Devotional Guide
For the week of October 3, 2004
LOVE IS OF GOD
How the foundation is laid
To Read: Psalm 138-140
To Know:
"After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the
scripture), 'I thirst.' A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a
sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus
had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished'; and he bowed his head
and gave up his spirit." (Jn. 19:28,29, 30)
If Jesus is presently at work in the world in the lives of those who are 'in
him,' why did he say on the cross, "It is finished"? A preacher two
centuries back said of the Book of Acts that it is "the unfinished record of
an incomplete work." He was talking about the work of Jesus Christ. Does
Luke, who was the author of Acts, contradict John who records Jesus' words
on the cross, "It is finished"? Not at all. What Jesus completed on the
cross was the work of our salvation. What was left for Christ to do was to
make that salvation known in the world in order that sinners might repent
and put their faith in him. When the 5th meetinghouse of the Byfield Parish
Church was being built the foundation was finished first. Paul says
regarding the cross of Christ that it is foundational. The apostle to the
Gentiles testifies that he "did not come proclaiming .the testimony of God
in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except
Jesus Christ and him crucified." (1 Cor. 2:1,2) In a later verse Paul
writes, "For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ." (3:11) It is Jesus Christ crucified who is the
foundation of the eternal world. When he died the foundation of eternal life
was laid. As far as the work of salvation was concerned, it was finished.
To Read:
Saturday: Psalm 141-143
Sunday: Psalm 144-146
10084$-10084
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