I want to tell what God has done
Through Christ. his well-beloved Son,
How my poor heart he sought and won;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?
I want to tell what God can do
For sinners lost like me and you,
Of sins washed white and garments new;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?
I want to tell you what the Lord has done,
What the Lord has done for me;
He lifted me from the miry clay;
O what a happy day!
I want to tell you what the Lord can do,
What the Lord can do for you:
He can take your life as he did mine,
And make it anew.
I want to tell of saving grace,
Of God’s strong arm, his warm embrace,
Of blood that can all sins erase;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?
I want to tell to sinners lost
That Christ has paid sin’s fearful cost,
And saves unto the uttermost;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?
What God has done, he still can do;
His power can fashion lives anew,
And all who trust him find him true;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?
I want to tell of that glad day
For which we watch, for which we pray,
It must be near, not far away;
Can you wonder that I want to tell it?
“This is What the Lord Has Done”: by Major Sidney Edward Cox, Salvation Army (1887-1975)
Oh How I Love Books
Yes, there are so many books and not enough time…to read them. If I had my way, my house would be filled with bookshelves and books on the shelves. Just ask my husband!
Books inform us, teach us, help make us creative, make our minds work and give us enjoyment.
Science Books: Teaches us the basic disciplines of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology. They are called basic sciences because they provide a fundamental understanding of natural phenomena and the processes by which natural resources are transformed.
Mystery or Fiction Books: Don’t really teach us anything, but they do make our imaginations go ‘boing‘. The ‘who done it’ element gives us a sense of intrigue or sometimes scares us, or just a way of escaping from reality.
Instruction Books: Generally instruction books usually accompany a device or object explaining how to install, build or operate it. Sometimes instructions are tossed away, because they don’t make sense or who needs instructions anyway, right! How many times has someone asked ‘did you read the instructions’?
History Books: Are very informative. Reading history helps us to understand what happened and where it happened. As far back as the beginning of time, a record has been kept. We have enormous stories of times past, ‘how the west was won’, different eras through time, iron age, industrial revolution, etc. Reading historical fiction allows us to be moved by what happened. Even after we know the facts, we continue to search for sense and meaning. That is at the essence of our humanity.
Did you know there is one book in which all of the above is contained therein…and so much more. It contains the basis for freedom. It can make us better citizens. It contains our eventual destiny. It’s a book that should be in every home. Not just to sit on a coffee table, or press flowers in, but to be read. The book is “THE BOOK”…“THE BIBLE”. And the most important aspect of this book is the message of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The whole book is about Him, our Saviour, from the beginning to the end. This is the most important message you will ever receive. It’s not an email, or text message, or telephone message, or a memo left on the fridge. It is the quintessential message of your life.
The story of Jesus can be traced through the Bible. Even though Jesus didn’t come to earth as a person until the New Testament, Jesus was there right from the beginning.
In Genesis, He is the Seed of the woman. Genesis 3: 15 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Because of what the serpent did to Adam and Eve, God cursed him. A Man would be appointed by God to bruise the serpents head, and remove God’s curse forever – although God’s chosen Saviour would Himself be bruised in the process. But the death of the ONE would triumph over the power of the other, and death itself would lose its sting and Satan himself would be vanquished forever.
In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb. Exodus 12 refers to the passover lamb’s blood which was smeared over the doorposts to keep the Israelites from death. After Jesus was put to death, by the shedding of His blood for us, we are saved from death. Jesus replaced the ritual of killing lambs as a sacrifice. In Leviticus He is the Atoning Sacrifice. Leviticus 17:11. Jesus blood on the cross is the ultimate atonement for our souls.
In Numbers, He is the Smitten Rock. Numbers 20:10-11. The refreshing, nurturing water that poured from the rock symbolizes the gift of God’s salvation, Jesus, who was smitten, gives us living water to drink. In Deuteronomy, He is the Prophet. Deuteronomy 18:17-18. Jesus was sent by God the Father and every word Jesus spoke was from God. In Joshua, He is the Captain of the Lord’s hosts. Joshua 5:13-6:5. Jesus Christ is the captain of the Host of the Lord in Old Testament book of Joshua. Christ is our victorious Saviour, the messenger, angel of the covenant.
In Judges, He is the Deliverer. Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16: Jesus Christ is the Deliverer whom God has raised up for us. In Ruth, He is the Heavenly Kinsman. Ruth 2:20. As Boaz stepped in and became Ruth’s redeemer, a parallel story of someone who stepped in and became our Redeemer. Jesus. He paid the price of redemption once and for all.
To summarize through the last books of the Old Testament, you will find in 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles, He is the Promised King. In Nehemiah, He is the Restorer of the nation. In Esther, He is the Advocate. In Job, He is my Redeemer. In Psalms, He is my Song. In Proverbs, He is Wisdom. In Ecclesiastes, He is my Goal. In the Song of Solomon, He is my Satisfier. And in the remaining books of the Old Testament, the Prophets, He is the coming Prince of Peace.
Last but not least, we have the Gospels in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God in Christ Jesus, come to redeem. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
In Acts, He is alive in the church. Jesus arose from his death on the cross. He ascended into heaven and the church carried on his message. We are His church today.
In the Epistles, He is Christ at the Father’s right hand. One of the purposes of Jesus being there is to stand on our behalf before God the Father and make a way for believers to have access to God. “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.
In Revelation, He is the Mighty Conqueror. Jesus conquers Satan and sends him packing. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, The Alpha and the Omega, The Beginning and the End, and He is coming again and the One who makes all things new! “Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” Revelation 21:6-7.
The “message” is Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and the Bible is the book in which we find the “message”. All that Jesus was from the beginning, through time, to the present. The Bible is the only book to bridge the gap between us and God, through Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6. I hope you see Him through it all.
I hope you get the message, heed the message and live the message.
If you don’t know who Jesus is and would like Him to be your Saviour, start with this little prayer asking Him into your heart and let Him lead you on with His grace and love. Under the “Spiritual Support” tab, there are places where you can find further assistance in your walk with Jesus. I hope you make use of them.
Will you now, as you read these words, open your heart to Jesus?