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Jesus Lover of My Soul - story behind the hymn

Don´t be fooled, Seek the Thruth with all your heart and you will Him

 

Written and published by Jean-Louis Mondon

Among all religions, which one doesn´t practice proselytism? They all do it even though some of their adepts sometimes deny the obvious undeniable facts.

Why are Christians accused of believing and declaring that theirs is the only way to God?

Isn´t it narrow minded, exclusive and offensive to people of other religions or atheists?

The reality backed up by facts proves that all religions practice the recruitment of disciples.

Why would anyone believe someone who said: I really don´t believe in the uniqueness of my religion, but I invite you to join us and to see the truth in master´s teaching as a way to reach God.

And yet, that is what I have heard as an argument to accuse christianity of narrow-mindedness.

Islam is notorious for his forcing conversion throughout history, so was the Catholic church.

Swami Vivekananda attended the Parliament of Religions at Chicago in1893 as representative of Hinduism.

Self-Realization Fellowship guru Paramahansa Yogananda followed in 1933. 

(I once was an adept of Hindu meditation called Kriya yoga and a disciple of Guru Paramahansa Yogananda before being rescued by the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Who doesn´t remember the Beattles and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi who first introduced Transcendental Meditation in the US In 1959,

So what is the essential difference which makes Christianity stand apart from all others religions or ideologies not classified as religions, but in effect are?

It boils down to man´s  acceptance of God´s of divine grace and rejection of man´s works as the way of reconciliation between sinful man and a holy God who is the one who makes the rules because he is Lord and King and creator of the universe. No other way has been provided by God´s providential  provision for the salvation of mankind. 

 Peter and John Before the Council
…11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.…

All other religions are based on the principle of work to gain entrance into the presence of God after death. Even some Christian denominations add works to grace as a way to merit salvation.

These statements in no way disrespect other people´s religions or their customs and traditions. God has given each of us human being freedom to choose whom to worship and serve.

What kind of father would punish this children without instructing them beforehand of what is right and wrong and warning them of the consequences of their actions?

The first example of that admonition happened with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.

…16And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16,17.

Have you heard an argument such as this one: Can millions of Hindus be wrong? (Wikipedia) Hinduism has approximately 1.2 billion adherents worldwide (15-16% of the world's population).

Old Testaments Scriptures

Psalm 49:7-9: None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8 (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) 9That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.

Psalm 50:23: “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who sets his way properly I will show the salvation of God.”

Isaiah 42: God wanted the Jews to bring in gentiles to know and worship Him.

6“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, 7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. “

New Testament Scriptures

Acts 10. the story of Cornelius

Cornelius Sends for Peter

1At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was called the Italian Regiment. 2He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly. 3One day at about the ninth hour,a he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

4Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?”

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God. 5Now send men to Joppa to call for a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.b”

21So Peter went down to the menf and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”

22“Cornelius the centurion has sent us,” they said. “He is a righteous and God-fearing man with a good reputation among the whole Jewish nation. A holy angel instructed him to request your presence in his home so he could hear a message from you.”

23So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Peter Visits Cornelius

24The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. 26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together. 28He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”

30Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour.g Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me 31and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been remembered before God. 32Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

33So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has instructed you to tell us.”

Good News for the Gentiles

34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. 36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

37You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him.

39We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, 40God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— 41not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

The Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit
(Acts 19:1–7)

44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. 45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God.

The Prophecy of Simeon Luke 2: 25-32

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts.e And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,

28Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

29“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

30For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” 

My own testimony in allegorical form of my journey in the spiritual desert. https://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2017/09/mp3-audio-file-update-to-joshua-tree.html

Pastors’ Point of View (PPOV) no. 365 - Prophecy update. Dr. Andy Woods....

The Wounds of my Lord Jesus

 The Wounds of my Lord Jesus  

 Personal Reflection 

Written and published  by Jean-Louis Mondon

The Greatest Commandment 
…36“Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.… Matthew 22:37

It is impossible to love the Lord our God without the supreme act of the and divine surrender and sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross.

Can we find a vivid illustrative lesson on the wounds of our Lord and their being the means of our freedom and our ability to love God in return as an act of worship? I think we can.

Can we apply the wounds of Jesus to the different parts of his body as silent albeit powerful witnesses visible to demonstrate to the whole world what kind of love it is.

Again, we can, why?

For God So Loved the World
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,   that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16

Let us examine the wounds and their significance as symbols to meditate and reflect on the love and worship due to God the Father and His beloved son Lord Jesus.

First, the “Head wounds”

would represent the seat of the mind and the thinking, volition and emotional processes in man and woman used to love our God and our fellow man.

What better companion than this excerpt from my favorite hymn:

“O Sacred Head Now Wounded”, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded, with thorns thine only crown. …. What language shall I borrow, to thank thee, dearest Friend, for this, thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end? Oh, make me thine forever And should I fainting be
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.”

The wounds on his back caused by being scourged with the lashing of the whip as a form of punishment although he committed no sin. 

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Selah 20Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.…Psalm  68:19 

As the Suffering Servant, surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. 5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.… Isaiah 53:5

Then, the wounds on the wrists representing strength in action to perform good works in all areas of life to help, the poor and needy, the handicapped and the elderly and those who suffer persecution and injustice. The list is too long to mention everything that God has made us adequate with his gifting and instructions given to us in his Word.

And feet, with which we walk to where the Lord leads us, guided by the Holy Spirit and His Word that is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105. 

Lastly, the Wound to the Side

It represents Jesus broken heart in His Lament over Jerusalem
…Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! Luke 13:34

How is to possible, then, to love the Lord our God?

Since Love is a fruit, how does this fruit that encompasses 9 fruits of the Spirit?

By staying connected to the vine. In John 15, Jesus declares: I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.... If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples. ...You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. This is My command to you: Love one another.

In conclusion

This is exactly what the Lord Jesus did by dying on the cross to free us to obey the command to love Him with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. And remember:

Love Comes from God
…18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 

If you want to read more about the importance of the love of Jesus and the Word of God click on this link: https://thelightseed.blogspot.com/2017/10/mp3-audio-file-of-wounds-of-my-friend.html

Jean- Louis

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