Salvation

*Each weekly blog is an entry from by diary written on the date and time noted below.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014 5:55 a.m.

Dear Diary,

In the olden days, before Christ, people had to sacrifice a lamb for their sins to be forgiven. After Christ, people have to accept Jesus as their Lamb for their sins to be forgiven. Before Christ, people looked forward to the cross. After Christ, people look backward to the cross. Salvation only comes through the sacrifice of a lamb, and Jesus Christ is our Lamb. There is no other way. Jesus was born and came into the world that He might be the sacrificial Lamb. “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). We are to accept His sacrifice and be made conformable to Christ’s death on the cross. Salvation and to be made conformable with Christ is not just a profession, nor is it just a verbal confession, it is a transformation. If your life is not transformed from what you were, to what Christ is, you need to “examine yourself, whether ye be in the faith.” (II Corinthians 13:5).

Our Appointed Lot

Thursday, April 27, 2006   4:00 a.m.

Dear Diary,

I’ve been listening to Daniel on my Bible CD. Amy Carmichael quoted this verse about our appointed lot. “That none of you might be unnerved by you present trial: for you yourselves know that they are our appointed lot.” (I Thessalonians 3:3, Weymouth version). King James Version says it this way, “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed there unto.” (I Thessalonians 3:3). God is sovereign over all that happens to you and me. Nothing comes of its own, all is our appointed lot. When Paul wrote these words in I Thessalonians 3:3 “for yourselves know that we are appointed there unto,” he was writing it to the Thessalonian Church who was being persecuted. And we think we have problems! At least we’re not being tortured or put to death for our faith. Our troubles are nothing compared to the early Church. It makes me ashamed that I fuss and stew over trifles. Here I sit in ease, surrounded by comforts, and still, I grumble. Thank you Lord for my lot and help me be content with the  lot you have chosen for me.

Thought for Today: “If monotony tries me, and I cannot stand drudgery. If stupid people fret me and little ruffles set me on edge. If I make much of the trifles of life, Then I know nothing of Calvary love” (IF, Amy Carmichael, p. 53).

Blinded By the Pain

Wednesday, February 11, 2004  10:30 a.m.

Dear Diary,

It is hard when we are in the middle of a trial to see past the trial.  Our spiritual eyes are blinded by the pain.  I know; I’ve been there.  But at least we always have the comfort to know that God knows what we are suffering.  He allowed it.  God feels our pain.  It is a comfort to be able to pray to a loving, caring Father and fall upon our face in tears and cry out for help.  I’m sure Jesus felt this way in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He, too, fell upon His face and cried out to His Father.  And for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the pain, even the pain of the cross (Hebrews 12:2).  I know that nothing we suffer compares to what Jesus suffered, but for the joy of being drawn closer to our heavenly Father we are to endure the pain. God has a holy purpose for it.  Perhaps we’ll never know that purpose until we get to heaven.  That’s why we must just trust Him and not be blinded by the pain.

Thought for Today:  “If I cannot commit the matter to God and go on in peace and in silence, remembering Gethsemane and the cross, then I know nothing of Calvary love” (Amy Carmichael).