The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Song

  • He’s Everything to Me

    “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”

    John 10:27

    The other day, I heard a song played at church that I had not heard for many years. It was called, “He’s Everything to Me.” Although I had not heard the song for a long time, the words came flooding back into my mind and heart immediately. Songs often do that. It reminded me of what I had been reading in John 10 about the Good Shepherd, Jesus. He calls His sheep by name, He leads them out, He goes before His sheep and they follow Him because they know Him. This Good Shepherd not only takes care of His sheep, “…the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (see John 10:11). Read what else we learn. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14).

    As you read the words to “He’s Everything to Me”, consider what it is saying.

    He’s Everything to Me

    by Ralph Carmichael

    “In the stars His handiwork I see,
    On the wind He speaks with majesty,
    Though He ruleth over land and sea,
    What is that to me?
    I will celebrate Nativity,
    For it has a place in history,
    Sure, He came to set His people free,
    What is that to me?

    Till by faith I met Him face to face,
    and I felt the wonder of His grace,
    Then I knew that He was more than just a
    God who didn’t care,
    That lived a way out there and

    Now He walks beside me day by day,
    Ever watching o’er me lest I stray,
    Helping me to find that narrow way,
    He’s Everything to me.”

    The song begins with one recognizing the hand of God in nature. Remember: “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” (Psalm 8:3). See also: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” (Psalm 19:1). God reveals Himself through His creation, yet not many acknowledge God. Most people celebrate Christmas. However, the birth of Jesus means very little to most people. God delivered His people from Egypt with His mighty hand. Yet many people are indifferent to this fact: “What is that to me?” God tells us why He did this: “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him” (Deuteronomy 4:35). But more than that, remember: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God sent His son, Jesus, who came to take away the penalty of sin (death) to give eternal life to one who would believe by faith. Even with all of this, many people end their thought of God on this note: “What is that to me?”

    Nevertheless, to those who receive Jesus Christ as their Lord, all of these things become meaningful. This song reminds us of how special it is that we can be saved by grace through faith: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). We understand that God really does care about us as individuals. It is then that we can meet Him “face to face”. Jesus becomes our Good Shepherd. “27. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). Believers (Christians) belong to Jesus for forever.

    Because of this, Jesus now walks with us day by day. “6. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7).

    Why is it important to walk with Jesus day by day? “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). He has a plan for each Christian. Because Jesus is our Good Shepherd (see John 10:11), He will watch over us, helping us to walk with Him. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). Because of this, we are called to “walk worthy”. “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).

    The Christian life in this world today can be a difficult one to traverse. Remember what Jesus warned: “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). It may be difficult at times, but our Good Shepherd will lead us day by day: “Ever watching o’er me lest I stray, Helping me to find that narrow way”. Why? Because “He’s Everything to me.”

    Have you met the Good Shepherd “face to face”, and “felt the wonder of His grace”?

    Is He everything to you?

    If you have not met Him “face to face” there are Scriptures to introduce you to Jesus.

  • He Lives

    “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said …”

    Matthew 28:6

    Jesus taught his disciples many things as He walked this earth. However, the most important thing He wanted them to grasp, they did not understand. “31. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.32. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him” (Mark 9:31-32). He repeatedly warned them of what was coming, yet they did not comprehend what He said. When the time came for Jesus to be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, the disciples were afraid and fled. “But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56).

    On the third day after Jesus was crucified and placed into the tomb, the women went to anoint the body of Jesus. When they arrived, the stone had been removed from the tomb, and it was empty. “4. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5. And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5). They had not understood the saying of Jesus either. They did not understand that Jesus was alive. The two men explained: “6. He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7. Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8. And they remembered his words” (Luke 24:6-8).

    That same day, two were walking discussing all of the things that had happened, when Jesus began to walk with them – but they did not know it was Him (see Luke 24:13-16). As they explained the events according to their understanding, Jesus began to teach them. “26. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?27. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:26-27). Jesus had done what He came to do. He paid the penalty of sin for mankind (see Romans 6:23).

    So the Gospel Message is simple. Paul summed it up for us as it was given to him.“3. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The most important aspect of Christianity is that we serve a living Saviour, and He is in the world today! Just as He physically walked with His disciples while He lived on this earth, Jesus still walks with any Christian who will read His Word and walk with Him. The words of the following song explain this amazingly well:

    He Lives

    by Alfred H. Ackley

    Verse 1:

    “I serve a risen Saviour, He’s in the world today;

    I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

    I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

    And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

    Refrain:

    He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

    He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way,

    He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

    You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

      Verse 2:

      In all the world around me I see His loving care,

      And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair.

      I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast,

      The day of His appearing will come at last.

      Refrain:

      He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

      He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way,

      He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

      You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.

      Verse 3:

      Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

      Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

      The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,

      None other is so loving, so good and kind.

      Refrain:

      He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

      He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way,

      He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

      You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.”

      Christians serve a living Saviour. Remember what the angel told the women as they looked in the empty tomb for the dead body of Jesus Christ: “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said …” (Matthew 28:6).

      Do you serve a living Saviour, who walks with you and talks with you along life’s narrow way?

      Does Jesus live within your heart?

      How to have Jesus in your heart.

    1. Be not Troubled

      “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.”

      2 Thessalonians 1:7

      The news today can at times be very troubling. Not only is there much insanity in the world, but sanity is becoming rare. This thought can be quite disconcerting. A great preacher once said, “There are three categories of people in the world today: those who are afraid, those who don’t know enough to be afraid, and those who know their Bible.” Once Christians are able to recognize this, the goal and aim should be to “know their Bible.” Christians are not to be discouraged or troubled in this world. God’s Word gives us much encouragement. Paul wrote words of encouragement to the church at Thessalonica when they were suffering actual tribulations. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). What a comforting thought! Paul encouraged them to live worthy, commending them for their “patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure” (see 2 Thessalonians 1:4). Regardless of what happens, Christians are to rest with assurance in Jesus. He will deal with those who have rejected Him. This is a reminder that a Christian’s hope is not to be in this world. “1. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4). Christians are to rest in the comfort that because we are “risen with Christ”, when He “shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Then Jesus will come again to fix this broken mess of a world that we live in today.

      In the meantime, the world seems to become darker and darker every day.

      See that in the Old Testament, they wrote that one day Jesus would return (and that was written before He came the first time!). The description was as a “Sun of righteousness” as in a sunrise of a dawning new day. “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall” (Malachi 4:2). Have you ever heard that it is always darkest right before the sun rises? It will be the darkest time ever in history in the time before Jesus’ second coming. My greatest assurance is that I will escape the darkest days of history that appear to be coming very soon. This assurance only comes because I, personally, have trusted in Christ and have given my life to Him. I understand from reading God’s Word that He will gather His Believers unto Himself before that great and terrible time. Paul wrote about this time. A rumor had spread that Jesus had already returned, and Paul wanted them to understand it had not happened – yet. “1. Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). Paul understood that the day of Christ was still “at hand.” That was to let them know that it had not happened yet, but to be watching for it will happen. Just as the sun comes up on time (one cannot cause it to come earlier or cause it to wait until later), Jesus will return at His appointed time. However, Christians are looking forward to the day when we will be taken out of this world to be with Him.

      Read the words to a song written by Jim Hill in 1955:

      “What a day that will be
      When my Jesus I shall see
      And I look upon His face
      The one who saved me by His grace
      When He takes me by the hand
      And leads me through the Promised Land
      What a day, glorious day that will be.

      There’ll be no sorrows there
      No more burdens to bear
      No more sickness and no more pain
      No more parting over there
      But forever I will be
      With the One who died for me
      What a day, glorious day that will be.”

      In the meantime, I need to turn off the discouraging news and dig into my Bible. It is in God’s Word that I can be comforted and encouraged.

      Jesus told John of the things that would be in the end (as recorded in the book of Revelation). Read some of the final words recorded: “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

      Jesus said He would “come quickly.” My prayer is, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

      Are you one saved by His grace, striving to be encouraged and comforted by knowing God’s Word?

      http://biblicalpath.com/index.php/how-to-be-saved/