The Grandest Theme, No. 304
The Grandest Theme!
“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
What is the central theme of the Bible? It is the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, upon the cross. The Old Testament Scriptures point to it from Genesis 3:15 onward. The daily sacrifices, with the shedding of blood, from Exodus onward, reveal God’s ultimate intention. It is the highest theme of the New Testament. Shouldn’t it then be the most preeminent premise in my life? And if so, shouldn’t it be the grandest theme of our home?
The old hymn says, “'Tis the grandest theme thro' the ages rung; ‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue; ’Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung.” This challenges me to the core. Is my family truly aware that this theme is the “glory” of our home? Do people who come into my home pick this up? What about your home?
How can we bring the cross of Christ to the fore in our home each day? I am thinking of a few practical ways:
1. Thank Him Morning and Evening
God always gives practical ways to reveal His truth. In Old Testament days the children of Israel sacrificed a “lamb without blemish” every morning and every evening (Exodus 29:38-39). We know that this pointed to the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. God made sure that it was not a haphazard habit, but a daily ritual. He wanted to get it into the very core of their beings.
I think this is a good principle for us too. We show our children that the cross is our grandest theme when we come before the Lord as a family every morning and evening, and during our prayer times, thank the Lord for His salvation and His blood that was shed for our sins.
2. Sing Hymns and Songs about the Blood
We have many wonderful worship songs that we sing at church today. However, we rarely sing songs about the blood of Jesus. Why should this be when it is the preeminent focus of God’s Word?
Perhaps you could resurrect some of the old hymns that speak about the blood and teach them to your children. Sing a hymn about the cross of Jesus or the blood of Christ at your Family Devotions morning and evening. If it is the grandest theme in our family, won’t we want to sing about it?
We only have salvation through Jesus’ blood, we only have deliverance through His blood and we only have healing through His blood. Let your children grow up singing hymns like, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
3. Take Communion
When I grew up, we took communion faithfully every week at church. Today, many churches only take communion once a month, or even less. I don’t think we can do it too much.
Every time we partake of the bread and the wine (or the grape juice) we remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). You don’t have to wait to do this at church. You can do it in your home. You can do it as many times as you want.
We love to remember the cross of Christ when we take the bread and wine at our weekly Shabbat meal.
4. Relate the Cross to your Life
Jesus’ death upon the cross was not only a fact in history. It relates to every moment and every situation of our lives.Jesus didn’t pour out His life and blood to leave us in the bondage of our sin; He died to deliver us from the bondage to self and this evil world (2 Corinthians 5:15 and Galatians 1:4).
The cross touches every facet of our lives. In every situation we are either “crucified with Christ” and die to our stubbornness, selfishness and “own way” or we refuse the power of the cross in our lives (Galatians 2:20). As we learn to acknowledge that we are “crucified with Christ” and instead allow His life to live through us, we will walk in victory.
We will also show to our children that the power of the cross still works in the 21st century. We will not only show by example, but teach our children how to apply the cross to their lives in every selfish and sinful situation they face. This is the most powerful teaching you can give to your children.
5. Memorize Salvation Scriptures
Teach your children basic Scriptures about the cross of Jesus Christ and His blood.
Make the cross be the grandest theme in your home.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Dear Jesus, I thank you for being the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I thank you that you shed your precious, pure blood for my sin. I thank you that your sacrificial death works powerfully in me every day because I was crucified when you were crucified and now I live in resurrection life as you do. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
“Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
SOME SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:7; 11-28; 10:4-10; 19-20; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11.
SOME HYMNS ABOUT THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS (you can check out the words by doing a Google search).
Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
There’s Power in the Blood
There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
Are you washed in the Blood?
Wounded for me
I’m not ashamed to own my Lord
My Hope is built on Nothing Less
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
King of my life, I Crown Thee Now
“Man of Sorrows,” what a Name
Alas! And did my Saviour Bleed?
Jesus, Keep me Near the Cross
Calvary Covers it All
Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week. If you are printing this devotion and need it to be smaller, highlight and change to a smaller font.
If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by going to http://bit.ly/WomensEmailDevotional
To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies Devotional, or to change your email address information, use the link provided at the bottom of every email sent out by Above Rubies.