Scripture Memory Monday

I mentioned briefly about the Out of the Boat Bible study that I was able attend last week.  Tollie Meggs, the founder of this ministry and leader behind these monthly studies, 

shared a story that left quite an impression on me.  

She mentioned about her recent mission trip overseas,

specifically regarding the reaction of those in a remote village 

who were hearing the name of Jesus for the first time.

She mentioned how she and her team strung up a sheet between two trees,

cranked up a generator and began showing the Jesus Film via movie projector.

(And God had graciously turned the rain off for the first time that week 

so that this event could take place.)

She said that as she was seeing the footage of this film for about the 100th time, 

the life of our perfect Savior depicted on screen was anything but familiar to these nationals.

First of all, seeing Jesus multiply the few fishes and loaves of bread

to feed the five thousand was overwhelming to them. 

They couldn't fathom seeing food like this and in such abundance!

But she said watching these people ingest a portrayal of 

the perfect Son of God being sacrificed for the sins of a world that hated him

was unforgettable.

In horror and disbelief, 

so many of them lay prostrate, pulling their hair and screaming over and over, 

"Not the good man!"

They could not believe what they were seeing.

A perfect, sinless man

dying on behalf of the sins of the world . . . 

UNFATHOMABLE!!

Tollie Meggs said she was convicted of how familiar this reality had become to her.

I was convicted as well.

The fact that the perfect Son of God 

has draped His righteousness over my life,

granting me salvation and justification (just as if I'd never even sinned!!) . . .   

This is truly the biggest, most shocking thing that's ever happened in history!

And the response of those villagers 

is EXACTLY what my response should be on a daily basis. 

Furthermore, 

what less than my ALL would be good enough to say 

"THANK YOU!"

for what Christ has done for me.

If I have truly encountered Christ, 

having my sins forgiven and His robe of righteousness wrapped around my wretchedness, 

such a reality will affect every part of my life - 

will it not?

If I have been overwhelmed by the reality of Christ's sacrifice on my behalf, 

He should be nothing less than my greatest Treasure in this life.

And if He's my greatest Treasure, 

my children (and all those around me) 

WILL see and hear and know 

- because of the way I live my life day in and day out -

 that nothing else in this life can satisfy the longings of our souls!

Oh, for grace to live this way.

So my prayer today

is that I will never get over what Christ has done on my behalf;

that I will never again be passive regarding His sacrifice for me, 

taking the debt that I owed but could have never paid; 

that I would never think lightly of the fact that 

"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God."

(2 Corinthians 5:21);

that I would tell of His glory to my children

and live a life before them and others that

is permeated with a passion for my Savior!

Well, all of this leads me to the passage that the Lord led me to this morning 

that I wish to ponder this week . . . and for the rest of my life!

[1] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. [2] Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. [4] One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. [5] On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. [6] They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. [7] They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. [8] The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [9] The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. [10] All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! [11] They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, [12] to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

PSALM 145:1-13 (ESV)

Now as far as memorizing . . .

I'd love to memorize it all!

Yet realistically speaking, I know I won't be able to get that all down this week.

So I decided to focus on verses 4 and 5,

hence the green highlight.

Yet the passage was to good to gut,

and I hope that you are as blessed by this Truth as I was this morning.

May we indeed together

extol our God and King

and bless His name forever and ever (v.1)

for the grace and mercy He has extended to us through the sacrifice of His Son,

Jesus Christ.