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First Loved Me

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
 And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
 If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.

We began our look into this timeless hymn last week. You can find that first post here. This week we examine the act which demonstrated God’s love for us and illicits our response. In each of those “now” moments, we are given a number of different things to ponder. Let’s tune our hearts.

I Love Thee Because…

This second stanza expands on the now of the historical event that made our redemption possible: God’s demonstration of love for us on the cross.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

We did not have to get our act together. We did not even need an awareness of God or His great love for us. While we were still in sin, the Father sent His one and only Son to die for us.

The hymn puts the emphasis where it belongs, on God’s initiating, unmerited love, not our responding, grateful love. If God had not moved toward us, we simply would never have taken the initiative. Even if we had, we could have never reached Him, because our sin had so separated us from Him. Our sin had left us with a debt we could never pay. Fortunately for us, God’s love came to pay the debt in full.

Purchased My Pardon

Purchased My Pardon

The Scripture says it best.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Our sin had earned us death, a debt only satisfied with a life. It should have been ours, but instead Jesus offered His perfect life, “once for all”. Romans 6:10

I think this is a difficult concert to grasp, even when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the reality of it. Though we acknowledge our utter need for a Savior when we yield our lives to Christ, I think we will be amazed at how bad our situation was when we stand before the throne and see others do the same, only to find that dependency on Christ work alone makes all the difference.

Think of it this way. Every time you sin you are charging things to your account. Unfortunately, we you get to the end of the billing cycle and your statement arrives, you realize there is not only no way you can pay for your usage that month, you can not repay any portion of the the debt at all, ever. One swipe caused your account to be in default, and yet unbeknownst to you, you kept charging.

Only the Holy Spirit can reveal this situation to you and the remedy. Trusting Christ to redeem every bit requires faith, and even that is a gift. But it is important to remember, Jesus did not wipe out your debt. He paid it in full, at great cost to Himself.

 

Calvary’s Tree

And just exactly how did He purchase our pardon?

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— Galatians 3:13 ESV

Let’s change the imagery a bit here to help us reconsider just how significant this becoming a curse truly was.

This quote comes from Deuteronomy 21:22, but the even more interesting reality is the context for it.

Calvary’s Tree

The imagery that is evoked here is that of the Canaanite kings who were hung on tress as a part of the conquest of the Promised Land by the people of Israel. Not just anyone was hung on a tree, but those who were significant symbols of the wrath of God pouring out. Christ is likened to them, and that is not a pleasant association. You can read more about this in this short article, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”.

Recap: God loved us first. He demonstrated that by purchasing our pardon when He became a curse for us. The only right response to that kind of love is love.

Though there is no simple method which provides immediate financial debt relief, there is one way to accomplish immediate, total spiritual debt forgiveness. Respond today to the free gift Jesus offers. Then determine to life your life loving Jesus. We will help you remove hindrances to such a life by providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Immediate and Continual Tuning!

Jesus, in response to Your great love for me which I could have never earned, I commit to love you, right now and forever. Thank You for purchasing my pardon by becoming a curse for me. I can never repay the debt of love owed by this grateful heart, but I will live my life to reflect that love to everyone willing to acknowledge it. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 9.2 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.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
 And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
 If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Here is a key truth. Our love is always a response to the love Christ has first shown us. He initiates, moves toward us, makes a way for us to approach, and we simply respond. Ask God to help you maintain this humble perspective and motivate your response of love.

He revealed His love by becoming a curse for us, dying on the cross, taking the punishment for all our wrongs. Thank Jesus for purchasing your pardon by sacrificing His perfect life for the sins of the world, including yours.

The Eternal King willingly laid down His life, stepping into those moments of beating and mockery, to leave no doubt of His great love for us. Think on those hours from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross of Golgotha, and give Him praise.

When we consider the lengths to which Jesus went to demonstrate His love for us, we are compelled to love Him. Reflect on those times when you have been overcome with sorrow for all He endured or you, and respond in these moments by renewing your love.

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.

Sing

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

Image Attributions
First Loved Me - https://pixabay.com/illustrations/heart-love-romance-symbol-598048/
Purchased My Pardon - https://pixabay.com/photos/credit-card-master-card-visa-card-1520400/
Calvary’s Tree - https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-religion-jesus-christ-calvary-1872550/

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What Happened the Moment I Was Saved?

Gracious Redeemer

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
 For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
 If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read. And be sure to experience the worship-cultivating podcast below.

We take some time today to consider the now of those moments of redemption. We saw Jesus clearly and responded to His offer of forgiveness. Let’s think about that.

Gracious Redeemer

Having just declared our resignation from sin, we confess the grace of our Redeemer. Though it comes before acknowledging Him as our gracious Redeemer in the hymn our determining to refrain from sin is truly a response to His grace. He showed the grace before we made our determination, which makes His redeeming grace all the more remarkable. He did not wait for us to act first, he initiated. And good thing, because we would never have moved toward Him without Him making the way.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7 ESV

Can you recall those moments when you first realized God’s redeeming grace was being offered freely to you through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ? I am not talking about when you first heard the name of Jesus, or first began to consider the work on the cross, I mean that moment when you realized you needed to be redeemed from your sin, and Jesus was willing to do it. Take a few moments and remember what that “now” felt like.

Thank Jesus for His unmerited grace which made your redemption, the forgiveness of all your sins, possible. He is your Redeemer, according to the riches of His grace. Give Him praise.

My Savior

My Savior

Not just the Savior of the world, but my Savior. I needed saving and Jesus did the work for me. Reflect for just a minute what that required of Him.

The Father affirmed on several occasions that He was pleased with Jesus, but sin had to be dealt with once and for all which required a perfect sacrifice. Jesus became that sacrifice out of obedience to the Father.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21ESV

He endured the cross for the glory of God and for our good.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 ESV

Jesus not only purchased a position for us, but a way of living. Dead to sin and alive to righteousness. When the Holy Spirit reveals these truths to us the only appropriate response is one of love.

Thank Jesus for becoming your Savior, by becoming sin and making you the righteousness of God. Give Him glory.

If ever…it’s now!

If Ever I Loved Thee…It Was Then

Here we find clarity regarding the “now” of this first stanza. When do I love Jesus? That moment when I first believed and placed my faith in His gracious redeeming, saving work in me.

I have a very clear recollection of that “now”. I had been wrestling with the claims of Christ and trying to reconcile them with what I thought I knew. It was becoming obvious to me that I needed a Savior, and that Jesus was willing to be mine. I remember that Sunday night service when the pastor preached a message based on this Scripture.

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

You may not have been sitting in a pew in a church like I was, but you can probably recall when you first responded to Jesus’ love for you. What happened in that moment? You began to love Jesus with an eternal love. Recall that “now” again and allow the love first kindled in those moments to fan into flame your affection for Jesus in these, and on into forever.

Jesus, thank You for showing me what love looks like. You sacrificed yourself to become the Redeemer of the world and my Savior. Help me to recall that love everyday and live my life responding to it and reflecting it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Affectionate Thinking!

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

Podcast 9.1 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.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;

John 21:15 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

When asked by Jesus if he loved Him, Peter responded, “You know that I love you”, but Peter had denied Jesus three times just days before. If Jesus were to ask you, would you be able to respond as surely, or would you struggle with times you have denied Him? Think about that.

 For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

As an expression of our love for Jesus, and in response to His offering His life for us, we must resign the foolishness of sin, and determine to live for His glory. A part of that is resisting the Devil. Tell Jesus you are determined to turn from sin, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you resist the Devil and his temptations.

My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

Even before we engaged in the follies of sin, Jesus shed His blood to become our Redeemer. In so doing, He made a way for all our trespasses to be forgiven, an extravagant expression of His grace. Thank Him again right now for His saving work in your life.
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Certainly in those first moments of salvation we were quick to tell Jesus how much we loved Him. Can you recall those moments, the “now” of your surrender to God and resignation from sin? This was the verse that precipitated my response to Jesus’ gift so I remember it well. Remember, and give Him praise.

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.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
 For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
 If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

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

Image Attributions
Gracious Redeemer - https://pixabay.com/illustrations/love-jesus-prophet-holy-man-christ-1221444/
My Savior - https://pixabay.com/illustrations/love-jesus-prophet-holy-man-christ-1221455/
If ever I loved Thee, it was then - https://pixabay.com/photos/church-pew-bible-catholic-faith-3120081/

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The Language of Love

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational conversation with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey of exploring the language of love.

Loving Jesus with your all

PREPARATION:

In our last Wandering we examined talking and hearing. This week we will listen in on the psalmist conversation of adoration and investigate the languages of love. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus by stating:

“Jesus, I invite you to help me to wander into your Presence where your everlasting and reckless love can influence me. Illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you. Prepare my heart to focus my attention on loving you with my whole being.

PROMISE: Love is a demonstrated and expressed language between lovers. In Matthew 22: 37 Jesus commands us to convey our love to the lover of our soul, holistically. He states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (New International Version). Our devotion to God is considered the first commandment. We are instructed to withhold not one ounce of affection and to lavish God with a cumulative love of our heart, mind,and soul. The song writer is living out this commandment and transparently shares his adoration to Jesus.

Love blooms

PSALM: My Jesus I love Thee was originally a devotion poem written by William Ralph Featherston around 1864. In this poem, Featherston shares his love language of affirmation in his transformational conversation with Jesus.

Chorus:
Lord Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the pleasures of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou,
If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, ’tis now.

Encounters with Jesus grow like roots within the soil of our heart, mind, and soul. When we spend time with Jesus the seeds of our will, understanding, and affections bloom into an anthem of adoration. As each day passes, our soul has an unction to obey the commandment of Matthew 22:37 to love Jesus MORE with all passion, prayer, and intelligence. This is evidenced when our worship and praise grows into a field of loving devotion.

PARABLE: The psalmist uses the love language of affirmation to declare his love for Jesus. The word NOW jumps out of the lyrics in real time. Notice that the proclamation of the writer’s love comes after the pronouncement that there is a personal covenant love with Jesus (I know Thou art mine) and after a promulgation of the characteristics of the love Jesus has committed to displaying (gracious, redemptive, and saving love). What makes the love that the writer has so present and profound? I don’t know the answer to this question but I do empathize with an intensified love that is occurring NOW.

Time is a stimulant in the language of love. The more you experience time with Jesus and the more you come to understand and receive His endless love, the more your heart responds and reciprocates the love. After graciously being redeemed from a two-year post-traumatic stress disorder battle, now more than ever I understand the ever-present healing love of Jesus. The love language I speak in response to the love of Jesus is now different.

Love is a language

Have you considered that love is a language? Gary Chapman describes that God speaks all Five Love Languages fluently.

The Five Love Languages are:

  1. Words of Affirmation (Hebrews 13:15 communicate love through praise and thanksgiving)
  2. Quality time (Deuteronomy 17:18-19 communicates love by spending time in God’s word and with God)
  3. Receiving gifts (Romans 12:1 communicates love by giving ourselves to God)
  4. Acts of service (Matthew 25:31-40 communicates love by loving and serving others)
  5. Touching (Mark 10:13-16 communicates love through physical touch and acceptance of others)

Do you know your primary love language? If not, you may take the 5 Love langauge quiz to learn your primary love language. Most likely the love language you communicate in with people is the same love language you will choose to communicate with God. The song writer reveals that his primary love languages through the lyrics indicating that he was spent quality time with Jesus and his response was to affirm his love for Jesus.

PONDER and WANDER:

Ponder the question: What love language do you think Jesus speaks? Jesus also speaks every love language and is an interpreter and translator of our love language. He understands every word, thought, and emotion behind each act of love. He individualizes His love language to each believer. As He speaks to us we experience the unconditional, gracious, redeeming, and saving love of Jesus and it provokes a response within us to express our language of love to Christ. Each time we wander in the Presence of Jesus and encounter His love, we become more fluent in our love languages.

This week our wandering will assist us in growing our emotional relationship with Jesus by strengthening our expression of love in the areas of quality time and affirmation.

Like William Featherston, you may chose to set aside some quality time to write a devotional poem affirming your love to Jesus. If you choose to write your poem, keep in mind that it is your personal expression and is not confined by length, rhyming, or any other myths you have about poetry.

Love letter

When you are ready, you may begin by taking a moment to breath in and out inviting the Holy Spirit to activate your spiritual senses. Next allow the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind what words will best express your adoration for Jesus based on your relationship with him in time. Consider your love affair with Jesus in:

  • The Past
  • The Present
  • The Future

When you are ready, let the Holy Spirit guide your pen as you write a devotional poem of adoration to Jesus expressing your love to Him for the gracious love He has given you in the past, for the redeeming love He is giving you in the present, and for the saving love he will give you in the future.

Love emojis

If you prefer technology over the traditional method of paper and pen, you may choose to contemplate expressing your poem in emojis. When you are ready, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, ponder what emojis represent your relationship with Jesus in the past, present, and future. Now select the emoji’s and craft a love text to Jesus.

PRAYER: My Jesus how I love THEE! Let me count the ways. I love thee with my affection. It exceeds that which I have for any other. I love thee to the point of exhaustion. My whole self is spent in my love for thee. I crave thee. Refresh the cravings of my mind, body, and soul with your everlasting and ever-present love. I love thee in other tongues. Help me to seek opportunities to diversify my language of love. I love thee with everything. You are my everything and my everything is YOU! In the name of Jesus who is the Lover of my soul I pray, Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to offer God your gratitude. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Jesus and utter a word of thanks in the love language of affirmation.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

Image attributions:
Love Jesus with all: Google images
Love blooms: Google images
Love is a language: Google images
Love letter: Belovedwomen.org
Love Emojis: Pixabay

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How to Love Jesus More than Sin

Fire on the Shore

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
 For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
 If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.

Over these next four weeks we will look into this timeless hymn, written in all likelihood by a 12-16 year, which examines several different moments in the life of the believer. In each of those “now” moments, we are encouraged to express our love to Jesus in a variety of ways. Let’s tune our hearts.

Fire

This hymn gives voice to the words in John 21 where Jesus reinstates Peter. As they finished their meal, Peter declares three times his love for Jesus. Peter had only days before denied Christ as he stood around another fire.

They shared some bread and fish together shortly after sunrise. Jesus drew Peter close and warmed his heart with the invitation to follow, again. How sweet those moments with the resurrected Christ must have been for them.

How often our love for Jesus has grown cold and He invites us again to follow. Not because we deserve it or have gotten our act together, but because He knows what is best for us, and that is it.

Jesus, I love you. Many times over these weeks we are going to examine different moments of our life. The “now” of each of those moments presents us with unique opportunities to demonstrate our love for Jesus. We declare in each of them with the hymn writer “if ever I loved You Jesus, it’s now.” May that become more true in our lives as we consider and determine our responses in each of those “nows”.

Mine

I Am My Beloved’s

The first passage that comes to mind for me with the word mine is a very personal one. On the inside of my wedding band are the words, “I am my beloved’s”. It is referencing Song of Solomon 6:3a, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.” I have not always lived that out well, but it has always been and will always be my intention to do so.

The same could be said of our commitment to Jesus. We have not always lived that out well, but it has always been our intention to do so. Why? Because it is the only appropriate response to Jesus giving Himself so selflessly to pay the penalty our sin deserved. He put it like this.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 (ESV)

Jesus has clearly and in dramatic fashion laid down his life for us. We know He has done this for the glory of God and for our good, both simultaneously, as an extravagant expression of love. One unlike any other other across all time and space. The kind of expression that demands a response.

Resign

“To Thee all the follies of sin I resign.” That is quite a response.

We use most of those words today, some 150 years after these were first penned, with the exception of one. Follies. Here that is meant to imply foolishness. So essentially we are committing to cease our involvement in the foolishness of sin. Sounds easy. But in practice, not so much.

We would agree with the writer and confess this is the right response to being delivered from the consequences of sin, yet we still struggle to refrain from engaging in its foolishness. While an entire book could be written on this struggle, and indeed it has been, consider this one line from it and the wisdom of its instruction.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (ESV)

I think the danger is trying to be dead to sin, without actually spending the bulk of our attention on being alive to God. It’s the old negative versus positive conundrum. Allow me to illustrate.

Don’t Run

When you yell to a child running down the hall, “Don’t run”, the last thing they hear is “run” and you are reinforcing the negative behavior. If instead you say “Walking feet”, you create a positive alternative and make clear the right behavior.

Though there is no simple formula to help you love Jesus more than sin, the next time you are faced with a temptation remind yourself of this conundrum, and ask the Holy Spirit to be that positive voice in your heart. As opposed to telling your self, “Don’t sin”, allow the Spirit to speak to your heart “Love Jesus”. I know it seems simple, but it has helped me to keep that commitment of love countless times, and I believe it can help you too. And we will keep providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Positive Tuning!

Jesus, I love you. I am so thankful you gave yourself as a sacrifice for my sin, delivering me from it’s folly. I commit to love You again today, and ask for Your help to do it. Holy Spirit, help me to resign to sin by focusing more on loving Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.

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

Below is content available only to Subscribers. Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 9.1 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.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
 For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
 If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

When you know Jesus is for you, and what He has done to demonstrate that to you, the only appropriate response is to love Him. The One who made all things and is remaking them wants to save you. Tell Him you love Him.

Foolishness, that what follies are. Seems like a simple thing. Give up the foolishness of sin to fully embrace the wisdom of Christ’s love. But it is not as easy as it sounds. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any follies you have yet to resign.

The realization of the truths of the third line are what I believe empowers the worshipper to declare the other three lines. When we confess that He is the only One who can redeem us, purchasing us back from sin, saving us from the wrath of God, our worship begins. Declare He is your Savior and Redeemer.

The use of the word now to describe the immediacy of the worshippers love here is intriguing, especially since the hymn takes us to four distinct, different moments in our journey of love. This initial one seems to be those moments when we first determined to love Jesus. Recall your love for Jesus in those moments to kindle it again in these.

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.

Sing

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

Image Attributions
Fire on the Shore - https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-water-dusk-outdoors-shore-3097772/
I Am My Beloved’s - https://pixabay.com/photos/wedding-rings-engagement-rings-3611277/
Don’t Run - https://giphy.com/gifs/ted-talk-vaJquoRYdcN0c

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So Be It

Daily Walking

Just a closer walk with Thee,
 Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
 Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee
 By: Anonymous

Listen as you read. This is a really nice gospel instrumental version.

As we close out our walking/talking journey here, the simplicity of this final prayer is striking. We are pleading for a closer walk with Jesus. But I wonder if we can even grasp what that may mean. Let’s think about that.

On the Move

These last two lines focus in on a few key principles that bring some clarity to what it means to walk close to Jesus, with the first being movement. The image above portrays this well. It is not so much about a lot of movement, as much as continual. There is implied in this prayer of daily walking close to Jesus the awareness that there is a journey we are invited to join.

One of the things I have noticed with the passing of the years is a proclivity to move less. Whether it is because there is some pain in the moving or simply that it takes a little more effort to get going, it is easy to live a sedentary lifestyle. The same can be said at any age of our spiritual lives. It is easier to remain stationary. It requires energy to move. But the benefits are staggering.

Are you willing to move every day as Jesus moves? There are two parts to that question. Are you ready to move, and will you model your moving after Jesus. It reminds me of Jesus instruction to the disciples, which we must strive to emulate.

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” John 5:19 (ESV)

Ask Jesus to give you that same ability and willingness to identify His movements and mimic them. Commit to moving every day with Jesus.

Close to Thee

Like Jesus

Here is where things get really interesting. Let’s make it clear. Jesus taught it this way.

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 ESV

If we are going to walk closely with Jesus, we will have to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily. This is what it means to follow Him. No part of this is easy.

  • Denying ourselves. Ouch! I will not pursue what my natural inclinations would be. Instead I will pursue the supernatural desires which Jesus introduces me to. All those things you want, you must lay them aside. Why? Because carrying a cross requires you carry nothing else. Look at the image of Jesus. He is only carrying His cross. What must you lay down today to follow Jesus?
  • Taking up your cross. Not Jesus’ cross. Your cross. You will likely not be crucified, but you will have some opportunity to learn obedience through suffering like Jesus did. [Hebrews 5:8] Are you able to identify what your cross may be today? If so, ask Jesus for the grace to bear it. If not, ask Him first for the grace to identify it.

Amen

As Jesus reveals to you what you need to lay down and what you need to pick up, be prepared to surrender to them. “So be it” is the meaning behind this closing line, which is so important the writer encourages us to say it twice. And that is also effectively what the word means we often use to close our prayers, “Amen”. All that stuff I just prayed Lord, so be it, Amen.

Let It Be

How does the prayer of this final stanza stack up against the things you have been praying about lately? A quick recap.

  • Just let me walk closer to You Jesus
  • That is all I am asking
  • Daily walking close to You
  • Amen

If you were to hear my recent prayers, there might have been some of that, but there are a whole lot of other things. Mostly for others, but a good bit for me, and not enough of this.

Ask Jesus to help you adjust your talking with Him, so that it reflects a deeper desire to be walking with Him daily. As you do, prepare to surrender as He reveals what you need to lay down and what you need to take up. It is not the easy road, but it is the far better one.

Jesus, thank You for the reminder of what I should be asking for when I pray. Thank You for the opportunity to examine my walk and identify what I need to lay down so I am free to take up what will help me learn obedience. Give me the courage to follow You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Deliberate Thinking!

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Podcast 7.4 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.

Just a closer walk with Thee,

2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Seems like walking would not take much courage. It is such a simple thing, just trust your sight. But walking with God is no simple thing, and courage is required to walk by faith. Walking with Jesus requires eyes of faith. Ask Him to sharpen your spiritual sight.

Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Colossians 1:9b, 10 ESV

…we have not ceased to pray for you…So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

We join Paul in prayer and echo the one he offered for the believers in Colosse. It is a prayer driven by our desire to walk worthy of our Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Make this your plea right now.

Daily walking close to Thee,

Luke 9:23 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Daily walking close to Jesus will require us to follow His lead, His example. His was a life of self-denial. For the good of the world He went to His cross. For the glory of God we must carry ours. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you take up your cross so you can walk close to Jesus.

Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Philippians 4:20 ESV

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Amen means “so be it.” We want to walk closely with Jesus so we can bring glory to God our Father, just like He did. There is a lot of weight in this straight-forward prayer.

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

Just a closer walk with Thee,
 Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
 Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

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

Image Attributions
Daily Walking - https://pixabay.com/photos/movement-run-go-walk-autumn-536650/
Close to Thee - https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-christ-cross-cross-carry-1248835/
Let It Be - https://pixabay.com/photos/amen-message-notice-letters-1510175/

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