Chrissy Siggee

TO WANT NOTHING

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  James 1:2-4

How should we view the trials that we go through?  First we should reflect on the reasons why we are facing them. Unfortunately, for most of us, our questioning comes from our human form of questioning of the—‘why me?’ aspect.  This is of course is just questioning God. Often this type of thinking easily moves into anger. This is the exact opposite of how we are directed to respond.

We are told to “count it all joy.” Now that’s seems a strange statement. If someone were to teach me to do that when facing trials, I would be tempted to call him an idiot. This would of course reveal only an immaturity and the unbiblical nature of my biblical and spiritual thinking.

We should view our trials with joyfulness, knowing what is really happening. That is, when we are being tried, our faith is being tested. What does that mean? When we face a challenge, do we respond by what we see and feel—or by what we believe to be true? If we are being tested it should increase our stability, our steadfastness and our faith.

How does that matter?

When steadfastness is developed in us we are complete— that is to want nothing.

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

RESURECTION SUNDAY – THE TRUTH

1 Corinthians 15:14-22 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (NIV)

Christians worldwide celebrate the resurrection of their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on Easter Sunday. Christianity teaches that the author and creator of the faith is alive today. No other religion of the world makes such an amazing claim. Other religions may claim that the “spirit” of their founder lives in his religious teachings, but Christians declare that Jesus Christ lives today—bodily.

True biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus really died AND really rose from the dead–physically. Jesus rose bodily as well as spiritually from the grave. He then appeared alive to a variety of people on many different times over a period of 40 days. Christianity further teaches that after these indisputable “physical” appearances, Jesus Christ “physically” left this earth and promised to return “physically” some day.

John 14:1-3 says, “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.

Acts 1:9-12 describes what the disciples saw on the Mount of Olives: “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. (NIV)

If there was no foundation for the Christian faith, if Jesus Christ did not die on the cross, if He didn’t rise from the dead, then the whole basis of the Christian faith would be—empty.

Christian faith holds that Jesus was resurrected from the dead bodily, ascended into heaven bodily, lives today in glory in a body, and will someday return to this earth bodily.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Father, thank you for dying on the cross for us that we may be saved from eternal death. We praise you this Resurrection day for the faith of the Christian church and the hope of your return. Amen

© Chrissy Siggee March 13th, 2010

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.

HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE

John 20:18-20
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.

Jesus never hid his scars from His disciples, nor does he hide them from anyone today. He bears the marks of His passion. They prove His identity, proclaim His victory and are the emblems of His authority as Savior and King.

The cross is not only the symbol of atonement but of excellence and goodness—an exquisite example of love. It whispers peace within but calls for effort without. It has a purpose as well as a message for the sinner.

Christ died for all that they may no longer live unto themselves but unto Him who for our sake died and rose again.

It is remarkable that His scars were the only thing Jesus showed His disciples after His resurrection. By His scars they recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread at Emmaus, even when they failed to recognize him on the road in His appearance, His speech and His features. – Luke 24:13-16

By His scars, Thomas was convicted of His unbelief a week later and cried “My Lord and my God.” – John 20:28-29

His scarred hands and His side are the token and seal of our peace with God and irresistible call of service and sacrifice.

Our Lord and our Savior, we thank You for giving up your life for us on the cross of pain and shame. We thank You that You took the beatings and bore the nails for us so we may be saved. Amen.

“And we will know Him by the nail prints in His hands” – Unknown

© Chrissy Siggee

Scripture Verses used are from the King James Version of the Bible

STANDING IN THE SHADOWS

V1
Are your crosses too heavy to carry;
And burdens too heavy to bear?

Are there heartaches and tears and anguish;
And there’s no one who seems to care?

Chorus
Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus,
He’s the Friend who always cares and understands.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.

V2
Are there shadows of deep disappointment,
And trusts that have proven untrue?

Has the darkness of night settled round you
Has your hope and your faith wavered too?

Chorus
Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus,
He’s the Friend who always cares and understands.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.

V3
Has the storm over shadowed your sunshine,
And life lost attraction for you?

Have the dreams that you cherished been broken,
Is you soul filled with bitterness too?

Chorus
Standing somewhere in the shadows you’ll find Jesus,
He’s the Friend who always cares and understands.

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him
And you’ll know Him by the nail prints in His hands.

- Author Unknown

THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD – The devotion

Mark 15:25-28
And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.

We have covered already the cruelty of inhuman treatment of Jesus by the soldiers, servants and the people, who assembled to witness his beating. Much can be said again about the unwarranted punishment my Lord received prior to His crucifixion. We have also read and heard repeatedly of the death of Christ. Many of us have seen the “Passion of the Christ” movie. Without playing down the significance of the crucifixion itself in any way, let’s move on to the mysteries of His death.

The message of the cross is indeed a mystery. The message can be learned through the Scriptures, movies and witnessing. Prophecies and teaching was recorded throughout the Old Testament; including the Psalms.

“I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:4-10

Yet…it’s not only that we see in the death of Jesus the highest demonstration of God’s love, but also of His infinite sorrow and compassion. The mystery of the depths. “But as far as the east is from the west, so shall he remove our sin”. (paraphrased) Not even an earthly father can pay the penalty of his child’s transgression, nor can any man pay the price of sin of another.

When Paul speaks of the suffering of Jesus on the cross, he deals with facts so awe-inspiring that he calls them: “the depths of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:10) These mysteries are so deep that they are unfathomable of all human thinking – even more unfathomable as the deepest, unreachable, bottomless ocean. This act of love is beyond measure. But, by His Holy Spirit, God reveals it to even the youngest of children, the most simple minded, and the educated. His love for us is infinite. Although we cannot understand these mysteries, we thank Him with absolute gratefulness and humility.

My hope, my strength, my redeemer, my God, my King and my all…they crucified my Lord.

© Chrissy Siggee

THEY CRUCIFIED MY LORD – The Poem

Beaten and humiliated,
They led my Lord away
To the mount of death—
He was nailed and hung
On a wooden cross—
Naked and shamed
Like a common thief.

They mocked

They cursed

They laughed

Bleeding head hung low,
Nail ripped hands and feet
A body slashed and torn—
Blood flowed down
Onto the rugged ground—
Pain and dread
Painted on His face.

Shame

Sorrow

Shunned

Blamed and disgraced,
All purity discredited
Guilt and sin He bore—
My beautiful Jesus,
You did this for me—
You bled and died
So I could live.

They seized His clothes

They pierced His side

They crucified my Lord

© Chrissy Siggee