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| The Holy Spirit inspired the Bible in a way that shows us that the events of the cross are at the center of earth's history. In John 17 we see a picture of how our Great High Priest ever lives to make intercession for us in the prayers of Jesus to the Father. 'Grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' How wonderful it is to see that the prayers of the Apostle Paul for the church in the Book of Ephesians are the same as Christ's prayers for us before the Father. The Lord prayed that the love the Father has for us would dwell in us, and that he would dwell in us. How amazing that the God of the universe would take on the form of a servant and wash his disciple's feet! Thomas seemed to have trouble with this picture of God. He told Jesus afterwards: 'Show us the Father and it is enough for us.' The Lord replied: 'He that has seen me has seen the Father.' Jesus told us: 'The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.' We can see a picture of the love of the Father for the Son in the life of Abraham. Abraham took his son, his only son (of promise) that he loved, to offer him on Mt. Moriah. He believed that if necessary God would raise Isaac from the dead. And on the third day he did receive Isaac back from the dead when the angel stopped him, and God provided a ram for an offering. God's love for his Son is very great, and it is that same love that the Holy Spirit ministers to our hearts, and through our lives as the fruit of his working in us. The goodness of God leads us to repentance, the grace of God teaches us to turn away from sin and to abide in Christ as a branch abides in a grape vine. What good fruit of God's love, what holiness and goodness will flow from us as we drink of the Living Water of God's Spirit! If there is any question in our minds as to why the Lord showed us a vision of himself in his glory as the Risen Son, we only have to read his greeting to us in the Book of Revelation: 'Grace and peace...' and to read the blessing he inspired John to close the book with to know his heart. 'The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.' Amazing to know he loves us and freed us from our sins with his own blood- he died for us forsaken of God, to deliver us from the wrath to come that we read about after the letters to the seven churches. Our prayer today is 'Even so, come Lord Jesus.' He has promised to take us to his Father's house, to keep us from the hour of trial that is to come upon the earth. This hope leads us to purify ourselves, even as he is pure. Of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. Let us take hold of this grace today, to know the fullness of his grace and love towards us, to know that God is love. All of the promises to the seven churches teach us the incredible riches of his grace to those who overcome. God's Spirit teaches us how we overcome- it is faith that overcomes the world. We abide in him and his word abides in us, and we see the good fruit of his Spirit in our lives. |
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