Eleven men visited our church yesterday. Each had been an addict, a slave to a life
that brought them to the bottom. Their lives were a garbage heap of wrecked
relationships, broken bodies, and empty hearts.
In their darkest night, the Light broke through and, in faith, they took
the offer of new life and began a process of transformation. As they sang of God’s “Amazing Grace,” I was
filled up with joy. When Rob told his
story of addiction and the awful cost – living under a bridge, stealing,
hopelessness – and then of the moment when Christ’s love began his restoration;
I wanted to yell “thank You, Lord!” My
elation was tempered by the knowledge that Rob is just 39 days old in this new
life! By the Spirit, he will become a person free and whole, and remain
that way for the rest of his life if
he makes the choice of faith today, tomorrow, the day after that – and every day for the rest of his life.
Jesus told a simple story about seeds and planting. Not all the seed produced a harvest. Some never
took root, falling onto hard ground. Some took root, but quickly died under the
withering heat of the day. Some even grew for a time, but left uncultivated,
died when overtaken by the weeds. Some produced a great harvest. He told us the meaning of the story. “This is the meaning of the parable: The
seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then
the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not
believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with
joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in
the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for
those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries,
riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands
for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by
persevering produce a crop." (Luke 8:11-15, NIV)
Those men yesterday who are relatively young in the Lord, and
the man writing these words who has walked this road for 4 decades, have a
choice to make today. Will we continue to trust the saving grace of Christ,
focused on His ability to save me or will we turn away? No, we cannot save ourselves from the World,
the Flesh, or the Devil! But, we have to continue to gaze upon the Cross,
humbly and faithfully accepting the strength for this day to live by the
Spirit. Our perfection is fully realized
in Christ; yet, at the same time, is being worked out in us as we hold onto Him
in faith, with hope. I love the promise that as we look on Him we
are “being transformed into his likeness
with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
(2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV) He causes us
to shine brighter and brighter with a radiance that comes, not from our
religion or self-actualization, but from His Spirit occupying ever greater
parts of our hearts and minds! Hallelujah,
what a Savior.
Rob, you’re not home yet so keep looking to Jesus. Jerry,
you’re not there yet either so fix your gaze on Christ anew. Reader, He is sufficient to save. Will you
trust Him with your fears, failures, sins, and successes?
Here’s a word from the Word. Meditate on it. Receive the
Truth and go steady on, from faith to faith. "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and
so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made
perfect, (complete or whole) but I press on to take hold of that for which
Christ Jesus took hold of me." (Philippians 3:10-12, NIV) "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly
await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that
enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious
body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and
crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!"
(Philippians 3:20-4:1, NIV)
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
And precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold
Pure gold
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my
Master
Ready to do Your will
Refiner's Fire
Brian Doerksen
© 1990 Vineyard Songs Canada (Admin. by Music Services,
Inc.)
Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
CCLI License # 810055
No comments:
Post a Comment