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I was driving to our weekly 7:00 AM Men's Bible Study at the Egg Harbor Cafe' in Lake Geneva, WI that we have each Wednesday. The radio was tuned to Moody Bible Radio, 90.1 FM. I don't know the name of the song or artist, but this woman was singing a version of The Lord's Prayer. At various places, she would interject "Blessed be His Name."
My heart was so moved by the humble sincerity in her voice...as if she really meant what she was singing. God so stirred my heart! I was overcome with emotion which is not that common for me. Right there, while driving, I began to bless the Lord Jesus for His indescribable love and painful sacrifice for my sake.
I, too, began to bless His Name.
Later that day, I began to ask myself if my heart, life's choices, and attitude have been blessing Jesus' Name. I discovered I had somehow wandered into the land of discontentment and disillusionment. I had lowered my sights.
A gentle conviction arose in me.
If I have not been enthralled lately about blessing His Name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, then perhaps I have been slipping in the area of treating my wife as the blessing she is. My attitude toward Jesus and my attitude toward Barbara are inexorably linked.
I am not just talking about being a more attentive, a more affirming, and a more listening and understanding husband (I really struggle with this last one!). I am talking about making it my top home priority to be a shepherd who treasures and protects Barbara. I want to be the standard bearer of purity and moral protection regarding what I allow in my home as entertainment. I have missed the mark of perfection on this at times!
I get lazy, sloppy, weary, and careless.
I confess there are times when Barbara is the standard bearer of insuring that our home is a godly, reverent place for our marriage and family to reside. Unfortunately, I believe this has often been true of homes throughout history. It goes like this:
"The husband, through the ages, usually means well at the marriage altar. He jumps into marriage with Good Intentions. His wife is grateful.As time passes, he slowly lowers, then drops the Flag of Allegiance to God and wife. Since someone has to lead, his poor wife has to pick it up and carry it. Sadly, he follows."
This is true of me at times. Is it also true of you?
Whatever happened to my heart of gratitude for what Jesus has done for me? What about humility and hour by hour surrender to His Will for my life? And what about purity of heart? Was I singularly devoted to pleasing, serving, honoring, and fearing my Lord and Savior Jesus? These verses came to mind:
"10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."
Psalm 119:10;12
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds."
Psalm 9:1
"Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name."
Psalm 86:11
Think about this. From the day Jesus was born in that lowly stable in Bethlehem, he was headed for the Cross. He was on a collision course with my sin...and yours! His earthly destiny, at least for 33 years, was despair and death.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:10
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans 5:8
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2
Jesus came to earth... for me! He knew I was doomed! I was not just blinded and bound, enslaved and chained by my sin, I was dead spiritually as if I were laid out on a cold, stone slab. I had no life and no future. Hell was my assured destiny.
Think about this for a minute. If
you are doomed, He will deliver. If you are condemned, He will free. If you are sin-stained and soaked in guilt, Jesus will wash you clean forever!
This God-Man Jesus loves you and me. He did not deserve to go to that cross in my place. He did not deserve to become sin for me. He did not deserve to go to Hell so I might be free.
He allowed Himself to be arrested. He could have prevented that. He endured the jeers and mocking of sinners just like us when he could have stayed safe with His inner circle of friends.
He chose not to.
He let them flog Him and tear his flesh from His bloody, beaten body. He walked toward Golgotha, The Place of The Skull. He permitted them to nail Him to that wooden Cross. He allowed them to pierce His side. He could have said, "No!" His actions said, "Yes!"
Jesus experienced His Heavenly Father forsaking and abandoning Him because Jesus was now unclean and condemned. He chose to receive my sin...and yours. Oh, think of it! He did not have to do this! He did not enjoy this suffering. Someone had to suffer and pay the death penalty for our sin. God's Holiness demands this. Either I had to suffer, die, and be rejected by my Creator or someone had to in my place. Either I was going to Hell or another would need to instead of me.
Jesus loved me so much and did not want me to perish in that awful burning, sulfurous Lake of Fire.
He loved me that much!
And He loves you that much. In fact, He loves us more than words or imagination can fathom!
So, consider joining me in learning to say,
"Blessed be His Name."
I am convinced that our wives, men, and... ladies, your husbands will also be blessed because, this hour, you have chosen to live with grateful hearts that passionately bless. Just as Jesus chose to bless us. We must choose to bless Him and bless our mate. This way the world will see the blessed Savior!
If you want to know how blessed Jesus can personally save you from sin, judgment, and eternal death, click on: Your Anchor
"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Psalm 34:1
"But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord."
Psalm 115:1
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To grow in your faith and love for Jesus and His Word, the Bible, fellowship regularly in a loving, Bible believing and preaching church. Also please read through The Ten Basic Steps to Christian Maturity: Click on: www.cru.org/training-and-growth/classics/10-basic-steps/index.htm
Fri, Mar 6, 2015
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