Passion

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…”

Psalm 46:1, 2

Jesus Christ is our secure hope even in times of trouble.

All around the world there are economic troubles these days. There are “storms” that could sink the boat we are riding in. Our natural reaction is to be afraid.

Jesus and His disciples were once in a situation much like this. “One day Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Sometimes Jesus calms the storm outside our lives. Sometimes the storm may still rage outside, but He can still give us His peace in our hearts. So let us let Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, reign as Lord in our hearts and lives always.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

Do not hurry. Sometimes we rush and hurry through life — always trying to get quickly to the next place.

When Jesus Christ was here on this earth, He did not hurry. Even though He was the Son of God and had so much good to do for the world, He took time to spend with people. Once a woman who had been bleeding for years came up to Him and touched His clothing and was healed. Even though He was going somewhere else, He stopped and looked for her and spoke and ministered to her. He could have said “I am too busy and important and in such a hurry” — but He slowed down and took time.

So you and I can slow down and take time to listen to Jesus. Once I was in a hurry to go somewhere and did not stop and help my neighbor who needed help moving something. If I were really listening to Jesus, I think I should have stopped and slowed down and helped my neighbor, then gone on my way.

These next few days, let us slow down a little bit and listen to God. Ask Christ how He would have you love someone around you. Spend some time with God; He is your heavenly Father and loves to spend time with you as His child.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

1 John 1:9

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. What does this mean?

When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward Him he said “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” All of us have sinned — we have done or thought many things that are wrong, and our sins deserve judgment. In ancient times in Israel, the priest would sacrifice a lamb for the sins of the people. The problem is that no sacrifice of a lamb can ever take away permanently people’s sins.

So Jesus came to this earth and willingly gave Himself as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. He lived a perfect life and did not deserve judgment. We have lived sinful lives and deserve to be judged. But Jesus went to the cross — He endured pain and humiliation and agony for us — so that we might go to heaven and not be judged.

How great is God’s love and mercy! “To all who received Him, tho those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

Jesus Christ is the light of the world. What does this mean?

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus Christ shines light into our lives. Just as sunlight brightens up the day with warm colors, so Jesus brings joy and love and peace into our lives. Just as sunlight reveals things, so Jesus in His love reveals things so we can see clearly from God’s perspective what is true in our lives.

Just as light dispels darkness, so Jesus causes the dark things in our lives to flee. Someday in heaven, Jesus will be our true light. The Bible says heaven will “not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

Finally, Jesus Christ is the light of the world because He, and He alone, is the true source of all that is good and righteous and holy in the world. God alone is the source of all that is good. If you have the light of Jesus shining in your life, then let that light bring joy, and truth, and healing, and revelation to you — and let that light shine into all the world around you! God wants us to be a clear windowpane so the light of Jesus shines through us to others.