Isaiah 9:2, 6 (NIV) 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. ... 6For unto 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.
John 3:16-18 (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. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
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.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NIV) 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
There are many churches who recite the Apostle’s Creed, or similar recitation each week. The temptation is to view it as mere formality and the words end up sounding ritualistic and robotic. We don’t intend that to happen, but sadly over years it does. My challenge to you has the potential to do dramatic things in your life – if you are willing to take the challenge seriously. Otherwise, the challenge might only yield minimal effectiveness. Here is my challenge to you:
Learn the Story of Jesus. Or, if at one time you knew the Story of Jesus but it has faded inside you because you have somehow taken it for granted or unintentionally minimized it; then RE-learn the Story of Jesus. ‘Write it on your heart, every word!’ Make it personal – for indeed it is! And next time you have the opportunity to recite the Apostle’s Creed, or any other recitation of commitment... mean every single word you repeat.
Tell Me the Story of Jesus (Fanny J. Crosby, 1880)
Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word; Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert, tell of the days that are past, how for our sins He was tempted, Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him, writhing in anguish and pain; tell of the grave where they laid Him, tell how He liveth again!
Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word; Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that ever was heard.
Lord God Almighty, our Father;
We are so humbly grateful for the gift of salvation through your only begotten Son. I don’t understand how it is so easy for us to place such minimal emphasis on this Greatest and most Precious Story of Jesus – His birth, His death on our behalf, and His resurrection which provides our Blessed Hope. All of it a direct result of Your great love and mercy! Forgive us. Rekindle the passion we once held in our hearts and give us courage and boldness to share this news with others.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The devotional Tell Me the Story of Jesus 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.
Advent Christian Hymnal, ACGC, 1952.
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