesus taught simplicity.

John 5:24 (NLT) ²⁴I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life.

The disciples must have been the original publicity agents trying to maintain the demands of overbooked schedules and standing-room-only attendees. They did their best to minimize distractions. Jesus taught simplicity.

 Luke 18:17 (NLT) ¹⁷I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.

I Think When I Read That Sweet Story of Old (Jemima Thompson Luke, 1841)

I think when I read that sweet story of old, when Jesus was here among men, How He called little children as lambs to His fold, I should like to have been with them then.

I wish that His hands had been placed on my head, that His arms had been thrown around me, and that I might have seen His kind look when He said, “Let the little ones come unto me.”

Yet still to His footstool in prayer I may go, and ask for a share in His grace, and if I thus earnestly seek Him to know, I shall find in His kingdom a place.

 

The simplicity of child-like faith is this...

Romans 10:9-10, 13 (NIV) ⁹If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ... Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

 

Lord God Almighty, our Father;

The Gospel message is so simple and uncomplicated. Simple trust in Your saving grace. Simple faith in Christ our Redeemer. Why are we so hesitant to proclaim this simple message to others? Forgive us. We come to you with humble hearts in child-like faith. Renew our passion to share this wonderful news of salvation to others.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The devotional  I Think When I Read That Sweet Story of Old appeared first on Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com  

Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Advent Christian Hymnal, ACGC, 1952.