Love Worth Finding

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 14

No Hands But Our Hands

"The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath He recompensed me." Psalm 18:20

During WWII, a beautiful cathedral in Europe was destroyed by the Nazis. When the people came together to rebuild the temple, they found a statue of Christ with His hands outstretched. They repaired the statue as best they could, but they could not recover the hands. Because they loved the statue as it was, they put a plaque underneath that reads: "He has no hands but our hands."

Remember this—Jesus Christ is the invisible part of the Christian. The Christian is the visible part of Christ. He is seen in us and through us. We are the visible part of the invisible Christ.

What we do in His name is representative of Him to the world. What are you doing with your hands today that is a testimony of Jesus Christ to a watching and lost world?

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 15

Jesus Above All Other Gods

"Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God." John 6:68-69

Have you ever wondered why Christians were so persecuted in the days of the liberal Roman government? The Romans didn't persecute other religious people, only Christians. Why did they pick on the Christians? Because the Christians proclaimed Jesus as Lord, and not Caesar.

The Romans were a polytheistic nation—they even built the Pantheon, which was a temple for all the gods that were worshiped in ancient Rome. When they subjugated and conquered a people, they let them keep their gods—on one condition—that they remember that Caesar was Lord.

As the world becomes more and more syncretized and headed toward a "One World" order, men and women who say that Jesus is the only true Lord are going to be persecuted. Will you stand and proclaim Jesus as Lord no matter what?
 

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 16

Is It Written All Over Your Face?

"For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

Somewhere in California during the gold rush of 1849, the story is told of two gold miners who struck a particularly rich vein of gold one day. They decided not to tell anyone else, so they could keep it for themselves. They went into town to get better equipment to mine the gold, but when they left, scores of people followed. Their jubilation was written all over their faces.

Is what is in your heart written all over your face? Oh, how I pray that each person reading this today will not hide what they have found in Jesus Christ. I want people who see you today to say, "I don't know what is going on with her, but I want what she has. I want what he has." The gift of salvation is for you, but it is also for others to behold and desire in you.

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 17

Living Wisely

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

When men built the Temple in the Old Testament, the Bible tells us that God gave them a spirit of wisdom. Some translators have called this the spirit of "skill" because these words are tightly linked.

Do you know what wise living is? It is living skillfully and making the most out of your life. You become an artist, a practitioner, a cabinet maker, an accountant, a teacher, or a mother. You live your life with skill.

Now, don't fail to study and gain knowledge, but remember this: All our knowledge is but splendid ignorance apart from the wisdom of God.

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 18

The Wisdom You Need Is There for the Asking

"He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly." Proverbs 2:7

In Christ there is soundness, strength, security, and satisfaction. When you come to Him with urgency, fervency, persistency, and expectancy, you will hear from Him. He is not going to think you are pestering Him; He is pleased when you ask Him for His wisdom.

Annie Johnson Flint, that blessed hymn writer, wrote: "His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto man; For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again."

Ask Him, "Lord, I need to make a decision. What college do I choose? Should I marry this man or not? Is this the job You want me to have? What mechanic do I use to repair my car? Where do you want me to live? Do I rent or own?" Cast all your cares upon Him today, for He longs to fill you with Himself.

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 19

When It's a Good Thing to Turn and Run

"Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is outside the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." 1 Corinthians 6:18

The sin of immorality is not a sin we are told to fight in the Bible. It is a sin we are told to flee! (See 2 Timothy 2:22.) God tells us to get out of a compromising situation. Read what Joseph did when he was approached by Potiphar's wife in Genesis 39:7-18. In a word, he fled!

If there is a person who works in your office and that person is immorally flirting with you, it would be better for you to quit your job than to stay in that office.

"But—my job!"
But—your purity!

Perhaps you are fighting a pornography addiction and you are alone in your motel room with free X-rated movies. Do you sneak a peak? Don't see how far you can come to the edge without falling over. See how far you can stay away!

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 20

How Far Does His Forgiveness Reach?

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

People have the idea today that it is okay to live in immorality and that God is going to overlook their little indiscretions. Is that so?

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). God doesn't miss a beat of our lives. He is the righteous judge and will judge accordingly (see Hebrews 13:4).

"Well Pastor, does that mean that if I have done any of these things, I can't be saved?"

No! 1 Corinthians 6:11 promises: "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Hallelujah! There is no sin so awful that the blood of Christ cannot cleanse. He makes the vilest sinner clean.

Nothing—not your worst offense—stands between you and the Cross. . .between you and forgiveness. . .between you and a loving Heavenly Father—nothing but your hesitation. Come to Him. He longs to receive you.

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 21

"Nothing In My Hands I Bring"

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

Have you ever laid your head on the pillow at the end of a long day and satisfyingly said, "Well, I was a good person today, so if I died tonight I will go to heaven"?

If you have, you're not alone. I would venture to say that most people believe if you go to church, tithe your money, and do good to others, that God is going to let you into heaven.

If being religious could get you to heaven, then why was a religious man like Paul struck down on the Road to Damascus and asked by the Lord, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" (Acts 9:4b).

More importantly, if we could save ourselves with our good deeds, God did not need to send His only Son into the world as a sacrifice for the likes of you and me. No, it is Jesus' righteousness that saves us. And Him alone.

Take stock: What "religious" things are you doing, hoping to score a few more "brownie points" with God? This is "works doctrine." Abandon it. Come to Jesus and say, "Nothing in my hands I bring. Simply to Thy cross I cling."

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 22

The Only Thing That Will Save You

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 3:5

Paul said, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8).

What does Paul mean by loss? He means that even good things are bad things if they become a substitute for the best thing. Suppose you are on a plane trip. The plane is going down and you grab your knapsack instead of your parachute and jump out. Is the knapsack bad? No, it's just not the best choice to save your life!

The worst form of badness may be human goodness when that human goodness becomes a substitute for the new birth.

No knapsack full of "works of righteousness" will save you. Cast yourself completely upon the work of redemption—the work of the cross. You cannot add to what Jesus did.
 

[Judy Harder]

MARCH 23

"Wash Me, Savior, Or I Die"

"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works." Romans 4:6

The same year America declared its independence from England, Augustus Toplady wrote a song declaring complete dependence upon God. He penned, "Rock of Ages." The third verse declares, "Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me, Savior, or I die."

It's hard sometimes to let go of our sins AND our righteous deeds in order to completely trust in God for our salvation.

Did you know there is something about human nature that doesn't want to do this? We want to somehow help God with our good deeds. And yet "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6b).

Lay your knapsack of righteous works at His feet. Pray, "God makes us righteous. Wash me, Savior, or I die."