September 10, 2021 (Friday)
When I was a college student, I heard a message from Dr. R.H. Dilday, a Texas Baptist leader, whose son, Robert H. Dilday, later became president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The message that day from Dr. Dilday included his relating an experience of being in a local church, sort of touring the buildings, when he came upon the nursery. He paused at the door, and saw the nursery worker at a bed that held a baby, holding a picture of Jesus with one hand and pointing to it with the other hand, looking into the eyes of the infant, saying, “Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.” I recall Dr. Dilday pausing long enough to look into our faces, saying, “I like that! I like that!”
The deep impression his words made upon me were lasting, emphasizing that our work in the church is all about Jesus. The gospel is all about Jesus. The cross that adorns countless church steeples around the world is all about Jesus: His sinless life, His atoning death, His sad burial that confirmed His death, His glorious resurrection, and His certain return to gather his people and take them home to Heaven.
This truth was emphasized in the preaching and teaching of the Apostle Paul. He wrote, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church.
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed (1 Corinthians 15:3-7 NKJV).
TELL ME THE STORY OF JESUS
Words, Fanny Crosby
Music, John Sweeny
1880
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels in chorus,
Sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard.
Fasting alone in the desert,
Tell of the days that are past,
How for our sins He was tempted,
Yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
Tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
Homeless, rejected and poor.
Refrain
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
Writhing in anguish and pain;
Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
Tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
Clearer than ever I see;
Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
“Love paid the ransom for me.”
Refrain
Tell how He’s gone back to heaven,
Up to the right hand of God:
How He is there interceding
While on this earth we must trod.
Tell of the sweet Holy Spirit
He has poured out from above;
Tell how He’s coming in glory
For all the saints of His love.
Refrain