Oh why? Why would Jesus, the Perfect Lamb,
Why would He come and die,
To die for me, a selfish, dirty sheep?
Just cause,
Cause He loves us,
Yeah, He loves us so!
Jesus, the Mighty Redeemer, loved us.
That's me and you.
He loved us so much He died,
But then He smacked that ole death in the face.
Jesus, Son of God, rose again,
Rolled that stone away.
Why? Oh why did Jesus, Loving Friend,
Why would He do all this for me?
Just cause,
Cause He loves us,
Yeah, He loves us so!
Jesus, the Holy One, came to set us free.
On that tree, He died,
Died for you, died for me.
Jesus, Jesus, You set us free!
No longer are we burdened by the unsatisfying,
Worthless things, heavy laden by our sins.
Cause Your death,
Your blood,
Your love,
Oh! they have set us free.
Why, yeah why did He do this,
The Son of the Most High!
Why did He come and die?
Just cause, oh cause He loves us,
Yeah, Jesus, He loves us so much.
He was willing, willing to die.
Willing to be crucified.
Battered and broken,
He died and rose again!
Just cause, suffering and dying,
Just cause, setting me free,
Just cause, Jesus, my Savior,
Just cause He loves me, yeah, He loves me....
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Rejection
With salvation, though it is free, there is a cost. This is something I learned at camp this summer.
People will tell you, being in the family of God will give you a grand life! You'll be prosperous and free! No pain!
Wrong.
Don't get me wrong, being in the family of God, being in the Kingdom IS awesome! It gives you the true joy only Jesus can bring.
Life can be great, but it might not always be easy.
"WAIT!" I'm sure you're saying. "I don't live in those countries where Christians are killed and persecuted. How is my life not always going to be the bee's knees?"
True, we are not tortured, jailed, killed for loving Jesus and being His follower, but we can still be persecuted. It's just in different ways.
Rejection
This is one that most people will face. It's one that I have personal experience with.
Rejection
To be in the Kingdom of God, to follow Jesus, there will be rejection. Not everyone wants the message, not everyone will understand.
In public schools, some people will scoff at the idea of staying pure til marriage, not getting high, or even being kind to the people that hate you. They don't understand, so they reject you. This is the kind of persecution most teenagers face. Friends turning their backs on them because of what and Who they believe.
But sometimes, its not just the unbelievers that shun you...it can be fellow Christians as well.
I think this is the kind of rejection that hurts the most. People you feel should be rejoicing with you, helping you along. People you think will be okay with your decision, the one you feel like God is telling you to make. You think they will be like 'whoa! Totally awesome! Go for it!' The reaction that hurts is 'what? You're joking...' or 'I will never speak to you again, why would you do that?'
Rejection.
It hurts, I know. It always does, but that is part of the cost.
Rejected
Following Jesus, you will be rejected, scoffed at, persecuted.
Well, this has been really uplifting hasn't it? But don't worry I have one more thing to tell you.
True, rejection hurts. At times, you want to give up trying to do anything. It just hurts so badly, but hear me say this:
When you are rejected, remember this, it is NOT you they are rejecting.
Nope.
Who they are rejecting? Let me tell you, Him. Uh huh, it's WHO's will you're following. That is the Person they are rejecting. They are turning their noses up at Jesus, not you. True, it feels like it's you, but technically they would probably still like you if you didn't know Jesus, if you didn't let Him change your life, or if you didn't 'put on your new self'. Jesus makes people uncomfortable because most don't want to change, they don't want anything to change about them or you. Change scares people, so they will harden their hearts and reject Him and His followers.
The only thing that will wake them up, well, really it's not the only thing, it's the only ONE that'll wake them up to the darkness they are sinking in is Jesus. He can change lives. His love is the only thing that can bring someone from the dark into the light. His love will shine through their doubts, their fears, their unwillingness. It just might take awhile.
Doesn't mean you should give up. You should respect their decision, but never give up. Just live a life for Christ and they will see. Show His love. Show His mercy. Show His works. Be His light shining in a world of darkness(Phil. 2:15).
Also, on a side note, I have found this out and the camp pastor mentioned this too.
When you are rejected, it forms a closeness to God you wouldn't have otherwise. He won't give you trials He doesn't think you can't handle. He sometimes 'prunes'(John 15) the branches to make them stronger.
~Teen Jesus Follower~
People will tell you, being in the family of God will give you a grand life! You'll be prosperous and free! No pain!
Wrong.
Don't get me wrong, being in the family of God, being in the Kingdom IS awesome! It gives you the true joy only Jesus can bring.
Life can be great, but it might not always be easy.
"WAIT!" I'm sure you're saying. "I don't live in those countries where Christians are killed and persecuted. How is my life not always going to be the bee's knees?"
True, we are not tortured, jailed, killed for loving Jesus and being His follower, but we can still be persecuted. It's just in different ways.
Rejection
This is one that most people will face. It's one that I have personal experience with.
Rejection
To be in the Kingdom of God, to follow Jesus, there will be rejection. Not everyone wants the message, not everyone will understand.
In public schools, some people will scoff at the idea of staying pure til marriage, not getting high, or even being kind to the people that hate you. They don't understand, so they reject you. This is the kind of persecution most teenagers face. Friends turning their backs on them because of what and Who they believe.
But sometimes, its not just the unbelievers that shun you...it can be fellow Christians as well.
I think this is the kind of rejection that hurts the most. People you feel should be rejoicing with you, helping you along. People you think will be okay with your decision, the one you feel like God is telling you to make. You think they will be like 'whoa! Totally awesome! Go for it!' The reaction that hurts is 'what? You're joking...' or 'I will never speak to you again, why would you do that?'
Rejection.
It hurts, I know. It always does, but that is part of the cost.
Rejected
Following Jesus, you will be rejected, scoffed at, persecuted.
Well, this has been really uplifting hasn't it? But don't worry I have one more thing to tell you.
True, rejection hurts. At times, you want to give up trying to do anything. It just hurts so badly, but hear me say this:
When you are rejected, remember this, it is NOT you they are rejecting.
Nope.
Who they are rejecting? Let me tell you, Him. Uh huh, it's WHO's will you're following. That is the Person they are rejecting. They are turning their noses up at Jesus, not you. True, it feels like it's you, but technically they would probably still like you if you didn't know Jesus, if you didn't let Him change your life, or if you didn't 'put on your new self'. Jesus makes people uncomfortable because most don't want to change, they don't want anything to change about them or you. Change scares people, so they will harden their hearts and reject Him and His followers.
The only thing that will wake them up, well, really it's not the only thing, it's the only ONE that'll wake them up to the darkness they are sinking in is Jesus. He can change lives. His love is the only thing that can bring someone from the dark into the light. His love will shine through their doubts, their fears, their unwillingness. It just might take awhile.
Doesn't mean you should give up. You should respect their decision, but never give up. Just live a life for Christ and they will see. Show His love. Show His mercy. Show His works. Be His light shining in a world of darkness(Phil. 2:15).
Also, on a side note, I have found this out and the camp pastor mentioned this too.
When you are rejected, it forms a closeness to God you wouldn't have otherwise. He won't give you trials He doesn't think you can't handle. He sometimes 'prunes'(John 15) the branches to make them stronger.
~Teen Jesus Follower~
Monday, August 15, 2011
I Need You
I am broken,
I am weary,
Depressed, tired, and lonely.
I'm on my knees,
Searching for You,
Hear my cry, oh God, see my tears.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your wisdom to follow.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your hand to hold on to.
I need, yeah I need You!
My heart, so full of holes,
Aches, down deep inside.
Dreams have fallen through my fingers,
Hopes, blown away like sand.
What, oh what can make this heart of mine whole again?
God, I need Your help,
I need Your wisdom to follow.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your hand to hold on to.
I need, yeah I need You!
Fill these holes, soothe my aches.
You are the only One that can.
Take my tired, weary soul,
Make it whole again!
God, I need Your help,
I need Your wisdom to follow.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your hand to hold on to.
I need, yeah I need You!
I'll trust that You know what's going on,
I'll see what You have in store.
You'll heal my broken spirit,
You'll quench my thirsting heart!
You know that I need You,
You'll help me they way I need.
I may not understand the picture,
the puzzle pieces don't seem to fit,
But I know You're always near me.
Every time, anytime, all the time,
You know when I need You!
So God, hold my hand,
I need You here tonight.
I need You to lean on,
To help me through.
I need You, oh God, I need You!
I need You!
~Teen Jesus Follower~
I am weary,
Depressed, tired, and lonely.
I'm on my knees,
Searching for You,
Hear my cry, oh God, see my tears.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your wisdom to follow.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your hand to hold on to.
I need, yeah I need You!
My heart, so full of holes,
Aches, down deep inside.
Dreams have fallen through my fingers,
Hopes, blown away like sand.
What, oh what can make this heart of mine whole again?
God, I need Your help,
I need Your wisdom to follow.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your hand to hold on to.
I need, yeah I need You!
Fill these holes, soothe my aches.
You are the only One that can.
Take my tired, weary soul,
Make it whole again!
God, I need Your help,
I need Your wisdom to follow.
God, I need Your help,
I need Your hand to hold on to.
I need, yeah I need You!
I'll trust that You know what's going on,
I'll see what You have in store.
You'll heal my broken spirit,
You'll quench my thirsting heart!
You know that I need You,
You'll help me they way I need.
I may not understand the picture,
the puzzle pieces don't seem to fit,
But I know You're always near me.
Every time, anytime, all the time,
You know when I need You!
So God, hold my hand,
I need You here tonight.
I need You to lean on,
To help me through.
I need You, oh God, I need You!
I need You!
~Teen Jesus Follower~
Monday, August 8, 2011
Romans
So I have a friend who recommended I read and study Romans and I and II Corinthians. So far I've gone through Romans and thought I'd write down what notes I'd written on certain passages! I know there is a lot more I could write down, but these are the things that stood out to me.
-
Romans 3:20
'For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.'
No matter what I do, I'll never be good enough. The Jews that were pretty much the picture of perfectness, even they couldn't work their way to the top. They followed every rule and still fell short.
-
Romans 3:21-26
'But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.'
No one is exempt from His grace.
No matter how far you feel or how far gone they seem, God will still love you/them. If you think they don't deserve it, you need to remember, neither did you.
-
Romans 6:1-14
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.'
Just because you are saved, that doesn't mean you can just do whatever. You know, then ask for His grace again and again. You aren't living a new life in Christ. Vs 6, when your old self dies, LEAVE IT DEAD. Live with a new life that brings Him glory. A life that'll show others His love.
-
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:15-23 (ESV)
Slaves of righteousness. Whatever you are a slave to, it'll show in how you live. If you are a slave to acceptance(as in, liked by other people), you will spend your time focusing on what other people think about you. You'll be upset if you think people don't like you, or that you feel like you don't belong. You won't be satisfied with the acceptance of Christ. Same with if you are a slave to an addiction, people will see that this is your 'master'.
If you are a slave to righteousness you will grow in the way you love, give, and in knowledge of God's Word. That, if you are truly following, will seep into every part of your life. It'll affect the people around you. It'll be obvious Who your 'Master' is.
-
30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. 1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 9:30-10:4 (ESV)
The Gentiles, who weren't the followed every rule people(Like the Jews) attained their righteousness while the Jews who followed every rule and did every good work they could didn't. Why? Faith.
You know the saying "faith, trust, and pixi dust."? Yeah, well...drop the pixi dust and you see what the Gentiles had that the Jews couldn't understand. Faith and trust in Christ is all you need. Works are good, true, but not good enough to pay for your sins. The only work that was good enough for that was the Work done on the Cross.
-
Well, there you have it. My main thoughts on the stuff I read in Romans.
~Teen Jesus Follower~
-
Romans 3:20
'For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.'
No matter what I do, I'll never be good enough. The Jews that were pretty much the picture of perfectness, even they couldn't work their way to the top. They followed every rule and still fell short.
-
Romans 3:21-26
'But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.'
No one is exempt from His grace.
No matter how far you feel or how far gone they seem, God will still love you/them. If you think they don't deserve it, you need to remember, neither did you.
-
Romans 6:1-14
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.'
Just because you are saved, that doesn't mean you can just do whatever. You know, then ask for His grace again and again. You aren't living a new life in Christ. Vs 6, when your old self dies, LEAVE IT DEAD. Live with a new life that brings Him glory. A life that'll show others His love.
-
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:15-23 (ESV)
Slaves of righteousness. Whatever you are a slave to, it'll show in how you live. If you are a slave to acceptance(as in, liked by other people), you will spend your time focusing on what other people think about you. You'll be upset if you think people don't like you, or that you feel like you don't belong. You won't be satisfied with the acceptance of Christ. Same with if you are a slave to an addiction, people will see that this is your 'master'.
If you are a slave to righteousness you will grow in the way you love, give, and in knowledge of God's Word. That, if you are truly following, will seep into every part of your life. It'll affect the people around you. It'll be obvious Who your 'Master' is.
-
30 What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. 32 Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, 33 as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. 1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 9:30-10:4 (ESV)
The Gentiles, who weren't the followed every rule people(Like the Jews) attained their righteousness while the Jews who followed every rule and did every good work they could didn't. Why? Faith.
You know the saying "faith, trust, and pixi dust."? Yeah, well...drop the pixi dust and you see what the Gentiles had that the Jews couldn't understand. Faith and trust in Christ is all you need. Works are good, true, but not good enough to pay for your sins. The only work that was good enough for that was the Work done on the Cross.
-
Well, there you have it. My main thoughts on the stuff I read in Romans.
~Teen Jesus Follower~
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