today's meditation (Psalm 29) Making Jesus our Personal King

(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)

(Psalm 29:1-11)   Ascribe to the Lord, sons of the mighty,

     Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2   Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
     Worship the Lord in holy attire.

3   The voice of the Lord is on the waters;
     The God of glory thunders,
     The Lord is over many waters.
4   The voice of the Lord is powerful,
     The voice of the Lord is majestic.
5   The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
     Yes, the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon in pieces.
6   He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
     And Sirion like a young wild ox.
7   The voice of the Lord divides flames of fire.
8   The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
     The Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9   The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth 
     And strips the forests bare;
     And in His temple everything says, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sat as King at the flood;
     Yes, the Lord sits as King forever.
11 The Lord will give strength to His people;
     The Lord will bless His people with peace.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

Recently, I had a long discussion with someone about faith and religion.  They felt that there wasn't anyone who really hated God, and most people believed in God.  But they also believed that all roads lead to "God" and "heaven"... whoever or whatever that is.  And they also felt very strongly that there wasn't any hell.  Although they admitted that they wavered and that they weren't 100% sure.. of anything.

Anyone who is not a believer has a difficult time understanding that everyone is religious, and whoever or whatever comes first in their lives is their god and their "religion".  All religions and cults require people to do or give something in order to work their way to some sort of higher level.  Meanwhile, besides being 100% true and trustworthy,  Christianity (following Christ Jesus) is the complete opposite.  God reaches out to us and offers His free gift of salvation.  To receive this gift only requires that a person believes, and humbles their heart, realizing that they are a sinner in need of forgiveness.    

We cannot earn our way into heaven.  To get to heaven, we must be holy, as God is holy.  BUT, we all are born with a sin nature, which comes with a debt.  The debt of sin which everyone must pay is death.  And it is deposited into hell, where that payment is due.  The Lord Jesus has paid the price!!!  

Jesus became 100% man, while remaining 100% God, in order to take on all our sin, and willing die and go to hell, to pay the entire price for all debts.  Jesus also rose from the dead and had victory over death.  In this way we can see that through Him, we can have victory over death, and receive eternal life, and be clothed in His righteousness to be seen by Him as holy.  

Whether people believe this is true or not, or whether people accept Jesus as their personal King or not -the Lord Jesus Christ is King, and is Sovereign over everyone and everything.  He always has been, and He always will be.  To reject this gift and say that you don't need it... is the biggest demonstration of how you do NOT love God.  To love - is to accept and appreciate!  To trust and honor!  To want a personal relationship!  To embrace, with a desire to grow closer and closer!