All About Jesus

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,  including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

“To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world…

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:1-8,16-17

Paul couldn’t get over the gift of his salvation. His life was hidden in Christ. His heart thrummed with the heartbeat of His Savior, his eyes perceived with His vision, his mind processed with His wisdom, his ministry was planned and compelled by the Spirit’s leading to open doors for the gospel. He prefaced his letter to the Romans with the love, grace, and peace of Christ he knew so well as he set out to boldly speak life-changing truth. His words would be issued from this love, laced with grace, and intending for deep peace as the hearers absorbed their instruction. (Colossians 3:3)

We awaken daily to an array of choices, a number of responsibilities, enticements, and involvements that capture energy and focus. Do we serve them, or our Lord Christ? How seriously do we take our reception of God’s grace and apostleship?

We have been called out of darkness into glorious light to proclaim His excellencies and for the sake of His name among the nations. Is our passion, are our words, and plans, and activities, all for Jesus? How can and will we do what we need to do as His children for the sake of His honor, with compassion for the lost, a grateful heart, and love? (1 Peter 2:9)

“All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
All my being’s ransomed pow’rs,
all my thoughts and words and doings,
all my days and all my hours.

Let my hands perform his bidding,
let my feet run in his ways;
let my eyes see Jesus only,
let my lips speak forth his praise.

Worldlings prize their gems of beauty,
cling to gilded toys of dust,
boast of wealth and fame and pleasure;
only Jesus will I trust.

Since my eyes were fixed on Jesus,
I’ve lost sight of all beside;
so enchained my spirit’s vision,
looking at the Crucified.

O what wonder! How amazing!
Jesus, glorious King of kings,
deigns to call me his beloved,
lets me rest beneath his wings.” ~Mary D. James (1810-1883)

All for You, Lord. Amen.