Jesus Saves
I’m from an old Southern Baptist church and have been a “southern Baptist” ever since i gave my heart and the rest o’ my life to Christ, way back when i was about 13. Just so we’re clear, being a “Baptist” dont save nobody from their sins or separation from God … it’s our “relationship” with Jesus Christ that does. Same as if you’re a Methodist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, Catholic or any of the other hundreds of “non-denominational” churches out there. Until and unless we start with THAT FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH, there won’t be any salvation or change ( Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:17 ). When Jesus said, “ I am the way, the truth and the life, and nobody gets to the Father except through me”, He wasn’t just whistlin dixie ( John 14:6 ). Unless and until we recognize this fact of the matter, nothing else will make any sense. So…back to growing up in a Baptist church … there was certain things you just didn’t do. You didn’t express any emotions, unless it was silent crying … you didn’t holler anything out loud and you surely didn’t raise a hand. That was viewed as “drawing attention to yourself”, and away from the message being brought to you by the pastor. A baby crying or an adolescent speaking out loud enough for half the congregation to hear, was subject to frowns and judgement from those who thought silence was next to godliness … it didn’t matter that the child was needin to go to the bathroom or that baby had colic. I can recall the first time i saw an arm raised in church … it was a more seniorly lady that wore a red beret ( maybe it was raspberry 😁 “Prince”🥴)… and i can remember thinking that her boldness was exemplary … my heart swelled a little… and i got a lump in my throat and wished that I’d be so brave and unashamed to express my faith. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve stopped worrying about what “people” think and worry more about what God thinks. I finally figured out why we were “at church” in the first place … it was a place to corporately worship and praise GOD, our Creator, and lift high the name of Jesus … all the while, studying and learning how better to live out the abundant life He died for us to live ! Talk about “eye-opening” ! By focusing on GOD, the folks around you are out of “the crosshairs”. It’s you and Him…and whatever the preacher’s preachin, is coming straight from GOD. When we’re given the opportunity to praise through singing, we’re singin to Him, and He likes it, no matter how flat or off-key it sounds to our neighbor sittin close to us. When the words on that big-screen or page becomes “personal” to us, we realize the privilege of bein able to praise through our voices … and we have an audience of One … our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ ! I picture Him coming to His feet, staring straight at me, like He did Stephen ( Acts 7:55-56 ), when my lifted praises are directly to Him. I can see that vast army of angels joining me in the chorus as my words are directed straight to Him and what all He’s done for me and mine ! As i was reading about Moses and his battle with the Amalekites…and how as long as his arms were raised, the Israelites would win the battle … but when his arms got tired and he lowered em, they would lose… i thought how important it is to have a “Hur” and an “Aaron”… friends that hold our arms up for us when our strength is weak ( Exodus 17:8-16 ). I hope, before i go home, i can witness all those that gather in the name of Jesus, raising hands towards heaven and praising unashamedly…glorifying GOD wholeheartedly ! “If you’re ashamed of Me and My word when you’re around people, I’ll be ashamed of you before the Father. “ — Jesus ( Luke 9:26 ) I hope and pray you’re not missing out on opportunities to lift high those hands to the Only One worthy of our praise.