Boldly tell the world …………….! Day 9

Love is all you need.

If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15

Pastor Tony Campolo wrote about an incident that moved him deeply at a Christian Camp for Junior High boys. While it was a Christian camp, some of the campers were not Christian and their behavior was not Christian. The worst part of their behavior was evidenced by the way these non-Christians treated a boy with spastic paralysis. And the Christians joined in ridiculing the boy too.  Whenever the boy talked or asked a question, the boys would intentionally answer the way the boy spoke, mimicking him and mocking him. 

One day the tormentors plotted and told the spastic boy that he would lead the night’s devotions and of course, they planned to make fun of him. The boy agreed and come devotion time, he stood up and with extreme difficulty in his slurred, halting words said “ Jesus loves me and I love Jesus.” And then he sat down.

No one, including the boy’s tormentors, laughed- and after a brief silence, some of the campers started crying.

So Dear Brother and Sister in Christ, I ask you - do you know that Jesus truly loves you and suffered and died for you?  Many times you and I focus on fellow Christian/sinner’s actions and we assume that Jesus does not love us. Forget about others in your church, in your milieu etc. Focus on Jesus and His Word and learn to love and trust Him. And with all the assurance that He gives you through His Spirit boldly tell the world “Jesus loves me and I love Jesus!” Tell the world that Jesus is the lover of your soul, He is your only Way and refuge, and He is the one who provides all of your needs.

Enjoy this Charles Wesley classic * - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr_Ao0tQCA0

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 15:23

Dear Jesus, I love you because You first loved me. Help me to abide in You and Your Word. Amen. 

* It is said that Charles Wesley wrote this hymn after escaping an angry mob that opposed his ministry.

I am His and He is mine! Day 5

Jesus is mine! Is He yours too?

…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:22-23

Joseph Knapp was the second president of MET Life and he was a wealthy man. His wife Phoebe was the daughter of Methodist Evangelists. Both husband and wife were followers of Jesus, and Phoebe is credited with composing over 500 hymn tunes. She had an organ in her room!

One day Phoebe composed a tune and in walked hymn-writer Fanny Crosby. So Phoebe played the tune and asked Fanny what the tune says. Fanny clapped her hands and said “Jesus is mine! Jesus is mine!” Then Fanny wrote words for the tune. What is interesting about Fanny is that she became blind as an infant but the blindness did not hinder her to become a prolific hymn-writer and her faith in Jesus was rock-solid. She is known to have written thousand and thousands of hymns.

So a prolific composer of hymns and even more prolific hymn-writer joined and gave us a song.  And today we know and sing Fanny and Phoebe’s hymn – Blessed Assurance!

Enjoy the following links of Blessed Assurance by Third Day and George Beverly Shea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUMTJoH-PQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHl1A2yGMjg

Thank you Jesus for being my Savior. Amen.