He Paid It All ...the Wayfarer...9/24/16

He Paid It All
9/24/16

Mark 8:36

King James Version (KJV)

³⁶ For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

In a world where profit of one kind or another is continually the goal of the majority of its population, what is lost by that profit is far too often ignored.

Each looks with great expectation of recompense for any effort to be expended, considering the worth of that effort to be of the same worth to others as it would be to them, yet deeming the worthiness of the efforts expended on their behalf by those others of less value than is their own.

The workman is indeed worthy of his hire, if that worth is not overvalued, the workmanship that is done being done with the intent to provide a needed service for the one that service is performed for.

The work done on the cross by Christ Jesus cannot be overvalued, and cannot be recompensed.

The hymn used for today’s title reminds us of the cost paid for that work done, and Who did that work.

He Paid It All

My Lord
What shall I give Him today
He wants my heart
More than He asks for my wage
One day I’ll die
But it won’t be my last day
When I look in His eyes
I’ll know that I did ok

My Lord
What shall I sing Him for now
A song full of praise
From a mouth full of doubt
I lift up my face
And I sing out loud
With all my mistakes
I still make Him proud

He paid it all for me
Carried that cross for you
On that rugged walk, He knew
What He had to do
Opened His arms up wide
Invited the world inside
One final breath
He conquered death
For me and for you

My Lord
Where would He want me to go
Just across town
Or a place where I don’t know a soul
Just tell me where
And I’ll hit the road
With no time to spare
And no heavy load

Songwriters: BRANDON HEATH, DEANA CARTER

Too often forgotten is the fact that any labor done by us on His behalf has long been paid for. Recompense has been made manifold. Effort expended is reward in and of itself, as the gift given by HIM remains a GIFT to all willing to accept that gift.

Our hardships are meager, comparatively, when viewed in the light of what has been provided by the far greater hardships endured to provide us that gift, and what sacrifice has been made BY HIM to do so.

Any small discomfort or inconvenience on our own part should be reason to rejoice, rather than to elicit the complaint and demand too often voiced instead.

Needs, both our own, and those of those around us, must and will be, attended to if wants are prioritized in accordance with what remains the greatest need of all as was prioritized by HIM.

Matthew 6:19-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

What greater treasure than eternal life exists worthy of being sought?

What greater recompense exists greater than seeing the gift of that life accepted by those with whom we share this puny planet?

While remaining within the confines of this temporal and temporary body, what greater reward exists greater than the joy attained through our service rendered to Him that shares the wealth of that GIFT with others around us that remain so in need, both physically and spiritually?

What gift is greater than the love shown us by Him, and what gift are we capable of giving greater than that of meeting His commandment that we in turn share that love?

Christ’s love for us extended from heaven, came with the sacrifice He made by becoming a lowly member of this human race to communicate that love, the derision and hardship suffered throughout His ministry because of that same love, the ultimate sacrificial death of that human body by the degradation and pain experienced on a cross because of the love that had been shown us, and the love that was shown through the resurrection and ascension back to the power and glory already held in preparation to grant us the joy and glory prepared  for us by Him.

His innocence became our innocence. His sacrifice was substituted for the necessity of our own payment for sin.

He paid it all!

What is left for us to pay?

Matthew 28:19-20

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Meeting the requirement of this commission requires no recompense beyond that which has already been paid… BY HIM!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer