We are enamored by Jesus.
In all we do, Jesus is our focus and our purpose. Jesus would rather go through the agony of the cross for us than to live in the glory of Heaven without us. We are overwhelmed by such a glorious and humble Savior. Throughout history peasants have died for the king, but only one time in history did the King died for the peasants. Jesus gave His all for us, and now we give our all back to Him. How can we do anything less but die to ourselves, pick up our cross daily, and follow Him. It’s all about Jesus (this is our purpose), it is all for Jesus (this is our prize), and it is all through Jesus (this is our power). Whether we are folding a bulletin, preaching a sermon, teaching a class, singing in the assembly, serving a meal, greeting a guest, or anything else, we are worshiping Jesus. If our focus ever crashes from Christ’s cross and empty tomb, back onto ourselves or one another, we repent and refocus, once again being enamored by the glory and humility of our Lord and Savior.
We are transformed by Jesus.
Scripture declares, “All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). We have called; now we are saved. The Bible also promises that “if anyone belongs to Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We were sinners, but now we are saints. We were spiritual rags, but now clothed in the salvation garments of Christ’s righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). We deserved condemnation, but now, through Jesus, there is no condemnation – none whatsoever! (Romans 8:1). We were lost in our sin and the deadness of our good works, but now we are saved and Heaven bound because of His work for us on the cross! (Ephesians 2:8-9) Our hearts have been quenched by the Living Waters of Jesus, our souls have been satisfied by the Bread of Life, our lives have been rescued from the pit of destruction. As if that were not enough, we have received His Holy Spirit, we have been empowered with spiritual gifts, and we have been granted full rights and authority as children of the King of Kings. We live with the hope of Heaven one day, and the help of His presence and power now. What a great salvation!
We are compelled by Jesus.
Now, we are compelled to share this salvation with everyone, everywhere! How can we do anything less in response to so great a salvation. With hearts overflowing with gratitude to Jesus, we reach out to those who are not yet saved. Our hearts break for those existing under underneath the inescapable sentence of death and despair. We believe the only reason we have not yet been received into Heaven, and the only reason Jesus has not yet returned to the earth, is that we might continue to reach out to sinners with the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that one more might be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)