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ACTS 9:1-6

REVELATIONS 5:11-14

JOHN 21:1-14

SUNDAY REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is Jesus Christ, our salvation. Salvation is the preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. We shall proceed to discuss three ways in which Jesus Christ is our salvation.

1. Jesus Christ, our salvation delivers us from this sinful world and grants us eternal life.
2. Jesus Christ, our salvation delivers us from hunger and gives us our daily bread.
3. Jesus Christ, our salvation delivers us from our enemies.

Firstly, the fundamental reason for which Jesus Christ is our salvation is that He will deliver us from this sinful world and grant us eternal life. John through his revelation assures us that “…every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13) In other words, we look forward to the second coming of our Lord and Master Jesus to save us so that we will share in His honour and glory where He reigns forever and ever. It is important to note that we must continue to be good stewards or disciples following His example and the will of God even as we await His second coming. We are again admonished in Revelation 22:12-13 that “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Let us be watchful and stay awake when Jesus Christ, our salvation returns the second time. Dear friend, to prove that Jesus Christ is our salvation and He does not want us to die in our sins, He saved Saul from His sins when His light shone upon him. He said to him “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:5-6). Although Saul was going to sin against Jesus Chris, He saved him and later used him as an instrument of transformation among the gentiles. When Saul who became known as Paul was nearing his death, He testified that Jesus Christ was truly our salvation when he wrote that “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). We must live and die with Jesus Christ because he is our salvation who delivers us from this sinful world and grant us the crown of righteousness where He reigns forever and ever.

Secondly, when we call upon Jesus Christ as our salvation we believe that He has the power to provide our daily bread and other physical needs. Salvation must not only be understood as deliverance from sin but should include deliverance from poverty and material or physical needs. Jesus proved to be our provider when He said to the disciples “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish… Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” (John 21:6, 21:10-12). Dear friend in the Lord, Jesus assures us that “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27). I do not know your particular need at this time but what I do know is that Jesus Christ, our salvation knows our needs and will provide them. Paul also encouraged us when he wrote ” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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). Jesus Christ, our salvation further encourages us that “…do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Thirdly, Jesus Christ, our salvation is our security, He delivers us from the hands of our enemies. Saul was an enemy to Christians at the time because he upheld the beliefs and practices of Judaism and was a religious fanatic of Judaism. “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” (Acts 9:3-6). Jesus delivered the Christians at Damascus from the sinister hands of Saul, the persecutor. Dear friend in the Lord, our lives are in the hands of God therefore Jesus Christ, our salvation can deliver us from the schemes of evildoers or enemies. Beloved in the Lord, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15) We must always remember Paul’s admonishment when He wrote that “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21). In other words, with Jesus Christ our salvation in our lives, it is not our duty to fight those who hate and persecute us, let us love and live at peace with all, leaving our adversaries or enemies in the hands of Jesus Christ, our saviour. We must remember to pray for their salvation just as Saul was saved when he was on his way to persecute the Christians at Damascus.

In summary, Jesus Christ, our salvation has delivered us from sin and will come to save us from this sinful world to Heaven, where He reigns forever and ever at the right hand of His Father, Jesus Christ, our salvation continues to provide our daily bread and other physical or material needs and last but not least, Jesus Christ, our salvation, delivers us from the hands of our enemies or persecutors. May the Holy Spirit strengthen our faith so that we will continually put our trust in Jesus Christ who is our salvation in all situations of life. Amen.