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August 18, 2022 by smattern Leave a Comment

Making the Most of Your Broken Bonds

Broken Chains

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics.  Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below. 

Below is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you Be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!! We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

https://resonant7.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AndCanItBe-43.1-7192211.36PM.mp3
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.

Broken Chains

We were no more aware of our chains than we were of our prison. That is until the light of God’s love flooded our cell. Even with awareness there was still no way of escape if it were not for the one the God made available to us by His grace.

Imagine for a moment your heart chained. Barely able to beat, to function as it should, but not knowing any better, the impairment of the bondage was not even clear to us. It was what we understood to be normal.

Then God changed all that. He shattered the doors. He cut the bars of iron in two.

My chains fell off my heart was free

For he shatters the doors of bronze
    and cuts in two the bars of iron. Psalm 107:16 ESV

He set us free by shattering the doors of our prison, loosing the chains that long had bound us. Do you recall what that felt like to have the burden of sin lifted from your heart? Recalling that elation is good fuel for the flame of your soul.

That same light which illuminated my bondage also shattered those shackles. Even more than the release of physical chains my heart was truly free from the consequence of a lifetime of sin. I could have never pryed them off but they melted away in the light of God’s love.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and recall the weight of your chains. Now reflect on how it felt in those first moments to have them fall away. Pray the simple prayer, “God, I praise You for dissolving the chains my sin had forged.”

Following the Chain Breaker

Followed

Simply being free was not the end of the story of redemption, but the very beginning. Our Lord has so much more in store for us beyond the miracle of freedom. Still so many taste that liberty and feast no more, content with only the first course of the meal God has made available.

With the weight of our sin and its curse lifted we can rise up. Before that moment we were not able to move, or rather not free to move about in God’s purpose. At best we muddled around thinking that was normal, but somewhere deeper knowing that was not true.

As we rose we were presented with the reality that we needed to choose a path. There are no shortage of ones available but truly one best, the one that has us following Jesus. Can you see His footprints ahead of you so you know which way to go. If not, wait for them to become clear.

I rose went forth and followed Thee

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man! Psalm 107:15 ESV

We thank Him for that freedom by rising in it and committing to walk in it. It is His steadfast love that set us free and we live to share that wondrous work with all who will listen. Are your lips and your life making that good news known?

The only appropriate response to that newfound freedom is to rise up and follow the One who made it available. First we stand in His presence, free of sin. Then we learn to move about in that freedom, all the while learning that following Him is the only path to enjoying it fully.

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and thank God for setting you free. We must learn to live our lives in response to His love by following Him, walking in His ways. Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, show me how to follow You today.“

Jesus, thank You for setting me free and revealing me to me a path. Show me how to walk one step behind you every day. I need Your help. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Faithful Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 43.4 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
    and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Psalm 107:10-11 ESV

Turning from God’s counsel and rebelling against His word brings darkness, and affliction. It is absolutely a prison of sorts, only the prisoner is often unaware of the bars, which makes it even more sad. When you come to see the bars you long for an escape. Remember?

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
    and burst their bonds apart. Psalm 107:13-14 ESV

Deliverance and freedom are available to those who call to the Lord. We could not see the bars and certainly not cry out without His help. Fortunately He sent enough light that we could see them and the way out. Give Him praise. 

My chains fell off my heart was free

For he shatters the doors of bronze
    and cuts in two the bars of iron. Psalm 107:16 ESV

He set us free by shattering the doors of our prison, loosing the chains that long had bound us. Do you recall what that felt like to have the burden of sin lifted from your heart? Recalling that elation is good fuel for the flame of your soul.

I rose went forth and followed Thee

Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man! Psalm 107:15 ESV

We thank Him for that freedom by rising in it and committing to walk in it. It is His steadfast love that set us free and we live to share that wondrous work with all who will listen. Are your lips and your life making that good news known?

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Making the Most of Your Broken Bonds appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Broken Chains – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/freedom-break-handcuffs-happiness-4025802/
Followed – https://pixabay.com/photos/beach-nature-sense-landscape-117255/

Filed Under: Thursday Thoughts

August 16, 2022 by smattern Leave a Comment

Awakening in His Light

Imprisoned Spirit

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s tune our hearts.

Fast Bound in Sin, and Unaware

We were unaware, even asleep to the reality of our condition. The next line says the writer awoke, implying he was asleep before the dungeon filled with light. That is a good illustration of the double bondages of sin. We can not enjoy the freedom God made us for, and we do not even realize we are bound.

Nature’s night is the way the writer says it. Our fallen nature doomed us to sleep while God’s invitation is to wake. We lay asleep, unaware that there was a world of daylight waiting for us to wake up and enjoy it.

What a powerful picture! We even are tempted to bury our heads to spare our spiritual eyes from the brightness just like the image above depicts. Then when we realize the warmth and light of an alternative reality things begin to change, but it is not an easy process to awaken to this reality.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night

Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    prisoners in affliction and in irons,
for they had rebelled against the words of God,
    and spurned the counsel of the Most High. Psalm 107:10-11 ESV

Turning from God’s counsel and rebelling against His word brings darkness, and affliction. It is absolutely a prison of sorts, only the prisoner is often unaware of the bars, which makes it even more sad. When you come to see the bars you long for an escape. Remember?

Though this description applies to all of Adam’s race, without the work of the Holy Spirit we are incapable of accepting our captivity. Sin is absolutely a prison, but one we become accustomed to and accept as the only possibility. Reflect back on the darkness of that bondage.

 

 

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and remember the bars. Can you recall what it first felt like when you realized they were there? Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, remind me just how dark was the prison of sin.” 

Asleep But Waking

A Quickening Ray

Did you catch the interesting sequence of events described in the text? We realized a light was bursting forth while we were still asleep. The light woke us up from our spiritual slumber. It woke us up to the bondage of our sin. It woke us up to a better future and freedom.

But notice where we still were when we saw the light. A dungeon! We were still in the dungeon when the light revealed our captivity. But it also revealed the way of escape.

It was then, aware of the bondage, awakening from our slumber that we cried out to the Lord. We could not have done so if He had not already sent the light. We never would have even realized our need if He had not. He initiates and we respond.

It happened when we first started the journey. It happens again and again when there are more prisons to escape. God keeps sending His light so we can awaken to each those new freedoms. What   an amazing love!

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
    and burst their bonds apart. Psalm 107:13-14 ESV

Deliverance and freedom are available to those who call to the Lord. We could not see the bars and certainly not cry out without His help. Fortunately He sent enough light that we could see them and the way out. Give Him praise.

Into that darkness came a ray of light that filled my life. That first appearing brought a quickening of my conscience which allowed to me see my prison for the first time, and the path of escape from it. Double was the blessing of seeing the dungeon and the doorway.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider the light Jesus has brought into your life. Recall what that felt like. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, thank You for being that light.”  

Jesus, thank You for flooding my life with Your light. Help me to wake up every day to new freedom. In Jesus’ name. 

Illuminated Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 43.4 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee

Though this description applies to all of Adam’s race, without the work of the Holy Spirit we are incapable of accepting our captivity. Sin is absolutely a prison, but one we become accustomed to and accept as the only possibility. Reflect back on the darkness of that bondage.

Spirit, remind me just how dark was the prison of sin.

Into that darkness came a ray of light that filled my life. That first appearing brought a quickening of my conscience which allowed to me see my prison for the first time, and the path of escape from it. Double was the blessing of seeing the dungeon and the doorway.

Jesus, thank You for being that light.

That same light which illuminated my bondage also shattered those shackles. Even more than the release of physical chains my heart was truly free from the consequence of a lifetime of sin. I could have never pryed them off but they melted away in the light of God’s love.

God, I praise You for dissolving the chains my sin had forged.

The only appropriate response to that newfound freedom is to rise up and follow the One who made it available. First we stand in His presence, free of sin. Then we learn to move about in that freedom, all the while learning that following Him is the only path to enjoying it fully.

Jesus, show me how to follow You today.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

My chains fell off my heart was free
I rose went forth and followed Thee

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post Awakening in His Light appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Imprisoned Spirit – https://pixabay.com/photos/prisoner-captivity-jail-penalty-6001768/
A Quickening Ray – https://pixabay.com/photos/man-pray-prayer-praising-praise-6354820/

Filed Under: Tuesday Tunings

August 4, 2022 by smattern Leave a Comment

Mercy Found Me

All Mercy

He left His Father’s throne above
So free so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics.  Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below. 

Below is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you Be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!! We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

https://resonant7.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AndCanItBe-43.1-7192211.36PM.mp3
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.

Mercy All

Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Jesus’ coming down, leaving His supernal glory, is mercy. Emptying Himself of all but love so that He could become one of us is mercy. Shedding His blood for us is mercy. There was nothing we could do to deserve any of that and yet He did it all. All mercy.

God simply chooses to show us mercy. Yet there is a cost to that mercy for He can not overlook our sin. Jesus paid that cost so that  the mercy of God could flow to all. His mercy is over all that He has made, but we must welcome it, embrace it, accept it. Have you?

‘Tis mercy all immense and free

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9 ESV

All that He did was mercy. His coming down. His showering us with grace. His emptying Himself. His bleeding for us. We deserved something else, and nothing good, but He chose mercy instead, all good. Soak up the mercy of God poured out on your undeserving soul.

What He did is simply and completely mercy. He did not give us what we deserved but instead took that on Himself. He did that so that we could receive instead what we did not deserve. His gift of mercy to us is immense and free, but it cost Him everything to give it.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about the mercy of God. It is immense and free to us, but it was not free to offer. Jesus paid the price of God’s mercy to us, by taking the punishment that was ours.. Pray the simple prayer, “Father, thank You for Your mercy.“

Found

Found by God

We exercise faith when we accept the mercy of God. But we would never have been able to do that without His coming to us, reaching to us, finding us, even before we realized we were lost. When we come to terms with just how hopeless our condition was the mercy of God becomes even more clear to the soul that is found.

For O my God it found out me

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

We did nothing to deserve His mercy and grace. Quite the contrary. Therefore we can not boast but simply receive the gift God has given us. When was the last time you simply thanked God for giving you what you could have never earned. How about today?

Mercy is available to all who believe. That includes you. Is that astonishing to you, that God’s mercy found you? It should be. You were lost in sin, helpless and hopeless, yet God made a way for you to be found. Good thing He did because you did not even know you were lost.

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and thank God or finding You. It was His hand that reached through the darkness and took hold of each of us. Pray this simple prayer, “God, thank You for finding me in Your mercy.“

Jesus, thank You for reaching out to me. In the darkness You took hold and helped me to see Your mercy and life. Help me walk in gratitude today. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Grateful Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 43.3 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free so infinite His grace

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

Free and infinite grace. That is an apt description for what Jesus did when He left HIs Father’s throne above. He came down to make a path for us to go up. If He had not done so, there would have been no way for us to receive grace. Thank You Jesus for coming down.

Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race

But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:7-8 ESV

Though He was King, He became a servant. Though He was full of all things, He emptied Himself except for love. He did this so that He could become the only sacrifice that could redeem Adam’s helpless race. He bled for us who caused His pain. What a Savior!

‘Tis mercy all immense and free

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9 ESV

All that He did was mercy. His coming down. His showering us with grace. His emptying Himself. His bleeding for us. We deserved something else, and nothing good, but He chose mercy instead, all good. Soak up the mercy of God poured out on your undeserving soul.

For O my God it found out me

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

We did nothing to deserve His mercy and grace. Quite the contrary. Therefore we can not boast but simply receive the gift God has given us. When was the last time you simply thanked God for giving you what you could have never earned. How about today?

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time,
Be Resonant.

The post Mercy Found Me appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
All Mercy – https://jesusway4you.com/2021/02/22/definition-of-the-day-mercy-pt1/
Found by God – https://shadeofthemoriahtree.wordpress.com/tag/found-by-god/

Filed Under: Thursday Thoughts

August 2, 2022 by smattern Leave a Comment

From Throne to Thorns

The Father’s Throne

He left His Father’s throne above
So free so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is video content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s tune our hearts.

Leaving the Throne Room

It is practically impossible for us to imagine what eternity at the Father’s throne must have been like. When we think of Jesus our first thoughts are usually of His earthly ministry or His sacrifice on the cross, but those years, and those moments, where but a very short part of His eternal existence. Trying to conceive of some comparison of time, eternity versus earthly ministry, helps us begin to ponder how incomprehensibly different was the atmosphere of those two realities.

We state that He left His Father’s throne with little sense of what that wold have required of Jesus. What He was leaving behind, and what He was accepting. The infinite for the finite. Powerful King to powerless infant.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free so infinite His grace

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

Free and infinite grace. That is an apt description for what Jesus did when He left His Father’s throne above. He came down to make a path for us to go up. If He had not done so, there would have been no way for us to receive grace. Thank You Jesus for coming down.

Jesus came down to save us. He condescended from His place near His Father’s throne to become one of us so that He could offer His perfect life on our behalf. What must that have been like for the Son to part from the Father for the first time in eternity? Ponder this.

 

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider His coming down. Try to imagine what He left behind. Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, help me appreciate Jesus coming down to us.” 

To Wear A Crown of Thorns

And Bled for Adam’s Helpless Race

Not only did He leave behind the glory of the Father’s throne, but we began a humble life that would end on a cruel cross. He traded the throne for thorns. From wonder to pain. From praises to insults. If leaving glory were not enough, He became a servant and then offered His life for the ones jeering Him.

He left everything behind but for one thing. Love. And love was all He needed to willingly lay down His life, having already laid down His glory.

Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race

But made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:7-8 ESV

Though He was King, He became a servant. Though He was full of all things, He emptied Himself except for love. He did this so that He could become the only sacrifice that could redeem Adam’s helpless race. He bled for us who caused His pain. What a Savior!

He poured out everything that was rightfully His, except for love. Power, glory, majesty and dominion He left behind holding only onto love. He gave up so much He deserved to take on so much He did not deserve. We were helpless, lost in sin, and He shed His blood for us.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider the cross as He extravagant expression of love. The Eternal King shedding His blood to ransom us. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, thank You for Your inestimable sacrifice.”  

Jesus, thank You for shedding Your blood. I can hardly take it in, all You left behind so you could make us Yours. Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name. 

Awe-filled Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 43.3 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me

Jesus came down to save us. He condescended from His place near His Father’s throne to become one of us so that He could offer His perfect life on our behalf. What must that have been like for the Son to part from the Father for the first time in eternity? Ponder this.

Spirit, help me appreciate Jesus coming down to us.

He poured out everything that was rightfully His, except for love. Power, glory, majesty and dominion He left behind holding only onto love. He gave up so much He deserved to take on so much He did not deserve. We were helpless, lost in sin, and He shed His blood for us.

Jesus, thank You for Your inestimable sacrifice.

What He did is simply and completely mercy. He did not give us what we deserved but instead took that on Himself. He did that so that we could receive instead what we did not deserve. His gift of mercy to us is immense and free, but it cost Him everything to give it.

Father, thank You for Your mercy.

Mercy is available to all who believe. That includes you. Is that astonishing to you, that God’s mercy found you? It should be. You were lost in sin, helpless and hopeless, yet God made a way for you to be found. Good thing He did because you did not even know you were lost.

God, thank You for finding me in Your mercy.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

‘Tis mercy all immense and free
For O my God it found out me

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, Be Resonant.

The post From Throne to Thorns appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
The Father’s Throne – https://www.cwgministries.org/blogs/leading-worshipers-throne-room
Bled for Adam’s Helpless Race – http://thetruth-blog.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-did-jesus-die.html

Filed Under: Tuesday Tunings

July 28, 2022 by smattern Leave a Comment

All Mystery: All Mercy

Let Earth Adore

‘Tis mystery all th’Immortal dies
Who can explore His strange design
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine
‘Tis mercy all let earth adore
Let angel minds inquire no more

And Can It Be, That I Should Gain? 1738
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics.  Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below. 

Below is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you Be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!! We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

https://resonant7.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AndCanItBe-43.1-7192211.36PM.mp3
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

As we continue our journey through this hymn which encourages us to be amazed at God’s love for us prepare to respond and give Him praise. Let’s think about this.

Adoration

What is our response to the the mystery and mercy of God? Adoration. But what does that look/sound like?

His mystery may evoke sense of wonder that may be expressed more likely with awe and quietness. His mercy on the other hand may evoke a sense of gratitude that can not keep quiet at all. His amazing love is both all mystery and all mercy so there are moments when either response may seem more natural.

Adoration takes different forms and can certainly be expressed with different volume levels. One probably feels more comfortable to you, but it is important to be willing to practice the other as well. Sometimes noisy praise, sometimes quiet worship. All adoration.

‘Tis mercy all let earth adore

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:20 ESV

The writer implores the earth to adore, but the Scripture instructs silence. Are these mutually exclusive? We often acquaint noise with adoration, but can quiet also characterize it? Of course. Maybe even a more profound sense of it. With the angels, let all the earth adore.

Even though the angels can not fully proclaim His love, all the earth is implored to adore. Though we can never adequately convey it still we must make our feeble attempts because His mercy demands it. Are you trying to find your place in the adoration? Do it today.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about your adoration. What are your familiar expressions? Are you willing to consider and even practice some different forms of adoration?. Pray the simple prayer, “Spirit, help me adore.“

Acceptance

Angel Minds

Though they have flown around in God’s presence their entire existence, to grasp the love of God is still something they can not truly do. Though there is much they understand as God’s messengers, they can not fathom the depth of His love for us. So futile is that pursuit that they are basically encouraged to stop trying to understand, and instead to simply live in it.

Does it strike you as odd that angels are basically encouraged to to stop inquiring regarding God’s love? It did me. Maybe it is because they can put the energy required for serious inquiry into other pursuits, like praise. That makes sense.

Let angel minds inquire no more

It was revealed to them…in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you…things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:12 ESV

The good news preached to us, things into which angels long to look. Even angels who have circled the through eternally marvel at this divine mystery of God’s redemption made available to us through the sacrifice of His Son. Certainly we should as well.

While we are instructed to adore the angels are told to inquire no more. How interesting. Mortals who are filled with questions are encouraged to praise while angels who are filled with praise are instructed to cease their questions. Paradoxes abound, but such is our faith.

RESONATE!

Take a few moments and ask God to help you respond to His amazing love. We may want a better understanding, just like the angels, but it is better by far for us to simply accept it. Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, help us walk in faith.“

Jesus, help me to accept Your love today. I want to understand it better, but help me long even more for an appreciation for it. Thank You for calling me to that. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Adoring Thinking!

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Podcast 43.2 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

‘Tis mystery all th’Immortal dies
Who can explore His strange design

But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 ESV

There can be no mistaking the design of our redemption is strange. The Scripture makes it equally clear it was God’s design to crucify His Son for our sins. It was true eternally, but we must embrace it today.

In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Job 38:7 ESV

Since the foundations of the earth were laid, the angels have been singing the praises of God. Still not even they could find an adequate expression to capture the love of God on display through His sacrifice. Will you join their song today?

‘Tis mercy all let earth adore

But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:20 ESV

The writer implores the earth to adore, but the Scripture instructs silence. Are these mutually exclusive? We often acquaint noise with adoration, but can quiet also characterize it? Of course. Maybe even a more profound sense of it. With the angels, let all the earth adore.

Let angel minds inquire no more

It was revealed to them…in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you…things into which angels long to look. 1 Peter 1:12 ESV

The good news preached to us, things into which angels long to look. Even angels who have circled the through eternally marvel at this divine mystery of God’s redemption made available to us through the sacrifice of His Son. Certainly we should as well.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain

‘Tis mystery all th’Immortal dies
Who can explore His strange design
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine
‘Tis mercy all let earth adore
Let angel minds inquire no more

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time,
Be Resonant.

The post All Mystery: All Mercy appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Let earth adore – https://pixabay.com/photos/earth-planet-space-world-11008/
Angel minds – https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-do-angels-look-like-in-human-and-heavenly-form.html

Filed Under: Thursday Thoughts

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