The Lamb deserves the reward of His sufferings:
From my daily study in
scripture and the film "Revival Hymn"
Isa 60:21
the branch of My planting, the
work of My hands,...
This is the work that Jehovah will bring about, ending their mourning
(vs 20)making the people righteous and inheriting the land
forever. This cannot be done through man's effort. Our best
attempts are gone in a generation or two. Only God will built an
everlasting kingdom free from sin and death when He comes in judgement
and vanquishes His foes.
... so that I may be glorified.
The reason He will do this
is for His Glory. I watched a film with a number of audio
clips from great men of the last century; I don't know who said it but
he was a missionary to Africa who though had the best of intentions
found out they were indeed humanism. He didn't want to see people
lost or living apart from God. But he found people who loved the
darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil
(Joh_3:19). Wanting to quit he cried out to God and when he
listened, he heard the witness of God's Spirit as a voice rejecting his
motive but affirming God's.
"The Lamb of God
deserves the rewards of His suffering." Jesus paid
the ultimate price to redeem lost sinners. He deserves His
reward: Redeeemed lost sinners!
Pray therefore to the Lord of the Harvest that He may send laborers
into the harvest. (Luk_10:12)
We wish to make
everything about us; God made everything for Him.
May 13, 2007
Mother's day:
This Mother's day
I would like to honor two women in my life who are special to me.
My Mom and the Mom of my children. Friday and Saturday we had a brief
time with my parents visiting and helping to pack. They are
leaving my childhood home for a place much better suited to their
current needs. It was fun to sort and look through stuff from
years "way" gone by but I am sure for my Mom it doesn't seem so long
ago. She has held on to some things we have long forgot and
beamed with joy to see them. We laughed and remember how we used
to look.
It must have been hard having 5 kids so close in age but she did her
best to make a shoestring bug stretch and stretch. Today I want
them to enjoy what they have, but it seems their children and
grandchildren is what they cherish the most. Happy Mother's day
Mom. I know you probably will not read this as you do not have a
computer, but I wish you the best for all to read if anyone stumbles
across this page.
For the Mom of my kids,
my beloved wife I also which a joyous Mother's day. We hope the
weather stays nice to enjoy family time together outdoors. Like
my Mom, Jannelle cherishes family time together and seems to be
the catalyst for our times together. She too is a special lady
and sees things from a different perspective that graciously
complements my own. While I seemed called to complete my task
list, she will seize the moment and make it special rather than letting
it be trumped by the daily challenges of life. I am so grateful
to have had so many years together (22 so far). I shed a tear
Friday night as a you man sang "I will be here" by Stephen Curtis
Chapman, the only song I ever sang solo at church (or for that matter
anywhere but the shower) and that to her. I am still here and
plan to be as long as the Lord gives us time together. May God
richly bless you Jannelle!
Take time today (even
if not Mother's day) to honor that special Mom you know or have.
His Only,
Tom
March 20, 2007
More Doctrinc in Hymns of Old...
There
is more doctrine in some old hymns that in many modern evengelical
sermons these days. Some people avoid docrtine because it
divides. Without true doctrine to be unified around, we will all
happily go together to Hell! The truth is that God created us and
in His unfathomable love, provided the only way to be saved from His
wrath, the judgement of sins we committed against a holy God.
I was prompted in my spirit to find and read 2 Cor 3:18 this
morning: "But we all, with our face having been
unveiled, having beheld the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are being
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord
Spirit." Doing a word study on face I looked up the Strongs
definition:
G4383
πρόσωπον prosōpon pros'-o-pon
From G4314 and ὤψ ōps (the visage;
from G3700); the front (as being towards view), that is, the countenance, aspect,
appearance, surface; by implication presence, person: - (outward)
appearance, X before, countenance, face, fashion, (men’s) person,
presence.
The word visage
reminded my of the hymn "O Sacred Head Now Wounded" and
remembered the use of the word "visage" and did not know what that
meant. It was refering to the countenance or face of our Lord and
Savior Jesus. It languished* under the sorrow of our sin at the
cross: Read slowly the words that follow:
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown; How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn! How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!
What Thou, my Lord,
hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain; Mine, mine was the
transgression, but Thine the deadly pain. Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me
Thy grace.
The second verse
contains the Gospel message NOT preached in "Positive, Upbeat" churches
today who are afraid or the bitter reality of true Gospel, they rather
tickle the ears of their flock to grow larger and more popular.
"Mine, mine was the
transgression" The repetition forces emphasis on the second
"mine" as to almost shout. Mine sin put Him their! My
sin put the nails in His hands and feet. My sin put the thorns
through His brow. My sin caused the Father to look away and leave
our savior to face the wrath. I SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS
PUNISHMENT!
What response should
that provoke in us? "Lo, here I fall, my
Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe
to me Thy grace".
It is godly sorrow that leads to repentance. 2 Cor 7:10 With this in mind I can't imagine a conversion of the heart in great sorrow and tears! Does this sound like the Gospel taught in your church? It is the Gospel of the Bible and Bernard of Clairvaux understood this in 1153. (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/s/osacredh.htm)
We can learn a lot from
those old hymns. Jesus has not changed the Gospel since He was
lifted up into the clouds, neither should we.
* Websters 1828
Dictionary "4. To pine or sink under sorrow or any continued passion;"