PAUL'S RELATIONSHIP TO JESUS

 "Christ...the Son of God...loved me, and gave Himself for me."

(Gal. 2:20)

In Paul's letters he lists many of the numberless attributes of Christ; but some intimate things, I'm sure, are left unsaid, as it should be. Some personal things he kept between him and the Lover of his Soul! But of all the things he mentions most was Jesus' love for him. He never got over the fact how a person as himself, with such an unrelenting hatred for Jesus, could be loved by Him with an unfathomable love. Over and again in his epistles he speaks not only of Jesus' love for his brethren, but of him personally. It's a wonderful thing to know God loves others, but even greater to know he loves me!

After his meeting Jesus, Paul abandoned all for Him. Jesus was his all and in all, he tells us. He had an unreserved surrender; everything in life revolved around Jesus. He was ever upon his lips and heart. Jesus had all the crown rights! Paul's was a childlike effortless faith in Jesus; He was more real to him than life itself. As Gypsy Smith said when in his 80's, "I've never lost the wonder of it all!"  So it was with Paul.

When pastoring in Florida for some ten years, I had a blessed experience that I want to relate to you. In the Sunday evening service I was preaching on the text in Gal. 2:20. Like so many preachers do, I got hung up, so to speak, on the words, "for me." I began a long list of all the things Jesus had done for me. A little boy by the name of Dougie Thorpe leaned over and said in his mother's ear, "Mama, Jesus sure has done an awful lot for that preacher." AND SO HE HAS! Bless His Holy name!

O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee.

I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine oceans depths its flow may richer, fuller be. 

DOES JESUS CARE?

"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?"

(Mk. 4:38)

I think I may have mentioned this story in a previous article. When first arriving here in northern California some nineteen years ago, I was taking my daily stroll in our mobile home park. Passing a very aged gentleman, I said, "Good morning; how are you today?" His reply took me back, "Ain't no use tellin'; nobody cares." Sad but true, I'm sorry to say, of the day in which we live. I lived in a time years ago that this wasn't so for most folks.

We can expect this from a fallen society; but it is never true of our Saviour, in spite of many of us, from time to time, questioning it in severe times of trouble and turmoil. Even if we do not say it audibly as the disciples, we think it in our hearts. The storms of life can bring out the best or worst in us. So often it is the latter of the two, I'm ashamed to admit.

But some time after this event, one of those disciples had learned, as do many of us, that He really does care! Peter wrote in his first epistle, "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." The song writer said it much better than I could:

1. "Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
   Too deeply for mirth or song,
   As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
   And the way grows weary and long?
   • Does Jesus care when my way is dark
     With a nameless dread and fear?
     As the daylight fades into deep night shades,
     Does He care enough to be near?
2. Does Jesus care when I’ve tried and failed
   To resist some temptation strong;
   When for my deep grief there is no relief,
   Though my tears flow all the night long?
3. Does Jesus care when I’ve said “goodbye”
   To the dearest on earth to me,
   And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks—
   Is it aught to Him? Does He see?
4. Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
   

   His heart is touched with my grief;

   When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

   I know my Savior cares

JESUS' ANSWER TO A FRUITLESS LIFE

"He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit ... Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit"

(Jn. 15:5,8)

The Lord's Supper being ended, the cross awaiting Him, and knowing it is the eve of His departure, He speaks the last of the seven "I AM'S" as recorded in John's gospel. Interestingly the subject He chooses to speak to His followers about before leaving this world is having a fruitful life. In this chapter He puts the emphasis on their bringing forth "much fruit." I'm of the opinion this fruit embraces more than souls. I think of it as taking in all "the fruits of righteousness," in a saint's life. Phil. 1:11, "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

Many speak of "abiding in Him" if we are to be fruitful in our lives; this is certainly essential, but there was something else He spoke to them of earlier concerning "much fruit," which is  just as needful. The exact term, "much fruit,"  is found only three times in the Bible, all of them in John's book. The statement I refer to that was spoken previously is found in chapter twelve, verse twenty-four. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of  wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit." 

There is a vast difference between "Loving life, as Peter mentions, 1 Pet. 3:10, and loving your life, Jn. 12:25. Those stalwart saints who manifested "Much fruit," in their lives didn't hold to that life! "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus," Acts 20:24. Compare this with Rev. 12:11, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." 

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS"... says our Master! Then He goes on by mentioning giving one's life for others. Only by dying to self can others be helped.

"It is never too late to bear fruit in one's life."

"They shall still bring forth fruit in old age."

(Psa. 92:14)

THE GREAT ONE!

 "Art thou greater than ...? Art thou greater than ...?"

(Jn. 4:12; 8:53) 

JESUS IS THE GREAT ONE! The Bible tells of a man in Acts 8, Simon by name, who passed himself off to the people as a great one. But there is only one truly GREAT ONE. Christ is the greatest of the great. There have been many great men on this earth, "But Thou excellest them all." The scriptures tell us JESUS is greater than Jacob, Abraham, the Temple, Jonas, Solomon, and the devil, "Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 

The following story illustrates what I am attempting to get over to you:

In 1715 King Louis XIV of France died after a reign of 72 years. He had called himself “the Great,” and was the monarch who made the famous statement, “I am the state!” His court was the most magnificent in Europe, and his funeral was equally spectacular. As his body lay in state in a golden coffin, orders were given that the cathedral should be very dimly lit with only a special candle set above his coffin, to dramatize his greatness. At the memorial, thousands waited in hushed silence. Then Bishop Massilon began to speak; slowly reaching down, he snuffed out the candle and said, “Only God is great.”

 There is only ONE big shot in heaven, the rest are only little squirts."

(rds)

JESUS' CROSS AND OURS

 "And He (Jesus) bearing His cross ... And He (Jesus) said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

(Jn. 19:17; Lk. 9:23)

When Jesus told His followers to take up the cross and follow Him, He was not speaking of His cross, but theirs. Each of us has his or her individual cross to carry. They all are made of different materials but share a common characteristic: they crucify the one bearing it. It can be taken up, and therefore it can also be put down. It is a daily decision; although many have made it a permanent and ongoing  choice. "Many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him," Jn. 6:66. Their walk with the King of glory had ceased; they no longer desired to have Royalty as their daily companion.

Those who think they could ever carry Jesus' cross are delusional, to say the least. We're told at the beginning of His journey to Calvary that they placed His cross on another to carry no doubt because of His weak physical condition from the beatings and whipping of the previous night. "And as they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus," Lk. 23:26.

 But they soon found out, as well as Simon, that His cross was made for only One Man to carry. His cross had the weight of the world upon it and only the One who made the world could bear up under such a load. To prove our point we're told when they reached the Place of the Skull, Jesus was carrying His cross. "And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha," Jn. 19:17

Those early believers didn't complain about their cross. THEY CARRIED IT! If living today they would have gone their way rejoicing, and as they went singing:

"Jesus, I my cross have taken

All to leave and follow Thee

Destitute, despised, forsaken

Thou from hence my all shall be

Perish every fond ambition

All I've sought or hoped or known

Yet how rich is my condition!

God and heaven are still my own."

THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW

"… thou shalt call His name JESUS … Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name."

(Matt. 1:21; Phil. 2:9)

“JESUS." What a name. Only two syllables. A child can pronounce it, like MaMa or DaDa. Shakespeare said, "What's in a name?" Much in every way, if the name is JESUS! 

That name is cursed among the lost but blessed amidst the elect. The latter of these know the power in this holy name. They have seen as well as experienced its mighty effect on those who call upon it in faith. It gets people back on their feet again; performs miracles, when needed; delivers one from a life of sin and debauchery; calms a troubled heart; replaces bitterness with sweetness; soothes a tormented mind; and plants virtues and uproots vices. The list is endless. But having said the above, which is all true, always remember, having the Healer is greater than being healed! Ask Paul.

Jesus is the sum total of all delights. When Jesus is dear to us everything associated or connected to Him becomes dear to us. Judas sold Him for a meager thirty pieces of silver, not realizing, if you're going to put a price tag on Him, it must read, "INESTIMABLE!

Many are walking through green pastures at this time without the Great Shepherd, Jesus; but soon they will find everything around them has become parched.

A Name I Highly Treasure

I’ve learned to know a Name I highly treasure;

Oh, how it thrills my spirit through and through.

Oh, blessed Name, beyond degree or measure,

Oh, wondrous name of him so kind and true.

My heart is stirred when’er I think of Jesus.

That blessed Name that sets the captive free.

The only Name through which I find salvation;

No name on earth has meant so much to me.

A Good and Glorious change

 Dear Reader, 

I am about to have lived eighty and seven years, on God's good earth, October Fifthtenth. And at the threshold of beginning my sixty-fourth year in my walk with Christ. I am closer to seeing Him whom my soul loveth than probably any other time in my life.

Because of this I want to let you in on a change that will be coming immediately to my articles and blog site. I have talked to my son Andrew about it and also discussed it with my dear departed wife, while she sojourned among us; both thought it a good idea.

I want to give whatever time I have left on this earth exclusive to writing on the PERSON of JESUS; as found in the New Testament and Old Testament; in the latter case wherever He is seen in type, figure, or shadow. It will be almost entirely from my own thoughts of Him. I am entitling it, "Scribblings from the Scriptures"; by an Old Disciple.

My lifelong text has always been, "And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save JESUS only," Matt. 17:8. Thus, my lifelong philosophy, "If I can get a person to JESUS, all will be well."

The first edition will be posted soon; it can also be viewed on my blog site. http://tjrds.blogspot.com 

"May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering." (Moravian Saying)

An Old Disciple

THE BEST OF THE BLESSED

"Being made so much better ... more excellent ... than they."

(Heb. 1:4)

The book of Hebrews is all about Jesus being better than the prophets, the angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron and whomever or whatever you want to throw in. He tops the priesthood, Judaism, etc. He is God’s final Word to this sin-cursed world. To accept anything or anyone, whether it be Mary, Peter, or your Protestant religious guru in His place, is to take less than the BEST and leaves one the poorer. 

The Bible is Christocentric. That is, HE is the centerpiece on God’s eternal mantel. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter learned this lesson. He wanted to put Jesus on the same plane as Moses and Elijah: Moses representing the Old Testament Law and Elijah the prophets of the old canon, whether they be forthtellers or foretellers. When their eyes were opened "they saw no man, save Jesus only."

I like the way A.W. Pink puts it, “In the Hebrew epistle the Holy Spirit takes up one object after another, holds each one up as it were in the presence of the all-excellent ‘Son,’ and as he does so, their glory is eclipsed, and the Lord Jesus is found alone. Thus, the very things which Judaism most highly esteemed are shown to be far inferior to what God has now made known to us in His Word.”

"HE IS GRANDER THAN THE GRANDEST!"

(rds)

By An Old Disciple

Convenience and Character

“…when I have a convenient season, I will…” 

(Acts 24:25)

Felix, like many today, was a man of convenience. But convenience and character rarely, if ever, mix. Doing right is not always easy, but it is always right. Character is doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. A person with this rare quality does not procrastinate when faced with everyday decisions and the responsibilities of life.

Most anyone is willing to carry a cross, if it is weightless or made of velvet. But how few there be who will take up the daily cross Christ spoke of. For this latter one can be burdensome, cutting into certain areas of our lives, thus making things very inconvenient for us. Since our cross is to be taken up daily, we should not be surprised if some portion of each day will be inconvenient for us.

Men and women of convenience never carry crosses.

By An Old Disciple