April 23, 2020 (Thursday)
Have you heard the joyful sound of good news? When you feel you are at the end of your road and cannot take another step, the good news is, “Jesus saves!” What a joyful sound are those enthusiastic words: Jesus saves! When He saves you, he forgives your sins, he prepares a place in Heaven for you, He gives you a new nature, He begins to live in you through His Spirit, He makes all things new. Jesus saves!
When Jesus saves us, He transforms us:
2 Corinthians 5:17–Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.Ezekiel 36:26–And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Romans 12:2–Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Philippians 1:6–And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Luke 6:43-45–“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Psalm 139:23-24–Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Jeremiah 32:38-40–And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.
(WE HAVE HEARD THE JOYFUL SOUND)
Priscilla J. Owens (1829-1907)
William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)
We have heard the joyful sound:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the gladness all around:
Jesus saves!Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land,
climb the steeps and cross the waves;
onward! ’tis our Lord’s command:
Jesus saves!
Waft it on the rolling tide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Tell to sinners far and wide:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing, you islands of the sea;
Echo back, you ocean caves;
Earth shall keep her jubilee:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Sing above the battle strife:
Jesus saves!Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life,
Jesus saves!Jesus saves!
Sing it softly through the gloom,
when the heart for mercy craves;
sing in triumph o’er the tomb:
Jesus saves!
Give the winds a mighty voice:
Jesus saves!Jesus saves!
Let the nations now rejoice:
Jesus saves!Jesus saves!
Shout salvation full and free;
highest hills and deepest caves;
this our song of victory:
Jesus saves!