To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 24-25

     Heavenly Father, the older I get the more I care about finishing this life well. How I wish that with more years came less temptation, and with less physical strength, automatically, I would have more spiritual strength, but it just doesn’t work that way. I need Jesus’ mercy and grace just as much in this day as the first day you placed me safely in Christ. Thus, your promises for the WHOLE journey of faith and life are such a balm to my whole being.

     I praise you, Father, that the most important grasp in the gospel is yours, not mine. You WILL keep me from ultimately falling away from you. And when I do falter, fall and fail to love you and others as I am commanded in the gospel, you WILL pick me up.

     As hard as it is to imagine, especially in my times of weakness, one Day you WILL present me before your glorious presence without fault and with great joy. How many times do I have to say that for my heart to really believe it… without fault and with great joy… without fault and with great joy… WITHOUT fault and WITH great joy!

     Indeed, O my heart, passionately proclaim with myriads of angels and countless believers… to the ONLY God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, in this life and in the life to come!

     Jesus, trusting in the life you lived for me as the second Adam, and the life you gave for me as the Lamb of God, and the life you now live through me as my hope of glory, I will finish well… without fault and with great joy, without fault and with great joy, without fault and with great joy!

 

Scotty Smith

Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship

Christ Community Church

1215 Hillsboro Rd.

Franklin, TN  37069

615-468-2230

 

It's good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace Hebrews 13:9