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January
11, 2004
THE
CAPTAIN OF SALVATION
"For
it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all
things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain
of their salvation perfect through sufferings" (Heb.
2:10).
The metaphor,
"captain of their salvation" portrays Christ as
the cause and originator of salvation. He is the active, dynamic
agent in effecting salvation of which He Himself is the cause,
Jesus Christ is the captain who leads His followers progressively
on through the entire process of salvation--from justification
to glorification.
As the
captain of our salvation, Christ leads His saved sons and
daughters from stage to stage in the salvation process. Not
only does He save us from the guilt and dominion of sin through
His vicarious sacrifice, but He also leads us on to the ultimate
end of full salvation. The captain of our salvation leads
His people successfully over the booby traps and mine fields
of the enemy. He is fully conversant with the battlefield
and strategy of our adversary. As captain of our salvation,
He motivates us, challenges us, encourages us, and enables
us as He leads us into victory.
Today's
devotional text is a reminder that God has made Christ the
captain of our salvation. Our captain went all the way from
the manger to the ascension. Nothing was left undone. Christ
has effected our salvation with unerring precision and accuracy.
All who
accept Christ have been enlisted in God's army. This army
is under the capable leadership of the captain of our salvation
who has been severely tested in the battle and has been triumphant.
Through Him we too can be "more than conquerors"
(Romans 8:37). As we follow the captain of our salvation,
may we always be encouraged by these words: "As we work
under the Captain of our salvation, faithfully obeying His
orders, our characters are developed. Through His merits we
are enabled to work in harmony with God's great plan."--Review
and Herald, April 12, 1898.
My
Prayer Today: Lord, may the captain of my salvation
lead me on to victory. Amen.
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