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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》