OUR ALL & NOTHING GOD

There’s a beautiful verse in a Christian song that has been playing over and over in my mind like a last song syndrome.  “Everyone that sees You always want to know You.  And everyone that knows You always has a smile.”  For those of you who want to know God in a new way and thus wear a glowing smile, consider that God is an “all and nothing” God.

First of all, each of us needs to make a decision whom we are to serve, and whom we are to follow.  There are many “gods” competing for our affection and our allegiance, with each one calling us to obey them. There’s  the world and all that is worldly. There’s the flesh and all that seems “natural”, our inordinate desires. And there’s Satan himself.  And then there is Yahweh, God. Whether you are aware of it or not, you’ve already made a choice which god you are serving.

And if you haven’t yet made a purposeful, intentional commitment to turn from these other gods and to serve only Yahweh, God, then consider the following:

Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”  (John 15:5). Of course that doesn’t mean we can’t function as normal productive persons able to accomplish much, just like the millions who don’t believe in Jesus.  But in the context of living a life of sacrificial love, of enduring suffering for the sake of others and of the gospel, and certainly of saving our souls, this verse says it all. To repeat, Jesus says, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

Speaking of being able to love, oh how the world revolves around that word. But listen to what Paul the Evangelist writes: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”  And just to be clear, John writes: “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Translated: without God you cannot truly love. And no matter what you accomplish, without the love of God, you accomplish nothing. You can have the world and everything that’s in it, but without God, you gain nothing.  It’s your choice. 

Second point — and this ought to bring a smile to the face of the one who chooses to learn how to love God — if you believe in God as the one true God, and if you accept Jesus as our savior and redeemer and turn away from other gods, then all of the following is true:

• “All I have is yours.”  (John 17:10)

•  “With God, all things are possible.”  (Matt 19:26)

• “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  (Phil 4:13)

•  “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, and are called according to his purpose.” (Rom 8:28)

And once you choose “to love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your heart” (Matt 22:37), then “nothing will separate you from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ” (Rom 8:39). AMEN!

So, yon. You who believe in Jesus, smile naman dyan.  Good choice! Rejoice because God loves you! The rest of you, repent and believe in the gospel. It’s never too late.

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By the way, here’s a link to a YouTube video of that song I mentioned at the opening of this message.  It’s entitled “I Just Call You Mine,” by David Phelps.   

Here are the lyrics:

I JUST CALL YOU MINE

I pinch myself sometimes to make sure I’m not in a dream
That’s how it seems
I close my eyes and breathe in the sweetest moments I’ve ever known
It feels like home

And here I am I want to be your everything
There you are
Turning winter into spring

And everyone who sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone that knows you
Always has a smile

You’re a standing ovation after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
Yeah I just call you mine

I fall apart
Just a word from you just somehow seems to fix
Whatever’s wrong

Oh, you reach into the weakest moments
And remind me that I’m strong
You’ve got to know

I’d be a fool not to see you even worse
To forget that you’re more than I deserve

Cause everyone who sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone who knows you
Always has a smile

You’re a standing ovation after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine
Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

Nothing makes sense when you’re not here
As if my whole world disappears
Without you what’s the point of anything

Cause everyone who sees you
Always wants to know you
And everyone who knows you
Always has a smile

You’re the dream that I’ve been chasin’ after years of waiting
For a chance to finally shine

Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

Everyone calls you amazing
I just call you mine

Songwriters: JESS CLAYTON CATES, TY LACY, DENNIS MATKOSKY
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
For non-commercial use only.
Data From: LyricFind