Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

As we prepare this Christmas to remember the Birth of our Lord and Savior, it is good to reflect upon why, we needed and such a Birth in the first place.

Revelation 1:17 - 1:18

Devotional

Fear not; I have the keys of hell and of death.—Rev. 1:17, 18.

Is it Jesus, all precious, all lovely, all-powerful Jesus, saith this? He who hath redeemed my soul from hell, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling? And hath Jesus, my Husband, my Brother, my Redeemer, the keys both of hell and of death? Why then it is impossible for any to open death’s door, one moment before that he give the appointment. And doth he command me to fear not? Oh, then, my soul! dismiss all anxiety about thy departure. Thy time is in Jesus’ hands. The keys are hanging at thy Redeemer’s girdle. Never fear neither, to die as thou hast lived, and art living, in a believing frame in Jesus. This is as much suited to a dying time, as it is to a living time; for with this thou mayest go out of the world, as safe as living in it. To live is Christ, and to die is gain. God’s covenant love, and God’s covenant promises in Jesus, are the same. They are both in death and life, fixed and sure. When Jesus therefore comes, when the Master calls for thee, wilt thou feel reluctant? What! reluctant to go to Jesus? Is this thy love, thy kindness, to thy friend? Forbid it, dearest Lord. No! my precious, blessed Jesus! open the gate of death to me when thou pleasest, where thou pleasest, and how thou pleasest. Sure I am thou wilt be present, and that’s enough for me. And when the ground of all sensible comforts is sinking under me, oh for a vigorons effort of faith, communicated by thee, that I may drop the body, and leap at once into thy arms, with the last cry of faith, Lord Jesus receive my Spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth!

Robert Hawker, The Poor Man’s Morning Portion (New York; Pittsburg: Robert Carter, 1845), 306.

SERMON

Related

I am pretty sure the above is by Horatius Bonar, although GraceGems.Org does not list an author.