Welcome to Hank’s Place –
Today is Palm Sunday. Some time ago Jesus entered Jerusalem to the adulations of the people. They were onboard to RECEIVE Him as king and promised Messiah. They shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David!” They were thinking of an earthly kingdom – God had something better in mind. They cut palm branches and placed them on His path to the Temple. I live in Florida where palm trees and their branches are everywhere. They are quite sturdy.
In a few days a catastrophe would occur. As though Darkness had become king. Jesus would be betrayed, beaten, crucified, killed and buried. Disaster for Jesus and His followers. But that’s not how it played out. My friend, just because things are one way now doesn’t mean they are going to stay that way. There is always opportunity for the “But God…” and His bushel of promises coming true in our lives!
Jesus was going to Jerusalem – to the Cross – to bring in a New Covenant. A covenant where the grace of God would abound. Though abounding, this Grace found in the New Covenant will do no one any good unless it is believed and received in the heart.
Under the old covenant, the emphasis was do, do, do, but in the new it is done, done, done. In the old, people were encouraged to make promises to God. In the new we proclaim God’s promises to us. The new covenant is not about what we will do or give to God. It’s about what God has done and given to us. And for that we RECEIVE.
In the old the focus was our doing, our keeping the laws, and our sacrifices. But in the new, our focus is on BELIEVING and RECEIVING. Beginning with RECEIVING Christ Jesus as Lord – Colossians 2:6.
Here are some examples, with a shout out to Dr Paul Ellis for compiling:
We receive the word of God Mark 4:16,
We receive the love of God 1 John 4:19,
We receive grace of God Romans 5:17,
We receive faith from God 2 Peter 1:1,
We receive salvation from God Romans 6:23,
We receive the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38,
We receive our righteousness from God Romans 5:17,
We receive peace from John 14:27,
We receive wisdom from God James 1:5,
We receive the crown of life James 1:12,
We receive the reward of our inheritance Colossians 3:24, and
We receive rest from God Matthew 11:28–29.
My dear friend, have you received from the abundance of God’s grace?
This Palm Sunday, believe in Christ Jesus, RECEIVE Him as Lord, and continue to receive all His precious promises — you’ll COME ALIVE!
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