“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
What do you suppose the Apostle meant when he talked about being in Jesus? When I was living in Nebraska, some called me a ‘cornhusker’. I also live in the United States and there were people in Haiti who referred to me as an ‘American’. There were times when they called me that and it was not in a good light as they were upset because I might have been sharing some of my cultural ideas that conflicted with their Haitian culture or as I would learn from Dr. Doug Rutt later, conflict with their African culture.
The children in the attached photo attend the Lutheran school at Bergeaud which is located in the Les Cayes District in the southwest part of Haiti. These 37 lives, you and I are in Christ Jesus and consequently we are called ‘Christians’. When we arise in the morning we awake as Christians. When we go to bed at night, we pray the Lord Jesus our soul to keep. Being referred to as a Christian is certainly more important than called a ‘cornhusker’. There are people in Oklahoma that will tell you that it is much better to be called basically anything than a ‘cornhusker’ but that is another story. Nothing in this world can be more important to us and to the children in Bergeaud than being in Jesus. The hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’ which was written by Fanny Crosby (1820-1915) provides an excellent response of what our hearts should proclaim every morning upon rising and every night before retiring.
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay