Tag: I will make

Turn to Me and be saved

“I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

“they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Psalms 98:2  The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

Isaiah 45:21-23     Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.  “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.  By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Isaiah 52:10    The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Luke 2:30-32    for my eyes have seen your salvation  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,  a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Romans 10:18    But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 1:17   For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

I wonder if we forget that it is the Lord who has made known salvation.  First through prophecy of a coming savior and then through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is a light to eternal life.  It is a light to a place of refuge, hope, peace, and courage.  This life brings fulfilling purpose to our everyday lives.  Having a light in the darkness is what gives us hope, builds our faith, and gives us courage to face tomorrow.  Share this light to those lost and living in darkness. It is our calling.

Seek and to Save

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.”

John 1:43  The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”  Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.  Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”  Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”  Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”  Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”  And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

These comments are not mine but I found interesting and share them with you.  All are called but many reject the calling outright.  It is not a slight thing to refuse the summons of God through his messengers. God will hold those who refuse that summons responsible on Judgment Day.  There is a more subtle way to refuse the summons. One may pay lip service to the external call but never truly embrace Jesus internally as offered in that call.  This refusal subjects us to God’s just judgment. The bad news is we have no power in ourselves to change our rebellious hearts. The good news is God is pleased to change rebellious hearts by the invincible power of his Spirit. If we have responded to the external call in repentance and faith, it is only because God has first been at work in us to turn us to himself in Christ. Salvation is truly by grace alone. This truth is unsettling, but Jesus unsettles us for a reason. He wants us to find salvation and life in him alone, by grace alone. And only in Christ may we find an everlasting, unshakeable foundation.

Sheep of His pasture

“ Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

“for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.”

“ And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”

Zechariah 9:16  On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!

Isaiah 62:3    You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Isaiah 40:10    Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Ezekiel 34:22-26   I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.

Ezekiel 34:31     And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”

Micah 5:4    And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.

Luke 12:32    “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Psalms 31:19    Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

In Ezekiel – And you are my sheep, human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord GOD.”  what does it mean to be His sheep?  God’s word says that His sheep hear his voice and follow Him.  How do we hear His voice and follow what God is saying? A good place to start is in His word with a heart and soul deep desire to hear Him speak truth into your life.  Another place is to be in fellowship with others who have this desire.  There are so many things in this word that pull us away and water down our commitment to listen and follow Him.  It takes strength and courage and commitment (Desire) to humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  Like they say when is the best time to plant a tree – 30 years ago, the second best time is today.  Today is a good day to fully commit to Him.