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Knowing
Christ
GOD
pleasure of
The very concept of God having pleasure--the
mighty Maker of the Universe being pleased
like a child
at things that take
place on Earth--staggers the imagination. Most amazing of all is the revelation
that it pleased Him to put His own Son through a terrible
bruising death
as
the tremendous Messianic prophecy of our text reveals. Nevertheless
this was
the only possible way whereby "the pleasure of the LORD" could be
accomplished in the redeemed lives of lost men and women
whom He had created
for eternal fellowship with the Triune god. "For the LORD taketh pleasure
in His people. (Psalm 149:4).Five times we read in the New Testament that God
the Father spoke from heaven assuring us that He was "well pleased"
with His "beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17
17:5: Mark l:ll; Luke 3:22; II
Peter l:17). Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him. Had it not been so
none of
us could ever have been saved
but the Lord Jesus Himself has confirmed to His
own "little flock" that "it is your Father's good pleasure to
give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).Thus
not only have we been created
"for Thy pleasure" (Revelation 4:11)
but also we have been
predestinated "unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ Himself
according to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians l:5). This is far
beyond our comprehension
so we merely rest in the great truth that "it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure"
(Philippians 2:13). We know that "the LORD taketh pleasure in them that
fear Him
in those that hope in His mercy" (Psalm 147:11).── HMM.
Meaning no disrespect to
the religious convictions of others
I still can't help wondering how we can
explain away what to me is the greatest miracle of all and which is recorded in
history. No one denies there was such a man
that he lived and that he was put
to death by crucifixion. Where...is the miracle I spoke of? Well consider this
and let your imagination translate the story into our own time -- possibly to
your own home town. A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in
his father's shop. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father's
shop. He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside
walking from place to place
preaching all the while
even though he is not an
ordained minister. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested
tried and
convicted. There is no court of appeal
so he is executed at age 33 along with
two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets
his clothing -- the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial
place for him so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No
this
uneducated
propertyless young man who...left no written word has
for 2000
years
had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers
kings
emperors;
all the conquerors
generals and admirals
all the scholars
scientists and
philosophers who have ever lived -- all of them put together. How do we explain
that?...unless he really was who he said he was." ── Ronald Reagan
If our greatest need had
been information
God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had
been technology
God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had
been money
God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been
pleasure
God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was
forgiveness
so God sent us a Savior.
In Christ We Have:
A love that can never be
fathomed
A life that can never die
A righteousness that can never be tarnished
A peace that can never be understood
A rest that can never be disturbed
A joy that can never be diminished
A hope that can never be disappointed
A glory that can never be clouded
A light that can never be darkened
A purity that can never be defiled
A beauty that can never be marred
A wisdom that can never be baffled
Resources that can never be exhausted.
── Source Unknown.
CHRIST
Christ
for sickness
Christ for health
Christ for poverty
Christ for wealth
Christ for joy
Christ for sorrow
Christ today and Christ tomorrow;
Christ my Life
and Christ my Light
Christ for morning
noon and night
Christ when all around gives way
Christ my everlasting Stay;
Christ my Rest
and Christ my Food
Christ above my highest good
Christ my Well-beloved Friend
Christ my Pleasure without end;
Christ my Savior
Christ my Lord
Christ my Portion
Christ my God
Christ my Shepherd
I His sheep
Christ Himself my soul to keep;
Christ my Leader
Christ my Peace
Christ hath wrought my soul's release
Christ my Righteousness divine
Christ for me
for He is mine;
Christ my Wisdom
Christ my Meat
Christ restores my wandering feet
Christ my Advocate and Priest
Christ who ne'er forgets the least;
Christ my Teacher
Christ my Guide
Christ my Rock
in Christ I hide
Christ the Ever-living Bread
Christ His precious Blood hath shed;
Christ hath brought me nigh to God
Christ the everlasting Word
Christ my Master
Christ my Head
Christ who for my sins hath bled;
Christ my Glory
Christ my Crown
Christ the Plant of great renown
Christ my Comforter on high
Christ my Hope
draws ever nigh.
── Source Unknown.
CHRIST’S
VOICE.
Ⅰ. Powerful Voice. “ His voice as the
sound of many waters” (Revelation 1:15).
Ⅱ.
Convicting Voice. “ Heard a voice
saying unto him
Saul
Saul
why persecutest thou Me?” (Acts 9:4).
Ⅲ.
Quickening Voice. “ He cried with a
loud voce. Lazarus
come forth” (John 7:43).
Ⅳ.
Inviting Voice. “ If any man thirst
let him come unto Me and drink” (John 7:37).
Ⅴ.
Comforting Voice. “ Jesus saith unto
her
thy brother shall rise again” (John 11:23).
Ⅵ.
Guiding Voice. “ My sheep hear My
voice……and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Ⅶ. Pleading Voice. “ If any man hear My
voice” (Rev.3:20).
── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》
INCREASING.
Ⅰ.
Increasing in the knowledge of God as we walk worthy of Him
and are fruitful
in every good work. “ Being fruitful in every good work
and increasing in the
knowledge of God” (Col.1:10).
Ⅱ.
Increasing in the knowledge of Christ and becoming like Him in character
as we
walk in fellowship with Him. “ Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart”
(Matt.11:29)
Ⅲ.
Increasing in the knowledge of His will by doing it. “ That ye might be filled
with the knowledge of His will” (Col.1:9).
Ⅳ.
Increasing in the knowledge of His love
by being taken up with Him who loves
us. “ To know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge” (Eph.3:19).
Ⅴ.
Increasing in the knowledge of His power by trusting. “ That I may know Him and
the power of His resurrection (Phil.3:10).
Ⅵ.
Increasing in the knowledge of His glory by looking to Him. “ The light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (11. Cor.4:6).
Ⅶ.
Increasing in the knowledge of His purpose
as we are taught by the Spirit
through the Word. “ When the Spirit of Truth is come
He will guide you into
all truth” (John 16:13).
── F.E. Marsh《Five Hundred Bible Readings》