WHAT GOD HAS DONE ON OUR BEHALF

By Hallie Gipson

December 1, 2012 – do you feel rushed, stressed out, exhausted, and stretched to the limit even though it’s only the first day of the month? The list of descriptives about how we ‘feel’ at this time of year could be endless. And by the way, do you have your Christmas tree trimmed and your home decorated for the Season of Celebration? I know, I know, I didn’t have to bring that subject to mind!! But since I did . . . yes, my tree is trimmed and the decorations have been carefully placed, thanks to two of my precious granddaughters. Their excitement was contagious, to say the least, and they were all too eager to get busy decorating for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. How do you say ‘no’ to those sweet faces and those little voices brimming with excitement at the thought of opening Nana’s boxes of decorations?

The highlight for me came as we were placing several nativity scenes around the house. There is the fragile one with angels that is placed on the piano, a large wooden one complete with stable on the hall table, and a small one (just the right size for small hands) made of olive wood on the sun porch. The curiosity they have about how baby Jesus looks in each nativity scene always touches my heart. The other people and animals in the nativity scenes are not what they are focused on. It’s the tiny Christ-child that commands their attention. My 5 year old granddaughter had to hold each baby in her hand. She was especially drawn to the large wooden carving of the baby Jesus. She held the wooden Baby in her small palm and caressed the smooth wood – the desire to grasp Him almost tangible.

Have you ‘grasped’ Jesus? Have you stopped to think about all God has done for you through the life of His Son, Jesus Christ? Christ is God’s provision for us – sent on our behalf!!

As I think about what I have through Christ, I’m drawn to both Old & New Testament passages. The New American Standard Bible (NASB) has given Psalm 103 the heading of “Praise for the Lord’s Mercies”.

 

Vs. 1 begins:

          “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.”

This verse reminds me that God is holy and worthy of my praise and that I am to bless Him with my whole being.

Vs. 2:

          “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;

          Who pardons all your iniquities,

          Who heals all your diseases;

          Who redeems your life from the pit,

          Who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion;

          Who satisfies your years with good things . . . “  (underlined emphasis mine)

As these verses sink in, I am immediately humbled and grateful that God sees fit to rain His grace down into my life.

In the New Testament Titus 3:5-6 tells us:

“He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness,

But according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by

the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

As I think about all God has done for me through Christ’s sacrifice, a feeling of praise wells up within me – and when I begin to praise God for Who He is, worship is a natural out-flow of that praise.

Worship is our act of expressing respect and reverence for God and is an all-important element in our relationship with God. Oswald Chambers has said that “Private worship is the greatest essential element of spiritual fitness” and I would agree with him whole-heartedly. For me it is the key that seems to unlock my ‘joy’ in the Lord.

Joy in the Lord enables us to experience God’s peace when we face trials that come in many forms -- sickness, day-to-day stress, loss of a loved one, a prodigal child, caring for elderly parents, financial setbacks . . . (you fill in the blank). Each of us has something that would rob us of our joy and tempt us to forget how much God loves us. Some situations might even divert our attention away from our purpose – which is to love, serve and worship God.

I challenge you during this busy season to fix your gaze on The One who can heal your hurts, bind your wounds, and accomplish what concerns you. It is our marvelous God who has made provision for our salvation through His Son, Christ Jesus.

          “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,

          that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)

And when you feel your joy-meter dipping low, run to the scriptures and drink in the love of Jesus and the joy of the Lord. It will truly nourish, console, exhilarate and refresh your thirsty soul.

          “Praise the Lord!

          For it is good to sing praises to our God;

          For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.”  Psalm 147:1

Holy Father, may we truly ‘grasp’ Jesus for who He is – the Savior of the world! And may we ever say with the psalmist “All my springs of joy are in you.” (Psalm 87:7)