Friday, October 30, 2020

Jesus: The Seed

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. -Galatians 3:19 NIV

Seed always produces the exact life that is inside it. It never fails. A corn seed will never grow into a peach tree, and an avocado seed will never produce a palm tree. As the Seed, Jesus is planted in your life. The produce of that Seed is not the life of your flesh or the life of the enemy. As the Seed grows, the life of Jesus will be expressed through you to others. You will think as He thinks—you will have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16); you will live as He lives—you will have the life of Christ (Galatians 2:20); you will love as He loves—you have the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14).

If we are having problems in our spiritual growth, the problem is not with the Seed. We must guard the life of the Seed and keep everything out of our lives that would hinder its growth and its fruit.

From the parable of the farmer sowing the seed we learn that unmanaged or neglected soil keeps the plant from taking root. The seed is snatched away or withers and dies. But, "the seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God's word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!" (Matthew 13:23 NLT).

...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Jesus: The Treasure

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. -2 Corinthians 4:6-8 NJKV

People often ask the question, "What's life all about?" Thankfully, God had the answer to that question long before anyone asked it.

What's life all about? It's about the Treasure, not the vessel; it's about His glory, not our appearance; it's about His love, not our niceness. Life is all about His purpose, not our plans; it's about His kingdom, not our agenda; it's about His reign, not our rights. It's not about our opinions, it's about His truth; it's not about our way, it's about His will; it's not about our efforts; it's about His life. To put it simply, it's all about Jesus.

Jesus Christ is God's treasure. He is more brilliant than any diamond, worth more than any jewel, more precious than any metal, more beautiful than any polished stone. His value will never diminish and His glory will never tarnish. His kingdom will never be conquered and His throne will never be overthrown.

To find Him is to find life's greatest treasure—He is everything good, true, glorious, right. Everything your heart could ever hope for. To possess all and not have Him is to be empty; to forsake all and have Him is to be fulfilled.
...
©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. All rights reserved.

Monday, October 26, 2020

Jesus: Our Passover

Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 1 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

"Christ our Passover" is a powerful truth. It tells us that what God did for Israel when the blood of the slain lamb was applied to the doorposts of their homes, God will do for us when we, by  faith, apply the blood of the Lamb of God to the doorposts of our hearts. The result was that Israel was saved from the wrath of God that fell upon Egypt in the judgment of death (Exodus 12). Jesus our Passover means that in Him we will be saved from the coming wrath of God and His final judgment. Our deliverance from God's wrath is a real thing. If God's deliverance is real, God's judgment is also real. We can thank God every day that He has extended His mercy to us, that the blood of His Son, our Passover, has been slain for us and that we have passed from death unto life.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, He kept the Passover every year. At the Last Supper, He didn't just take the bread; He was the bread, broken for us. When He took the wine, He told us it was His blood, shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

Today, every believer in Christ who partakes of communion celebrates God's everlasting feast of Passover. We will continue to do so until we celebrate it with Him, our Passover, in His kingdom.

...

©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

Friday, October 23, 2020

Jesus: The Foundation

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. -Isaiah 28:16 KJV

We cannot put our trust in people, in things, or in the systems of this world. The world's greatest kingdoms have fallen; the world's biggest armies have known defeat; the world's noblest kings have lost their power; the world's mightiest warriors have lost their strength. Everything in the world will suffer decay; everything is temporary. There is nothing that is safe or secure that is based upon man or his ways, and lives that are built upon poor foundations will collapse in the storms of life. Jesus, our Foundation, is the only one we can build our lives upon and not face ruin.

The Bible tells us that God will shake everything that is shakable; only what cannot be shaken will remain. Jesus Christ is the solid foundation of our faith. Nothing you have in Christ can be lost or destroyed when you stand upon His solid ground.

Let you life stand on Christ, for His foundation is unshakable.
Let your hope rest in Christ, for His foundation is unmovable.
Let your heart trust in Christ, for His foundation is indestructible.
...

My hope is build on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness...
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand.
-Edward Mote

...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Jesus: The Arm of the Lord

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
-Isaiah 52:10 KJV

The Arm of the Lord is such an awesome name. Through this name God is telling us that His Son is the extension of His might and the expression of His heart.

As a young boy, I was in awe of the size of my grandfather's muscles and the strength of his powerful arms. Many times he would flex his right arm and let me wrap my hands around it. When I did, he would demonstrate his strength by lifting me off the ground. I never failed to be in wonder of it all.

The Arm of the Lord reminds us of His tender care. It is His strong arm that can lift us, hold us, and keep us close to His heart. His arm has the power to anoint the eyes of a blind man and restore His sight; His arm has the tenderness to embrace a little child and draw him to His side. His arm holds the rod and the staff that give us comfort.

His arm also speaks of His mighty work of redemption when He died on the cross. The arm of the Lord is extended, not to forbid you access to His grace, but to our His grace upon you in abundance. It is His arm of salvation that pulls you out of the miry clay and lifts you out of the horrible pit of sin and rebellion. The might of all other arms will fail to save. It is His arm alone that can rescue you.
...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Monday, October 19, 2020

Jesus: The Shepherd and Bishop

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25 KJV

Sheep need a shepherd because sheep need constant care. Sheep can't live in the wild; they would never survive. Wolves have no fear of sheep; it is only the Shepherd who can protect against them. "For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." (Ezekiel 34:11 KJV). In the same way that a shepherd provides watchful care over sheep, a bishop is a caregiver providing watchful care over God's people.

Sometimes, people who don't know us very well will say, "I am looking out for you." That comment sounds sincere, but it doesn't bring us a great deal of comfort. How can we have confidence that someone is looking out for us if they don't know us?

Jesus is not only the Shepherd who finds the lost sheep, but He is also the Bishop, the overseer. He knows and intimately cares for everyone who comes to Him. He watches over your soul, not just your physical needs. He cares about your well-being, your wholeness, and your wellness. He has joyfully taken the responsibility to look after you and tend your soul. 
...

We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, 
Be the guardian of our way;
Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, 
Seek us if we go astray;
-Dorothy A. Thrupp
...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Jesus: The Bread of Life

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

I am the bread of life. John 6:48 NIV

"Bread" is another name for the provision God has given us to fully satisfy our spiritual hunger. Spiritual hunger is a good thing, but our spirits must feed upon the right diet, the true Bread that comes from heaven. In Isaiah 55 we read that God invites us to come to Him and feast upon His perfect provision. He tells us that His bread is available to us without money and without price, and we can freely receive all He desires to give. God's bread, God's provision, God's fullness is found in Jesus Christ.

Our spiritual daily Bread is made to be eaten, not to be set on a shelf and admired. Jesus is the spiritual Bread we eat. He is fresh, never stale, never dry, never void of nutrients. He is the perfect food, fully satisfying our every need. 

All who are spiritually hungry have been called to partake of the life of Jesus by faith. Jesus is God's manna to us. Like manna—the daily food God provided to the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness—coming down from heaven, so Jesus comes to us from the Father. We don't need to store Him away and save Him for another day. He is ours every morning and He will sustain us throughout the day.

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till I want no more.
-William Williams

...
©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Roy Lessin. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Jesus: The Alpha and Omega

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. -Revelation 1:8 KJV

Jesus Christ is the eternal God. He existed before all things and He created all things. He is the "Alpha." Jesus will always be, even beyond time, and He brings all things to their determined end. He is the "Omega." What began with His word will end at His feet.

photo by Marina J Bromley, fall leaves, quote by Roy Lessin

Jesus was the first and last—
He has the first and last word in our decisions;
He has the final say in every conversation.
His direction is the beginning point of our journey;
His destination is the place we want to arrive.

He holds first place in our hearts.
He is our first priority and final authority;
He is our first and only option.
He starts and ends things in our lives;
He sustains us and brings things to completion.

He is the sunrise of our morning;
He is the sunset of our day.
His mercy greets us when we wake;
His goodness covers us in the night.
...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Monday, October 12, 2020

Jesus: The Advocate

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. - 1 John 2:1 NASB

As your Advocate, Jesus is the one who pleads your case. He is your comforter in heaven, just as the Holy Spirit is your comforter on earth. He who knows your sins is also the one who has identified Himself with your sins. His voice pleads on your behalf as your Righteous Redeemer. Because Jesus is for you, it means that nothing and no one can be against you. Because He is your defender, you do not need to try to defend yourself.

Satan's accusations against you are many. Jesus does not plead your innocence, but as your Advocate, He presents irrefutable evidence of the atonement that He has made on your behalf. As someone once said, "When you ask Jesus to represent you as your heavenly lawyer, remember that He has never lost a case."



Before a trial, a defendant is asked to plead one of two ways: "guilty" or "not guilty." For those who are in Christ, there is another plea that can be made, "I plead the blood of Jesus Christ on my behalf." You can rest your case in His hands. It is because of His shed blood that you are forgiven, cleansed, redeemed, and justified. You no longer need to live under condemnation or fear.
...
©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Friday, October 9, 2020

Jesus: Man of Sorrows

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. -Isaiah 53:3

Jesus sought the lowly place so He could lift you up. He was rejected so you could be accepted. He was acquainted with grief so you could be comforted. His heart was broken so yours could be healed.

One of the ways that we see the heart of Jesus is through His meekness. Meekness is not weakness. His meekness means that He was totally submitted to the will of the Father. He who is Almighty and could have called an army of angels to rescue Him chose instead to learn obedience through the things He suffered. Meekness is heard in the prayer that Jesus prayed, "Not My will, but Thine be done."

We can see Jesus' meekness in what He didn't do as well as in what He did do.

He didn't defend Himself;
He didn't exalt Himself;
He didn't revile others when He was reviled;
He didn't slander others when He was falsely accused;
He didn't turn His back away from those who beat Him;
He didn't hide His face from those who spit upon Him;
He didn't descend from the cross when He was mocked, challenged, and ridiculed.

The meekness, the sorrow, and the suffering of Jesus mean that you never need to question His love for you.
...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Jesus: The Prince of Peace

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Knowing His peace, and having His peace rule in your heart day by day, is one of the greatest gifts Jesus can give to you. Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Jesus. The peace that He gives to you is not dependent upon the circumstances in your day but upon your relationship with Him. The peace Jesus gives doesn't have its source in what is going on around you but comes as a result of His life in you.

Jesus did not come into your heart to bring you worry, anxiety, or restlessness. He came to give you rest. His peace will guard your thoughts from worry and keep your heart from fear. Because of His peace, you can be in harmony with God's will and purpose for your life. Through His peace you can know victory over every enemy that would try to trouble you. You can have the greatest measure of contentment and the deepest level of inward rest because of His peace.

...

Drop Thy still dews of quietness till all our striving cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy Peace.
-John Greenleaf Whittier

...

©2011, 2020 Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Lisa Schlichtman. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Jesus: Everlasting Father

-Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called...The Everlasting Father. -Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Everything in Jesus and about Jesus is everlasting. He is not a temporary Savior who is filling in until someone else comes along. Nothing about Him will go out of date or become irrelevant. There will be no "new and improved" updates to God's redemption plan. 

In the world, things wear off, wear out, die out, or dry up. The fun or pleasure people experience at a party soon leaves them, and so they seek out a new party or experience that will bring them some measure of momentary satisfaction. But the reality of Jesus Christ in our hearts never becomes stale, empty, or meaningless. Jesus is everlasting joy, not momentary happiness. He is your joy today, and He will be your joy tomorrow.

All that Jesus was to you yesterday, He is today; all that He is to you today, He will always be, and more so as time goes by. Draw close to Him, and you will see more of His beauty; listen carefully to His voice, and you will hear Him speak new and glorious things; break bread with Him, and your heart will feast on His bounty; follow His footsteps, and He will lead you into the things that will last forever.

...
©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow. Photo by Marina Bromley. All rights reserved.

Friday, October 2, 2020

Jesus: Mighty God

 -Roy Lessin, Jesus Name Above All Names

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called...The mighty God. -Isaiah 9:6 KJV

Jesus bears a name that only God can claim. Humans and angels can have might, but only One is the Almighty God. No person, angel, or any created being can ever receive that name. They have limits while He is without limitation; they can only do so much while He can do all things. 

Mighty God means that Jesus doesn't merely sit in the number one place of power, but He sist in the only place of ultimate power. Jesus is the Strong One. Jesus is the Conqueror who cannot be conquered. He is the Champion without a rival. He is not called "very mighty," "greatly mighty," or "mostly mighty." He is called Almighty.

Isn't it wonderful to know that you belong to a God who can't be pushed over, broken down, or beaten up? No one can stare down the Almighty or bully Him. The Almighty can't be debated, intimidated, or frustrated. The Almighty fears no one, is not threatened by anyone's plan, and is never forced to cancel any of His plans. 

Jesus is mighty enough to keep anything or anyone from getting in the way of His will for you. No one has the power to stop His plan for your life. The world can't, people can't, circumstances can't, and the Devil can't. When He says yes to you, no one else can say no. No one can overrule Him, because He has the final say.
...

©2011, 2020, Roy Lessin, Meeting in the Meadow, all rights reserved. Photo by Marina Bromley.