PROMISE IS THERE

[keisling]

With a weak faith and a fearful heart, many a sinner stands before the Lord. It is not the strength of our faith, but the perfection of Christ's sacrifice that saves! No feebleness of faith, nor dimness of eye, no trembling of hand can change the efficacy of Christ's blood. The strength of our faith can add nothing to it, nor can the weakness of our faith take anything from Him. Faith (weak or strong) still reads the promise, "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." If at times my eye is so dim that I cannot read these words, through blinding tears or bewildering trials, faith rests itself on the certain knowledge of the fact that THE PROMISE IS THERE, and the blood of Christ remains in all its power and suitableness upon the altar, unchanged and unaffected.

[Betty]

Wednesday May 11, 2005
Jesus, the Faithful Witness
Revelation 1:4-8; 4:1-11

John wrote the book of Revelation-as he received
it from God-to encourage Christians who were
being heavily persecuted by the Roman emperor
Domitian. About 25 years before, Rome had destroyed
Jerusalem and taken away whatever rights the
Christians actually had at that time. Many believers felt
like slaves and were beginning to question,
"Where is Jesus? Is He still the Lord?" So the main
purpose of this letter was to remind them that
Jesus Christ was indeed alive and that, while He was
allowing them to undergo these trials, He was no
less the same loving, all-powerful Lord.

We can also be encouraged by simply remembering
who Jesus is. By realizing He's perfectly
trustworthy and praiseworthy, we will be able to
persevere through difficulties with confidence and joy.
John reminds us that Jesus is the faithful
witness. (Revelation 1:5) We can rely on every single
thing He says-not only are His words true; He
Himself is the truth. (John 14:6) If He says He will
do something, we can believe it will happen. The
early church desperately needed to know that
Jesus' return was certain because He had said He was
coming back. Likewise, we can trust His promise
that this life on earth isn't all there is, and
that He will be with us forever. (1 Thessalonians
4:17) Jesus proved His word by conquering death
through the Cross and His resurrection, becoming
"the firstborn of the dead" (Revelation 1:5) and
preparing the way for all who trust in Him. He is
our hope and the guarantee of our own resurrection.

Charles Stanley