Nothing Among You Except

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Nothing Among You Except

Different preachers definitely determine  to have different agendas.     Some are prosperity preachers,  claiming that supporting their ministry will bring all sorts of blessings.     Some are legalistic preachers,  claiming that those who do not follow their practices and rituals are sure  to go to hell.     Others are good works preachers,  saying that we can do all sorts of things  to make ourselves  worthy  in God’s eyes.      And yet others say we must be  mystically connected to God  through their exercises and meditation practices.     There certainly are many more agendas  that we need to be aware of.

Thankfully,  God Almighty tells us the right way  in His eternal word.     That is a very good reason  to pick up our Bibles every day,  read,  and think about what God says  in that passage.     It’s our Creator,  Redeemer,  and Judge  talking to us.

God speaks to us  through Paul  in 1 Corinthians 2:1-2,  showing what a true preacher of God should be like.

And when I came to you,  brethren,  I did not come  with superiority of speech  or of wisdom,  proclaiming to you the testimony of God.     For I determined to know nothing among you except  Jesus Christ,  and Him crucified.

That is what God wants us to know — “Jesus Christ,  and Him crucified”.     Our salvation is  not  about earning God’s approval,  getting rich with blessings,  having mystic experiences,  or  following all sorts  of laws and rituals.     Our salvation is about accepting the fact  that only faith in Jesus Christ  can wash away all our sins  and make us fit and worthy  of eternal life  in heaven.

The fact that God really did keep His Old Testament promises  of a Savior from sin,  by sending Jesus Christ to suffer,  die,  and rise again is the one and only foundation  of the Christian faith.     We have a real Savior  from all of our sins — just like the Bible says.     We surely can depend on Him  and the merits  of what He did for us  on the cross.    Paul talks about this sureness  in 2 Timothy 2:19,  where he says,

Nevertheless,  the firm foundation of God stands,  having this seal,  “The Lord knows those  who are His,”  and,  “Let everyone  who names the name of the Lord abstain  from wickedness.”

“The firm foundation of God”  is Jesus Christ.     He is the only reason anyone will be able  to enter heaven.     If we don’t have faith in Him,  we are lost eternally.     God knows when we put our faith in Jesus  because He knows our every  thought,  feeling,  and move.     So, we don’t have to worry  about God recognizing  what is in our heart.

And,  of course,  when we put our faith in Jesus,  trusting in His sure love for us,  we will want to  “abstain from wickedness”.      We will remain sinners all during this lifetime,  but  for Christ’s sake,  we will always be on guard  to not sin wickedly.     Our striving to live for God  will be a return of love — not a brownie point earned  or  a hard heart of self-righteousness.

With the joy and confidence  of knowing God’s love for us  in Jesus Christ,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  Your word proves to us  that You keep all of Your promises.     Salvation in Jesus is a sure thing.     Help us  to depend on nothing but Jesus  and all that He has done for us.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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