Be a mirror for Jesus.
From James 1:23-25: “For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.”
From Luke 24:6-7: “Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to the hands of sinners and be crucified and on the third day rise again.”
Enemy’s motives
Darkness full of fraud
Life spiraling down
Behind his facade
Trapped, with no escape
Caught in evil’s net
Each wave crashing down
Sinking deeper yet
Flowing river’s faith
Never left alone
Christ walks on water
Freed from this millstone
Hearing trumpet sound
Redemption’s surge swells
Blessed assurance
Now soul shall be well
Blood pays any cost
Sins nailed to this tree
Witness empty tomb
Rising, Light now free!
The hymn “When Peace, Like a River” inspired the writing of this poem. The lyrics were written by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1873. The song is sometimes titled from a line in the popular refrain, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
When we are first saved, our steps are small and uncertain, but as we practice and mature in Christ, walking by the Spirit becomes a normal and essential part of our faith.
From Galatians 5:24-25: “And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.”
From Psalm 4:8: “I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.”
Lying awake in night’s darkness
Hearing promises from voices
Most too good to really be true
Filled with countless, empty choices
Tackling another stressful day
Witnessing contrasting voices
Thoughts quite overwhelming again
Faltered in making best choices
Retreating into quiet place
Searching, listening to voices
Father’s Word opens mind and heart
Found at last, His trusted choices
Hearing each righteous cry for help
Nurturing Father’s faithful voice
Enemy’s plan reduced to dust
Raised His Son, salvation’s sole choice
Harvesting empty void no more
Walking in step with Savior’s voice
Jesus cries out, journey finished
Saved man with mercy’s final choice
Seeing truth in these promises
Extending Father’s righteous voice
Grace deepens His Son’s love for thee
Accepting Christ, life’s blessed choice
From John 19:29-30: “A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to His mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, He said, ‘It is finished.’ Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.
From John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Witnessing
Christ’s purpose
Opening up hearts
Inviting to follow Him
Faith
Nurturing
Life’s endurance
No longer suffering
Character molded by Christ
Hope
Connecting
With believers
Christ’s humble approach
Sharing love with others
Grace
From John 12:12-13: “The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—the King of Israel!'”
Son of Man enters city
Making final human walk
Fulfilling Father’s design
Ignoring others who mock
Many celebrate Jesus
Thinking He shall be their king
Throwing off Roman rulers
Ignoring grace, set to spring
Enemy sees victory
Overlooking supreme God
Forgetting Christ’s destiny
Ignoring his evil fraud
Calvary’s lonely Cross weeps
Covering in Savior’s blood
Setting up love to conquer
Releasing mercy to flood
Resurrection breathes forever
Proclaiming lasting Good News
Building bridge to salvation
Raising faith’s redemptive view
From Ephesians 1:7-9: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ.”
Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 6:14: “But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Christ comes to the world
Bringing God’s love to us
Jesus sets the bar high
Higher than we can reach
Christ delivers two true teachings
To a sinful, unsaved world
Love your God, the Father
Love others more than yourself
Jesus does more than preach
He teaches us God’s truth
His hands heal the sick
Later pierced with sharpened nails
He raises up the dead
Just as He will rise
Christ, the Messiah, brings hope
He is Savior to mankind
Wearing a crown of thorns
Humbles himself on the Cross
Rising from a dark tomb
Christ forever defeats our sins
Christ serves His Holy Father
His sacrifice continues to give
He lives
The Resurrection lives
Eternal life lives
Respond to Christ in prayer
Humble, grateful—on our knees
Honor and praise Jesus Christ
Our eternal Savior and protector
His love lights the way
Accepting Jesus as our Savior
Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com
Originally published October, 2019.
From John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
Stirred up, walk with Jesus
Taking mercy’s high ground
Sharing our Savior
Hope never wavers
Overjoyed with Jesus
Stepping forward to serve
Loving our Savior
Grace never wavers
Pumped up for Jesus
Witnessing to others
Trusting our Savior
Peace never wavers
Thrilled to follow Jesus
Accepting Him always
Blessing our Savior
Joy never wavers
Moved to be with Jesus
Praying for each other
Meeting our Savior
Trust never wavers
Excited for Jesus
Living in His Kingdom
Praising our Savior
Faith never wavers
From Philippians 1:6: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
With the right attitude and a willingness to pay the price, almost anyone can pursue nearly any opportunity and achieve it.
From Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
John Maxwell (born 1947) is an American pastor, author, and speaker. He has written numerous books about leadership, with a Christian point of view.
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