No Muck Here

 

For as long as I can remember, God has been an important part of my life.  I’ve grown up with morning devotions, scripture memory, and family prayer time.  I wore my first Bible to shreds from constantly looking at the pictures! When I was five years old I asked Jesus to come into my heart.  My parents sat next to me, on my brother’s bed; guiding me as I said a modest prayer.  I didn’t fully comprehend the immeasurable wonder that salvation is, but I didn’t have to; I knew Jesus loved me.  I recognized that I did things that were wrong and I knew He would help me do good.  I accepted that He was the only way to get to heaven and I certainly didn’t want to be left out of that!  

 

Child-like faith comes easy when you’re a child.

 

During my lifetime, I have heard many powerful testimonies of redemption.  I would sit back and listen to people tell of how they lived lives in theft, sexual immorality, or bondage to alcohol or drugs.  I’d be moved to tears when they recalled how Christ saved them when they were in their darkest time, and He was the light that set them free.  Then, I’d think to myself, “Wow, my testimony is nothing compared to that!  I won’t inspire anyone by telling them I became a Christian when I was a kid, and I was raised in a Godly home.  It’s so boring!”  Now, I know how wrong I was.

 

 It’s God’s plan of salvation that’s beautiful and inspiring,

 

not the amount of muck you go through to receive it.

 

I have had and will continue to have my own tests, trials and temptations.  I am not even within throwing distance of perfect!  I do think I had one day where I didn’t commit a single sin – I was sick and I slept for 26 hours.  Truth!

 

 

I know that “all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.”  [Romans 3:23]

 I rely on the fact that “No temptation has overtaken you [me] that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you [me] be tempted beyond your [my] ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you [I] may be able to endure it.”  [1 Corinthians 10:13]

 And I do my best to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you [I] meet trials of various kinds, for you [I]  know that the testing of your [my] faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you [I] may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  [James 1:2-4]

 I am saved by Grace, not by my own works.  Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins.  When I accepted Him, in faith; believing, He washed my sins away!  All of them – past, present and future!  I thank God for keeping me from evil, for growing me as a Christian, while I was growing from child to adult.  What a blessing to have been brought up in a loving, nurturing environment, by parents that taught me the fear and admonition of The Lord!  What a gift to have been established on a firm foundation!  God changed my heart then, as a child, and He’s still changing it day to day.  He’s perfecting me for His Glory!  This is Easter, and it’s one of my favorite holiday celebrations, because it reminds me of what my Savior did for me.  I like the term Resurrection Sunday best, because without His resurrection there is no victory!

 

Redeemer, sung by Nicole C. Mullen, is in my top ten song list.

When it comes on the radio, I close my eyes and soak in the awe-inspiring words. . .except when I’m driving, of course!

 “He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives
Forever I’ll proclaim
That the payment for my sin
Was the precious life He gave
But now He’s alive and there’s an empty grave!

And I know
My Redeemer lives
I know
My Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
That this life within me cries
I know my Redeemer”

 

The New Oxford American Dictionary defines redeem as this:  1.  Compensate for the faults or bad aspects of (something)  > (of a person) atone or make amends  > save (someone) from sin, error or evil.  2.  Gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.

How fitting that we call Christ our Redeemer!  What an awesome God!

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [Luke 24:1-7]

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

 

 I know my Redeemer lives, and I hope you do, too.

 

Warmly,

Sarah E.

 

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