Redeemed: bought back, exchanged, purchased, reclaimed, ransomed.
I have been redeemed. I would be a slave to sin and Satan if Jesus had not paid the price for me.
Had he not given his life for mine, I would have had to pay for my sin with my own eternal soul. I would have spent eternity in hell. But Jesus paid the life-debt for me and all other people. He took the guilt of our sin on himself and gave up his life as a ransom for us all.
Thus, I am free. Saved. Redeemed. And so are you.
I am no longer bound to sin; now, because Christ is my Redeemer, I am bound to him. I am one with him through my baptism, and my life belongs to Christ--to God-- because he made me. In response to what he has done for me, I strive to love and serve him by loving and serving others. I can't do this perfectly--I fail all the time--but he already took care of the guilt of my sins, including the failure to love and obey him fully, and even the sins I haven't committed yet.
I don't have to live in fear of punishment. Jesus already took the punishment that I deserve. He destroyed the power of Satan, death and hell. They no longer hold power over me, or over you. Satan still has power in this world, but the battle is over--he has already lost, and he knows it. Those who believe in Jesus will spend eternity with him in heaven, no matter what Satan tries to do to them in this world. Why? Because we belong to Jesus, and he is more powerful even than Satan.
We can therefore live this life in joy. We are free from the weight of our own sin, and from the weight of the sin of the world. Jesus bore it for us. Despite the evil that is still rampant all around us, our life doesn't have to be one of sadness or despair. Not for us. Not for those who are children of God. We have the promise of eternal life, and we know that nothing can separate us from God's love--because he has redeemed and saved us.
I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives.
He lives, he lives, who once was dead--
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save.
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare--
He lives to bring me safely there.
(I Know that My Redeemer Lives, vv 1, 3, 7; text by Samuel Medley.)
Showing posts with label hymns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hymns. Show all posts
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Look to the Cross
This morning during my Bible reading I read Psalm 22. This psalm is one of the clearest Old Testament prophecies of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It includes many details which Jesus' passion would fulfill many hundreds of years later.
"All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 'He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.'" (v 7-8)
"I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lost for my clothing." (v 14-18)
A little later this morning I read a blog post by my friend Sara, discussing one of my favorite hymns, Water, Blood and Spirit Crying. She quotes Stephen Starke, who wrote the text, and who said in his explanation of it, "To look for God we need look no farther than the cross."
I mentioned to Joshua while we were eating breakfast that it seemed that I was being led to focus on Good Friday today--interesting since it's a foggy, damp Monday. Joshua replied that every day is a good day to ponder the events of that Friday so long ago. He's right.
What Jesus did for me that day should be in my heart and my thoughts every day, because it was that sacrifice of his that makes it possible for me to live each day in his grace, and to have the hope of eternity in heaven.
The horrors that Jesus experienced aren't pleasant to think about. I'm not suggesting that I let the awful details of his torture and death pervade my thoughts constantly; I would never be able to think about anything else if I was only focused on that. But the reality is that Jesus' death, and his resurrection, are the reasons that I have God's forgiveness--and it is only because of that that I can love, obey and serve him.
The text of the hymn Water, Blood and Spirit Crying is worth reading in its entirety:
"All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 'He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.'" (v 7-8)
"I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lost for my clothing." (v 14-18)
A little later this morning I read a blog post by my friend Sara, discussing one of my favorite hymns, Water, Blood and Spirit Crying. She quotes Stephen Starke, who wrote the text, and who said in his explanation of it, "To look for God we need look no farther than the cross."
I mentioned to Joshua while we were eating breakfast that it seemed that I was being led to focus on Good Friday today--interesting since it's a foggy, damp Monday. Joshua replied that every day is a good day to ponder the events of that Friday so long ago. He's right.
What Jesus did for me that day should be in my heart and my thoughts every day, because it was that sacrifice of his that makes it possible for me to live each day in his grace, and to have the hope of eternity in heaven.
The horrors that Jesus experienced aren't pleasant to think about. I'm not suggesting that I let the awful details of his torture and death pervade my thoughts constantly; I would never be able to think about anything else if I was only focused on that. But the reality is that Jesus' death, and his resurrection, are the reasons that I have God's forgiveness--and it is only because of that that I can love, obey and serve him.
The text of the hymn Water, Blood and Spirit Crying is worth reading in its entirety:
Hymn Text: Water, Blood, and Spirit Crying (Lutheran Service Book 597)
1. Water, blood, and Spirit crying,
By their witness testifying
To the One whose death-defying
Life has come, with life for all.
2. In a wat'ry grave are buried
All our sins that Jesus carried;
Christ, the Ark of Life, has ferried
Us across death's raging flood.
3. Dark the way, yet Christ precedes us,
Past the scowl of death He leads us;
Spreads a table where He feeds us
With His body and His blood.
4. Through around us death is seething,
God, His two-edged sword unsheathing,
By His Spirit life is breathing
Through the living, active Word.
5. Spirit, water, blood entreating,
Working faith and its completing
In the One whose death-defeating
Life has come, with life for all.
By their witness testifying
To the One whose death-defying
Life has come, with life for all.
2. In a wat'ry grave are buried
All our sins that Jesus carried;
Christ, the Ark of Life, has ferried
Us across death's raging flood.
3. Dark the way, yet Christ precedes us,
Past the scowl of death He leads us;
Spreads a table where He feeds us
With His body and His blood.
4. Through around us death is seething,
God, His two-edged sword unsheathing,
By His Spirit life is breathing
Through the living, active Word.
5. Spirit, water, blood entreating,
Working faith and its completing
In the One whose death-defeating
Life has come, with life for all.
Let us rejoice in Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross; and let us live every day in the joy which his forgiveness gives us.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Faith and Freedom
from last year's Fourth
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8: 34-36That freedom is what means the most to me. Jesus Christ, by his life, death, and resurrection, has set me free forever from my slavery to sin. As a result, I am now a child of my heavenly Father, and I have the promise of eternal life.
This freedom is one that will never be taken from me. It will never be altered by human laws. It will never change based on human whim. It will never have conditions placed upon it. It is mine, given to me by God, and I can trust that completely.
I live in a country where we treasure our freedoms. We have fought hard and many have died to keep those freedoms we hold dear. A day is coming when we won't have all those freedoms that so many worked so hard to earn and keep. These human freedoms are the kind that won't always be guaranteed. They are freedoms we may have to fight, once again, to have. These are not freedoms I trust.
I am thankful for them. They help make my life what it is. God has used the laws of this country for good, and he will continue to do so. Today I celebrate all the good that America is.
But I will never forget the perfection that is my God.
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us;
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;
Facing the rising sun
Of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
-"Lift Every Voice and Sing," stanza 1, James Weldon Johnson
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Trusting in God, who gives me what I REALLY need.
I was reading part of the book of Job today. I want to read more the rest of the day, and then go over it again in the next few days.
Reading Job is at once humbling and encouraging. "Who are you," God (basically) asks Job, "to think that you can criticize me or judge me for the way I do things? Were you there when the universe was created? Do you control the weather? Do you know how everything holds together? NO. So let me be God and you just trust me to take care of you." That kind of sums up the several chapters of God lecturing Job.
That really got me thinking. A journal/scrapbook my friend Sara made for me includes several quotes, pictures, poems, Scripture verses, etc, with room for me to add my own. At the top of the first page it says "Psalm 103." I looked that up and read it, and came across this verse:
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love." Psalm 103:8
He is ALWAYS compassionate and gracious. That doesn't change, ever. It's not necessarily our definition of compassionate and gracious. But God always shows us his perfect love. I wrote at the bottom of that page in the journal,
Jon Acuff wrote on his blog today,
I commented on the post,
My mother-in-law posted a verse of a beloved hymn on my facebook wall this morning:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace."
When life is frustrating and confusing...when circumstances are out of our control...when things seem hopeless and there is no end in sight...
We can trust God.
Because he is always good and he always has our bests interests in mind.
And in the meantime...
we can focus on what he's already given us.
Because it's SO much.
We already have everything we need.
And when we focus on Christ,
the things of this world seem less important.
Because they are less important.
When we have Christ, and his love, forgiveness, mercy and grace... (and we do)...
we have all we need.
Reading Job is at once humbling and encouraging. "Who are you," God (basically) asks Job, "to think that you can criticize me or judge me for the way I do things? Were you there when the universe was created? Do you control the weather? Do you know how everything holds together? NO. So let me be God and you just trust me to take care of you." That kind of sums up the several chapters of God lecturing Job.
That really got me thinking. A journal/scrapbook my friend Sara made for me includes several quotes, pictures, poems, Scripture verses, etc, with room for me to add my own. At the top of the first page it says "Psalm 103." I looked that up and read it, and came across this verse:
"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love." Psalm 103:8
He is ALWAYS compassionate and gracious. That doesn't change, ever. It's not necessarily our definition of compassionate and gracious. But God always shows us his perfect love. I wrote at the bottom of that page in the journal,
"Trust in God is not conditional. He doesn't say, 'Trust me when things are going well. Trust me if you have everything you think you need. Trust me when life is easy.' No. Trust is based on faith, and faith trusts always. God says, 'Trust Me.' Period."
Jon Acuff wrote on his blog today,
"Since the dawn of time, the enemy has tried to play just one trick.
Though it has a thousand different variations and a million different manifestations, it boils down to the same lie every time.
God is not good.
He's holding out on you.
There is something more you are missing.
Time and again, this is the trick the enemy comes back to."
I commented on the post,
"So true. God always blesses us. Not in the ways we THINK we need blessing. Not usually in the ways we expect. But he gives us what HE knows we need.
I'd add one thing. God never guaranteed that following him would be easy. We ARE called to give up ourselves when we follow him. The disciples gave up everything in order to be Jesus' disciples.
But they never went without food. They never went without shelter. They always had clothes. They always had what they NEEDED. But life wasn't easy.
I've been realizing lately that the best gifts God gives aren't ones with monetary value. They're things like family. Friendship. Being hugged and kissed by one's spouse. A sweet summer breeze. Love. And most importantly, God's forgiveness, love, and grace. When a person has all that...what more do they really need?"
My mother-in-law posted a verse of a beloved hymn on my facebook wall this morning:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus;
look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of his glory and grace."
When life is frustrating and confusing...when circumstances are out of our control...when things seem hopeless and there is no end in sight...
We can trust God.
Because he is always good and he always has our bests interests in mind.
And in the meantime...
we can focus on what he's already given us.
Because it's SO much.
We already have everything we need.
And when we focus on Christ,
the things of this world seem less important.
Because they are less important.
When we have Christ, and his love, forgiveness, mercy and grace... (and we do)...
we have all we need.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." -1 Peter 1:3-5
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Walking by Faith
This is one of my favorite hymns, 720 in Lutheran Service Book. We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight, verses 1-3, text by Henry Alford:
We walk by faith and not by sight,
No gracious words we hear
From Him who spoke as none e'er spoke,
But we we believe Him near.
We may not touch His hands and side,
Nor follow where He trod;
But in His promise we rejoice
And cry "My Lord and God!"
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
And may our faith abound
To call on You when You are near
And seek where You are found.
I could quote verses from other hymns, like "How Firm a Foundation," and "I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus"...maybe another day. :)
We walk by faith and not by sight,
No gracious words we hear
From Him who spoke as none e'er spoke,
But we we believe Him near.
We may not touch His hands and side,
Nor follow where He trod;
But in His promise we rejoice
And cry "My Lord and God!"
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
And may our faith abound
To call on You when You are near
And seek where You are found.
I could quote verses from other hymns, like "How Firm a Foundation," and "I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus"...maybe another day. :)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
In the Morning...
This morning I awakened refreshed, peaceful, not weary and dreading climbing out of bed like I had been most days.
Since I began to open my heart and my life to Him more, God has filled me with a sense of peace and joy that I haven't felt in a long time--maybe never felt.
My Bible was lying on my desk when I got up, and like a thirsty person to water I was drawn to it. I like using my concordance when I'm not sure where to start reading, and appropriately to the time I looked up the word "morning" and found Psalm 5. The first three verses read,
"Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
The whole psalm is a prayer asking God to bless, watch over, and protect the writer, David, and a plea for justice against David's enemies. Verse three doesn't mean that God only hears our prayers in the morning, but what better time, I thought as I began talking to God, what better time to lay requests before him than at the beginning of the day?
The first two verses of the hymn "With the Lord Begin Your Task" read as follows:
With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.
For His aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.
Every morn with Jesus rise, and when day is ended
In His name then close your eyes; be to Him commended.
Let each day begin with prayer, praise and adoration.
On the Lord cast every care; He is your salvation.
Morning, evening, and at night, Jesus will be near you,
Save you from the tempter's might, with His presence cheer you.
When I am beginning a new day, my desire is to honor and glorify God in every one of that day's thoughts, words and actions. He is always with me whether I ask for his presence or not, but when I request his presence and his guidance for that day, I know he will grant it. When I ask him to love and bless others through me, I know he will hear my prayer. When I thank him for his protection that night, thank him for a beautiful new day full of new grace, blessings and forgiveness, I know he hears me. When I praise him for his goodness, his power and might, the wonderful way he keeps all life in motion and gives me everything I need every day, I know he is there and has received my praise.
Knowing that my Creator is with me every moment of every day not only helps keep me from sinning but it is the greatest comfort I've experienced. The God who made me, who saved me and who loves me more than I can imagine, wants to be with me all the time; he wants me to spend my day talking to him, thanking and praising him and living in the joy of being loved by him.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 read, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I'm not always happy all the time, but my joy is not dependent on physical circumstances but on the knowledge that I am a loved, saved and forgiven daughter of Almighty God. The admonition to pray continually I don't see as a law but as a sweet invitation to be in constant fellowship with my Creator throughout the day. And the phrase "give thanks in all circumstances" reminds me that no matter how bad my life might seem, I always have many things to be thankful for, because God just blesses me that much.
Today, I am going to rest in the presence of the God who made and loves me, and pray that every day might be the same.
Since I began to open my heart and my life to Him more, God has filled me with a sense of peace and joy that I haven't felt in a long time--maybe never felt.
My Bible was lying on my desk when I got up, and like a thirsty person to water I was drawn to it. I like using my concordance when I'm not sure where to start reading, and appropriately to the time I looked up the word "morning" and found Psalm 5. The first three verses read,
"Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
The whole psalm is a prayer asking God to bless, watch over, and protect the writer, David, and a plea for justice against David's enemies. Verse three doesn't mean that God only hears our prayers in the morning, but what better time, I thought as I began talking to God, what better time to lay requests before him than at the beginning of the day?
The first two verses of the hymn "With the Lord Begin Your Task" read as follows:
With the Lord begin your task; Jesus will direct it.
For His aid and counsel ask; Jesus will perfect it.
Every morn with Jesus rise, and when day is ended
In His name then close your eyes; be to Him commended.
Let each day begin with prayer, praise and adoration.
On the Lord cast every care; He is your salvation.
Morning, evening, and at night, Jesus will be near you,
Save you from the tempter's might, with His presence cheer you.
When I am beginning a new day, my desire is to honor and glorify God in every one of that day's thoughts, words and actions. He is always with me whether I ask for his presence or not, but when I request his presence and his guidance for that day, I know he will grant it. When I ask him to love and bless others through me, I know he will hear my prayer. When I thank him for his protection that night, thank him for a beautiful new day full of new grace, blessings and forgiveness, I know he hears me. When I praise him for his goodness, his power and might, the wonderful way he keeps all life in motion and gives me everything I need every day, I know he is there and has received my praise.
Knowing that my Creator is with me every moment of every day not only helps keep me from sinning but it is the greatest comfort I've experienced. The God who made me, who saved me and who loves me more than I can imagine, wants to be with me all the time; he wants me to spend my day talking to him, thanking and praising him and living in the joy of being loved by him.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 read, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
I'm not always happy all the time, but my joy is not dependent on physical circumstances but on the knowledge that I am a loved, saved and forgiven daughter of Almighty God. The admonition to pray continually I don't see as a law but as a sweet invitation to be in constant fellowship with my Creator throughout the day. And the phrase "give thanks in all circumstances" reminds me that no matter how bad my life might seem, I always have many things to be thankful for, because God just blesses me that much.
Today, I am going to rest in the presence of the God who made and loves me, and pray that every day might be the same.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
"Certain of What We Do Not See:" Hebrews 11:1
Faith: a precious, undeserved, and completely free gift, yet it is something I struggle with, a LOT. Especially these last few days, for reasons that don't need to be shared publicly. Suffice it to say that I have been worrying about the future, doubting in God's providence, struggling to understand how he will take care of me, of us, and in short: I have been focused on myself and my little struggles and worries instead of on GOD and how big, powerful, all-knowing and compassionate he is.
He has been sending messages my way a lot lately, through my mom and some other women I don't even know yesterday, and today in church and again through my amazing mother.
The hymns we sang in church today were "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (he hears my prayers, I can go to him and he is always there for me, no matter what), "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" (God cares for my every need, I am his, and he will guide my life), "Children of the Heavenly Father" (I am his child, he protects me from all harm, nothing will separate me from his love), and most encouraging of all, "We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight." God is always near us, we can rejoice in his promise that he is always there, and we have nothing to fear in this life because we will spend eternity with him.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." My mom sent me an email this morning that also included 2 Corinthians 4:18: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
Today's epistle spoke to me, too, from 1 Corinthians: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong...He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (1:25-26, 30)
I am very often foolish, weak in faith and body. But God is wiser and stronger in his foolishness and weakness than I am ever wise or strong. He gives me strength to have faith- to be sure of what I hope for, certain of what I do not, what I cannot, see. He knows my future. And he holds it in his hands. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
God has good plans for my future, plans to give me hope! He is there when I seek him, there when I don't, always hearing my prayers, even if I can't feel him.
Faith isn't about feeling. Faith is resting in the knowledge that God is God and I am not, and that is how it is supposed to be. God is there, God is real, God is in control, even when I can't see where my life is going. God loves me and forgives me and blesses me even when I fall away from him and struggle to trust in him. This is grace!
So. Today, I am going to be sure of what I hope for, and certain of what I cannot see.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Trusting Him
God has been teaching me a lot about trust the last few days. Apparently it's a lesson I need to learn. I have opportunities where I can choose to be trusting or to doubt that God will take care of things. He has taken care of things whether I'm trusting him or not. This proves, once again, how faithful God is despite my fickleness. My fiancée, too, is loving and patient even as I am learning to trust him and in so doing to trust God to take care of both of us.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." I like the picture of leaning on God, instead of myself. Physically, it's rather hard to lean on ourselves. If we tried, we'd fall over and look pretty silly. But God is there, ready and waiting for us to lean on him, because he wants to hold us up. When we look to him for direction, he will point us to the path he already has marked out for us. He will lead us in the way to go.
As a somewhat related side note, just a few verses later on in Proverbs it reads this: "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine" (3:9-10). When we trust God with our money and possessions, giving back to him part of what he has given us, he will bless us even more. Tithing is part of trusting God.
David writes in Psalm 56, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" When David wrote this, he was in serious danger; the Philistines had seized him and his life was in jeopardy. Even in this most desperate of situations, he wrote this Psalm, demonstrating his neverfailing trust in God. He was right to do so, and correct in what he said: When we trust God, no one can do anything to really hurt us. Our bodies are mortal, yes, but our spirits are untouchable by anything Satan could try.
That brings me back again to the idea of being eternally-minded. When we look at the big picture, instead of selfishly considering just our own lives, it should be much easier to trust God because we realize that he has a plan far bigger than we are, and more all-encompassing than we could imagine. We're part of that plan, though. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" We can trust God because he has plans for our futures: plans to give us hope. We can trust that.
A wonderful old hymn, "I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus," says this (just select verses):
1. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
Trusting only Thee;
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.
4. I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying
All my need.
5. I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.
6. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all.
Today, I am going to work on learning to trust God, knowing that he has me and my life in his hands.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." I like the picture of leaning on God, instead of myself. Physically, it's rather hard to lean on ourselves. If we tried, we'd fall over and look pretty silly. But God is there, ready and waiting for us to lean on him, because he wants to hold us up. When we look to him for direction, he will point us to the path he already has marked out for us. He will lead us in the way to go.
As a somewhat related side note, just a few verses later on in Proverbs it reads this: "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine" (3:9-10). When we trust God with our money and possessions, giving back to him part of what he has given us, he will bless us even more. Tithing is part of trusting God.
David writes in Psalm 56, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" When David wrote this, he was in serious danger; the Philistines had seized him and his life was in jeopardy. Even in this most desperate of situations, he wrote this Psalm, demonstrating his neverfailing trust in God. He was right to do so, and correct in what he said: When we trust God, no one can do anything to really hurt us. Our bodies are mortal, yes, but our spirits are untouchable by anything Satan could try.
That brings me back again to the idea of being eternally-minded. When we look at the big picture, instead of selfishly considering just our own lives, it should be much easier to trust God because we realize that he has a plan far bigger than we are, and more all-encompassing than we could imagine. We're part of that plan, though. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" We can trust God because he has plans for our futures: plans to give us hope. We can trust that.
A wonderful old hymn, "I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus," says this (just select verses):
1. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
Trusting only Thee;
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.
4. I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying
All my need.
5. I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.
6. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all.
Today, I am going to work on learning to trust God, knowing that he has me and my life in his hands.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
He Teaches Me: Psalm 119:97-104
Today's passage is all about God's law, and how (according to my study notes), "meditation on God's revelation yields the highest wisdom." Here is the passage:
97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
102 I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
I think this passage points out how wonderful and all-surpassing the wisdom of God is. Oddly enough, in the song that was playing on my iTunes as I typed that last sentence, "Have You Not Known?", I heard this phrase: "His knowledge is unsearchable, his wisdom strong and sure." Coincidence? I think not! Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"
Another wonderful thing about God's wisdom is that he imparts it to us also, though his word. This passage of Psalm 119 says that when we meditate on God's law, it makes us wiser than all our enemies, gives us more insight than any human teacher, more understanding then our experienced elders. Why should we not then desire to learn and follow God's law?
I do have the desire; it is the carrying out of God's will that I have trouble with sometimes. But I know that God has patience with me, and I can say with the Psalmist, "I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me."
Today I am going to listen to God's teaching and learn from him.
97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
102 I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
I think this passage points out how wonderful and all-surpassing the wisdom of God is. Oddly enough, in the song that was playing on my iTunes as I typed that last sentence, "Have You Not Known?", I heard this phrase: "His knowledge is unsearchable, his wisdom strong and sure." Coincidence? I think not! Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"
Another wonderful thing about God's wisdom is that he imparts it to us also, though his word. This passage of Psalm 119 says that when we meditate on God's law, it makes us wiser than all our enemies, gives us more insight than any human teacher, more understanding then our experienced elders. Why should we not then desire to learn and follow God's law?
I do have the desire; it is the carrying out of God's will that I have trouble with sometimes. But I know that God has patience with me, and I can say with the Psalmist, "I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me."
Today I am going to listen to God's teaching and learn from him.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Hiding His Word in My Heart: Psalm 119:9-16
Today's passage talks about living according to the laws and promises of God. It also connects to the passage from yesterday, communicating the desire to seek God "with all my heart".
Verses 9-10 read, "How can a young man [or woman] keep his [or her] way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands." Comparing these verses to verses one and two show some parallels. Verses one and two state that those whose ways are blameless and pure, and those who seek God with all their heart, are blessed. Verse nine asks how one can keep one ways blameless: by living according to God's word (here referencing God's law). Verse ten expresses the desire to seek God and the prayer for his help to obey his law. This is my desire for myself: to keep my way pure by walking in God's law. It is only by his help that I can do so.
Most of this passage talks about following God's law, but in verse eleven the Hebrew word translated "word" is "'imra" or "promise". When the psalmist says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you," he is talking about the Gospel, which is what gives us the desire to do what is right.
In verses 12-16 God's law is referenced with several different words: decrees, laws, statutes, precepts, ways, word. The psalmist says in these verses,
"Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."
The Law of God is good and wise (see Lutheran Service Book 579). It does condemn sin, but it is good, because it shows us how to please God by living a holy life. It's impossible for us to follow the law completely on our own, but that's why Jesus did it for us! It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we have the desire and will to follow God.
The hymn "Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens" is another one of my favorites regarding God's Word. (See the lyrics here)
Today, I am going to live according to his word, and hide that word in my heart.
Verses 9-10 read, "How can a young man [or woman] keep his [or her] way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands." Comparing these verses to verses one and two show some parallels. Verses one and two state that those whose ways are blameless and pure, and those who seek God with all their heart, are blessed. Verse nine asks how one can keep one ways blameless: by living according to God's word (here referencing God's law). Verse ten expresses the desire to seek God and the prayer for his help to obey his law. This is my desire for myself: to keep my way pure by walking in God's law. It is only by his help that I can do so.
Most of this passage talks about following God's law, but in verse eleven the Hebrew word translated "word" is "'imra" or "promise". When the psalmist says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you," he is talking about the Gospel, which is what gives us the desire to do what is right.
In verses 12-16 God's law is referenced with several different words: decrees, laws, statutes, precepts, ways, word. The psalmist says in these verses,
"Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."
The Law of God is good and wise (see Lutheran Service Book 579). It does condemn sin, but it is good, because it shows us how to please God by living a holy life. It's impossible for us to follow the law completely on our own, but that's why Jesus did it for us! It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we have the desire and will to follow God.
The hymn "Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens" is another one of my favorites regarding God's Word. (See the lyrics here)
Today, I am going to live according to his word, and hide that word in my heart.
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