Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily devotional where we are in our Summer Inspiration series. Today, we reflect on why rejoicing and taking refuge in Christ are at the heart of Christianity.
To watch this devotional, follow the link below:
‘The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!’ (Psalms 64:10)
What is the essence of Christianity? Is it seeking to be like Christ? Seeking to serve the poor? Being devoted to reading our bibles? There are many good things that are expressions and outcomes - fruits - of being a Christian that must not be mistaken for the heart of things.
Our words for Psalm 64, beautifully express the essence of Christianity. To be righteous one must ‘rejoice’ and ‘take refuge’ in Jesus. Salvation requires that we be made righteous in God’s sight - justification - and this is by faith alone; faith in Jesus could be summarised as ‘rejoicing in’ and ‘taking refuge in’ Jesus. A Christian loves the cross. The Christian knows that apart from the cross they are lost.
Recently we celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when the allied troops invaded enemy-held France. At this anniversary, there was overflowing honour and thanks given to the few remaining men and women who had been involved. None of us, I imagine, were there in 1945. However, we benefit from their bravery. Likewise, the Christian did nothing for their salvation! We were not there! Jesus went to the cross for us and may we rejoice and take refuge in Jesus. This is what the righteous do and it pleases God and is good for our souls.
To become a Christian is to ‘rejoice and take refuge’ in Jesus, and to live a healthy Christian life, we must continually rejoice and take refuge in Jesus. I love these words from the hymn, Rock of Ages, Cleft for me:
‘Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace: Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Saviour, or I die.’
Today, can we say that we ‘rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him’? Those who are righteous and who are upright in heart do this as a lifestyle. There are many good things that flow out of Christianity, but there is only one fountain at its centre. The cross is at the centre. May we rejoice and take refuge in Him continually.
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday was entitled, Rejoice and take refuge. From Psalm 64, we saw that the reality of our Christianity is seen by what we rejoice and take refuge in - a Christian, above all else, rejoices (celebrates) and takes refuge (seeks salvation) in the cross.
Please read Psalms 64:10 and discuss:
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What are the various things that people put at the heart of Christianity and what you say is at the heart of Christianity and why?
How do you ‘rejoice’ in the gospel?
How do you take ‘refuge’ in the gospel?
What does Ephesians 6:11-15 say about how we are to protect ourselves with the gospel?
SIV - How is this text our message to those outside of faith?
SIV - How will ‘rejoicing and taking refuge’ in Jesus lead us into faithful mission?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend s
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