Jesus

He knows my name

Psalm 139:1-18

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.

The chains have been broken

photo via muhammedinur.com

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1). “Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman” (Galatians 4:28)

Can humans love as Jesus does?

I cannot recall the number of times I have heard my fellow Christian brothers and sisters repeated the phrase: “I want to love as Jesus does”. I have even used this phrase countless times. However, after careful examination of the life Jesus lived, and the things He did and stood for, when He walked this earth, I am convince human beings cannot love as Jesus does. Furthermore, Jesus did not tell humans to love like He does. He commanded them to love their neighbors with the same sincerity as they would themselves.   The apostle John who was up close and personal with Jesus writes the following: “Greater love has no man than this that a man (Jesus) lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Jesus is in a class by Himself. He is Alpha and Omega. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent. He is capable to do things which the human brain cannot comprehend.

Don’t panic! Use what you have to cross your red sea

Image via jewishcurrents.org

Image via jewishcurrents.org

Don’t panic. Jesus assures His followers that He will never leave them or forsake them. So, why do you panic when you come upon a Red Sea. Indeed, facing a tough situation can be extraordinarily nerve-racking but it can also be a moment when you prove to the world that God‘s word is true, and your faith in Him is unshakable. When a child of God panics in a difficult situation you send a negative message to the world–one that breeds distrust and disbelief.

As a child of God, He empowers you beyond your imagination. You have authority to do wondrous things. Unfortunately, you either do not believe it, or you do not know it.

Here is what Jesus told His disciples about empowerment: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the Father is glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:12-14).

Hence, it is not crazy to assume that sometimes God directs you to the Red Sea to test your faith. Therefore, instead of allowing a difficult situation to send you into panic mode, use the experience as an opportunity to exercise your faith.

In the exodus from Egypt, the Israelites came upon their Red Sea, and they panic. They felt trapped. Sandwiched between the Red Sea and Pharaoh‘s army, there was no way out. They turned on Moses, but as a good leader should have, Moses remained calm. He knew God would deliver the group; he just did not know how.  He had no clue that the rod he used to help him to walk would be all he needs.

Still, when Moses cried out to God, for help God surprised him by saying: “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea” (Read Exodus 14:15-16).

Essentially, God told Moses not to panic. Instead, he should use what he had (his rod) to do the miracle.

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;
and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord (Isaiah 54:17).