The LORD

1Corinthians 1:13, 31 - Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ...as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."

Praise God. He has made it so simple but we are a people so determined to make more of it.  It's all about Christ. Period.

It's not about a church, denomination, saints, or man made doctrine, rules or regulations. It's not about ourselves or our accomplishments. It's about God alone. It's about what Jesus did on the cross for each of us. One Man. 

The name above all names is to be praised and worshipped. We need only cry out, fall down before, or pray to the One who did it all for us. The Bible says He is our only Mediator (1Timothy 2:5). There is nothing difficult about that statement. 

He never slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4) so we can't say He's too busy to listen to our prayers or cries at any given time on any given day. Jesus, our Mediator, is available at all times.

Take the words to the following Psalm in. Who is the one who has done or does this all? Only one Person. We need only worship one. We need only call out to, pray to, praise one person. There is nothing difficult about these statements either. The LORD, He will do all these things. Why do we complicate the simplicity of Christ?

Psalm ‭121‬:‭1-8‬ - I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. 

One Will Betray Me

John 13:18-22 - I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, "He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me." Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. 

When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.


As I read these words, it was as if for the first time, yet it was not. Prior to these words of Jesus we saw  the Passover meal (the Last Supper) in progress. We saw that Judas had been chosen to betray his Lord and Jesus washed His disciples' feet as an example of humility. Here He tells His disciples ahead of time that someone is about to betray Him...that they will believe He is who He says.

But what struck me most was this might happen daily. Bear with my thoughts here. Could it happen if one claims to know Jesus but in actuality they do not? It comes down to the statements I make frequently that it is not about just knowing who Jesus is but having a relationship with Him. It's not about denomination but about relationship. It's all about Jesus. He has done it all for us. His disciples carried on in His fashion...but they were not Him. It is about devoting our lives to Him alone, doing His will.

I was sitting with a woman I am getting to know for a bit yesterday. We were talking about a mutual friend who may be having surgery this week. This woman said she has been praying to two saints, one of whom I'd never heard of. She does believe God can heal a person completely. But why not pray directly to Jesus Himself if He is our Great Physician? And the best healing of all is our spiritual one, which is our salvation in Jesus Christ alone. With that security if surgery fails or illness continues, we don't have to fear eternity.

It's all about Jesus. No one else. And what I see in this scripture above...it's about receiving Him and Him only that we might be received by the Father. He is the direct link. He is the Mediator. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (1Timothy 2:5) No one else. There is no other reference to anyone else. And we are also told to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) I can't help but see that if we do not do this, we are, basically, rejecting Him.

Still, I cannot judge anyone. It is up to God. I can only pray that those who think they believe but do not will have their spiritual eyes opened. It is so easy to know Jesus. And so easy to just go directly to Him in prayer for any need. He is never too busy. He doesn't slumber or sleep! He wants to hear from each of us directly. No one else needs to be our mediator between ourselves and Jesus...one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Only God hears and answers our prayers.

So while there are many who go about their days thinking they know Jesus, they may really not. They have not received Him in the way He calls us to. It's something to consider...

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 

Our New Covenant

Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Happy Fourth of July! I'm sure we will all be celebrating our independence day in some way. Perhaps it is a good day to take a close look at our liberties and be thankful we still have them (although they are eroding). There's one freedom that cannot be taken away, however...

We have laws. They are here to show us right from wrong. We have a choice to obey them. If we haven't there could be consequences for disobeying. Whether we are caught or not, whether we argue our intentions or not, try to justify our actions, we are guilty. You have to admit that.

If we are caught and must stand before a judge we are deemed either guilty or not. It is not up to us to make that decision. We can get angry or we can accept the charge, pay the fine, do our time to make amends.

God has laws too. And we are all guilty of breaking them. One sin to Him is not greater than another. Sin is sin. Like real life, we will all stand before the Judge and have to account for those sins. It will be the most important trial of our life. If we thought a speeding ticket was uncalled for or some time in the slammer was outrageous, if we have murdered or stolen and it was our choice to do so, it will be nothing compared to the outcome of this coming judgment. You'd better have a good Lawyer/Mediator between you and the Judge.

That's what Jesus is all about. In some miraculous way He has already taken on all, and I mean all, the sins of the world upon Him. The Judge is His Father and the Judge will listen to His Son plead your case, no matter what your sin.

Jesus can be our Mediator. IN and through Him our disobedience is forgiven. We are set free. And when we confess those sins to Him He forgives as far as the east is to the west. Picture Him on the cross, arms outstretched. That's how much He loves you.

Christ brought about a new covenant, one by which we could be set free from the laws/sins/infractions we either cannot or will not keep. Not that we continue to sin when we receive the knowledge that Christ sets us free. We will make mistakes; we always will. But He is there to accept our confession. HE is there, not anyone else. And He is quick to forgive, where mankind isn't always so willing to do that.

You want to be sure you have a good lawyer in this earthly life. You should also want to have a good one for your spiritual life. Today, even, you have the choice. Eternal freedom or eternal captivity. Jesus is the Son of the Judge. If you choose the Son, He will set you free. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)

We celebrate liberty today. Take one more step to perfect liberty, that which only Christ can give. That is the new covenant...freedom from the laws of performing rituals and sacrifices like for atonement for our sins. Jesus became our new covenant whereby He gives us the gift of salvation and the rituals and sacrifices cease. It's called grace. We give only ourselves to Him by confessing our sins to Him and receiving what He has to offer...forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

I heard something last night that I knew but tend to forget. When we receive Christ He doesn't give us just part of our righteousness, He gives it all to us. He IS our righteousness and if we have Him we have every right to claim total righteousness...as arrogant as that might sound to some. I'm thankful for the liberty I have, the true freedom in Christ to have all righteousness upon me. As was said last night, the right to BE right. This is a day to celebrate freedom. Why not ask Him today and have the best, lifelong freedom ever.

1John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.