Thursday Thoughts Archives - Page 52 of 54

He breaks the power of cancell’d sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avail’d for me.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Listen as you read. This version is by Kaleb Brasse.

The foulest? Really?

Yep

The prisoner on the cross beside Him is a great example. Can you see the reflection of Jesus in that drop of blood? And how about that prisoner of the cross to the right? Do you recall the story? Jesus was crucified between two criminals.

You can read the entire account in Luke 23:32-42, but let me draw your attention to the one who rebuked the other for taunting Jesus. He acknowledged he was being punished justly, getting back what he deserved for the things he had done, while Jesus was innocent. Then He pleads for mercy, an important concept to grasp when we think about His blood, because it is what keeps us from getting what we deserve.

He requests mercy simply by asking, “Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom.” Luke 11:42 After the other criminal ridicules Him for appearing to be powerless to help Himself, the other acknowledges His kingly authority. He may have been among the foulest, but Jesus promises to make Him flawless by saying, “…today you will be with me in paradise.”

Doesn’t seem fair does it? A criminal about to die asks for mercy and receives it. He has no opportunity to earn it, or somehow improve his standing. It is offered without merit, and solely based on confidence in the One he is asking.

For Comparison

When it comes to our salvation, that seems more fair, right? I mean, I am not a criminal, and even if you have broken a few laws, you are certainly not guilty of doing anything that would justify being crucified – a terrible, agonizingly slow death, done publicly for the purpose of humiliation. Maybe you do have a long list of misdemeanors, to go along with your felonies, but at least you are not Adolf Hitler or Charles Manson, right?

There is a problem with this comparison game though. It simply does not work. Why? There are no gradients of imperfection. Anything that is not perfect is equally as imperfect as every other imperfect thing. So we are all in the same position. Imperfect, longing to be perfect. Foul, and needing to be clean. But this is no news to Jesus.

Good News

Knowing full well none of us possessed the capacity to get clean, Jesus came to provide a way. As He sat and shared the last meal with His disciples before His crucifixion, Jesus said, “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 Remission is the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty. Jesus knew He was about to shed His blood so the power of sin could be cancelled and we could be set free.

When even the foulest among us acknowledges the power of His blood to cleanse us, everything changes. We are forgiven. Made clean. Wesley declares “His blood avail’d for me”, which simply means it helped or benefitted me. Though that is accurate, it seems like a gross understatement. At the same time, it is a fact. His blood did help me, and everyone else who ever asked, or will.

It makes me think of this powerful quote of Corrie Ten Boom. “There is no pit so deep, that God’s love is not deeper still.” You can not be so foul that you get beyond God’s ability to make you clean. Think about it. He cancels sin and its power. He set the prisoner free. His blood cleanses the Foulest among us, which is really good news because not one of us is very far off from that moniker. In its place He gives us a new title, Faultless. Thanks be to God for His deep, deep love.

Jesus, when I think of Your blood shed for me, I am humbled. I did not deserve it yet You freely gave it. Aware of how unworthy I am, there have been moments when I have struggled to believe Your blood could help me. Forgive me Lord for ever doubting that You could make me clean. I do believe, and that believe leads me to praise You again today, for my new standing and my new title. Thank you Jesus!

Joyful 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.

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 check out some samples at our Free Member Content Library. We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant! Check them out today!!

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

Podcast 3.3 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 breaks the power of cancell’d sin,

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Propitiation is to atone. He atoned for sins, making us at one with God, having formerly been separated by our sin. Jesus did this when He willingly laid down his perfect life. Praise Jesus for breaking the power of sin.

He sets the prisoner free;

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Jesus read these words in the synagogue as He began His ministry, and pronounced they were fulfilled. Do you see yourself in this list: Poor, brokenhearted, captive, imprisoned? Thank Jesus that He was anointed to change our circumstances.

His blood can make the foulest clean,

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Jesus taught he who has been forgiven much, loves much. Paul called himself the foremost among sinners. Do you remember how “far off” you were? Ponder that for a moment, and then thank Jesus for cleansing you with His blood so you could be brought near.

His blood avail’d for me.

Romans 5:9 ESV

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Availed means to help or benefit. What an understatement in describing what Jesus’ blood did for us. Justification has been explained as being made “just-as-if” you had never sinned. I needed a lot of help to look like that, and you did too. Thank Jesus.

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.

He breaks the power of cancell’d sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avail’d for 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.

Jesus! the Name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life, and health, and peace.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Listen as you read. This version is from Tyler Andrews.

Little strikes more fear in many people’s hearts than the very sight of a snake. When they consider the prospect of sitting in front of one in at attempt to charm it like it is done in India, for example, their pulse increases, their palms become sweaty, and they all but pass out. And for good reason. Snakes can be very dangerous.

When we learn a little more about these street performers, we learn that for many of them the fangs have been removed, or the lips sewn shut. Changes the game a bit. But I am still pretty certain I remain uninterested in trying it.

Jesus, the Fear Charmer

When I first head these words years ago, I think I mistakenly thought the phrase here was “calms our fears” which actually also makes sense. But frankly it is not nearly as profound as the statement that Jesus charms, or controls, our fears. The meaning here implies to control or achieve as if by magic. While Jesus uses no magic when He deals with our fears, there is absolutely something supernatural that occurs. It is a powerful image, this one of Jesus being in control of our fears as they raise their terrible heads in our lives. Reminds me of the disciples in the midst of the storm…

Mark 4:35-41 tells of the storm that was inducing fear in the disciples. The threat was so real they thought they might lose their lives, but Jesus had slept through it all. What an interesting commentary on His apparent lack of concern. How we often mistake Jesus’ lack of intervention for lack of care, when He might be simply waiting for us to ask.

When the disciples finally wake Him and ask Him if He cares, not to calm the storm mind you, Jesus charms, or calms, the storm with “Peace! Be Still!” Wow! Do you believe that happened? Do you believe Jesus can speak with the same authority into your lives? Or are you quietly convinced He does not care about the situation you are in the middle of, or the fear it is evoking in you?

Jesus cares and He wants to convince you of that. Ask Him to speak “Peace! Be Still!” over the snake/fear that is raising it’s head in your life. His statement may have a more profound effect on your heart that the situation, but either way, He will charm that fear. What’s stopping you from asking? Thankfully, Jesus often does wait for us to ask, but simply has compassion on us, like the widow who had lost her son in Luke 7:11-17.

Jesus the Sorrow “Ceaser”

Not Caeser, but Ceaser. Yes, I made that up, but you see what I did there don’t you? Jesus is an autocrat, having absolute power over even our sorrows, but rather than demanding they cease, He sometimes bids them to cease by inviting us into a different response as He demonstrates His ability to cease their cause.

In the Luke passage above, Jesus comes across a funeral procession. The dead man is the only son of the widow in the passage. When Jesus sees her, He has compassion on her, and invites her, “Do not weep” before He has done anything to change the circumstance.

Do you ever wonder how much time passes between the line of Scripture sometimes? The very next line tells us “Then Jesus…” The time between “Do not weep” and “Then Jesus…” is an unknown. Inject yourself into that gap, because truth be told, you have actually found yourself there many times without knowing it.

Jesus was speaking “Do not weep” into your soul, He was bidding your sorrows to cease. There are seemingly competing definitions of “bid”, with one being command, and another invite. I believe both were active in those moments for you, for me, for the widow. Jesus was commanding sorrow to cease, and inviting her, and us, into that reality in our experience. I do not think she needed much convincing as her son sat up and she held his face tenderly in her hands.

What sorrows is Jesus bidding to cease for you today? Do you need convincing? Thank Him that there are times when you do not even ask, and He is already bidding.

Do Fears, or Sorrows, Have Ears?

Did you know that even though snakes can sense sound, they lack the outer ear that would allow them to hear the music of the charmer? Instead they follow the movements of instrument and charmer considering them a threat, and responding to them as a predator. Fears and sorrows do not have ears either. Instead they follow the direction of the Jesus, and respond to Him as One with power over them. With that in mind, let them respond accordingly, and you determine to do the same.

You have the advantage of being able to hear the name of Jesus. Let it be music in your ears. Music which stills fears and sorrows delivers life and health and peace.

Jesus, charm my fears and bids my sorrows cease, until the music of Your matchless name ushers a wave of life and health and peace into my beleaguered soul. Help me to realize You have already accomplished all this and I simply need to believe.

Joyful 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.

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

Podcast 3.2 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.

Jesus! the Name that charms our fears,

Matthew 8:26ESV

And (Jesus) said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

The disciples found themselves in a storm that was threatening to swamp their little boat, all the while Jesus was asleep. When they woke Him, He spoke to the winds and they obeyed. What storm are you facing today that you need to see Jesus calm? Will you give Him your fears to charm?

That bids our sorrows cease;

Luke 7:13ESV

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Jesus spoke these words to a widow whose only son has just died. Might seem strange if we did not read the next lines which tell us Jesus raises her son back to life. He still has that kind of authority today. In our sorrows, He invites us to trust Him and His purposes. What sorrows might Jesus be inviting you to cease today?

‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,

*Mark 2:17**ESV*

…Jesus…said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

And how glad we are that He did! So glad that it is as if His name were actually music in our ears. Can you remember the first time you understood the significance of Jesus name’ and all that it accomplishes? Give Him praise for making a house call so you, sin sick as you were, could have your heart healed.

‘Tis life, and health, and peace.

*John 16:33**ESV*

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Peace is not the absence of fear or sorrow, peace is the presence of God. He is with us and in His name we find everything we need. Thank Jesus that you can find life and health and peace in Him even when the things in your world may be sick and dying and troubled.

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.

Jesus! the Name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
‘Tis life, and health, and peace.

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

O For a thousand tongues to sing
My dear Redeemer’s praise!
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace!

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Listen as you read. This version is from Together for the Gospel.

My dear, or as it has sometimes been altered to, great Redeemer is indeed worthy of praise. Check.

My God and King certainly is glorious. Check.

His grace has absolutely triumphed over all. Check.

Two thoughts

Really the most thought-provoking, pondering worthy line in the opening stanza to this beloved hymn is the first. Herein we understand the longing of the writer to have a thousand tongues to sing the praises of our God. I have often wondered if he meant both of the things that immediately come to mind for me and I am certain many others, worshippers across the more than two centuries this song has been sung.

1000 actual tongues

My single tongue simply is inadequate to declare the praise, glory and triumph of my King. I wish that I had 999 more, or while I am at, maybe 100,000, though in essence this would still not be enough to adequately, or throughly tell His worth. Though I must admit I would agree with St. Catherine that any number of of tongues breaking the silence would be far superior to those same tongues remaining stilled.

That quote got me thinking about how many of us are often tricked into constraining our praise for any number of reasons. Not the right moment. Not the right crowd. Not the right place. Lord, have mercy on us for holding our tongues in times we should have loosed them, especially when it comes to using them to bring you praise. When we speak the praises of God we breathe “life and health and peace” [quoting a later stanza] to an otherwise dying, sick and strife-filled world. I think rotten pretty much some up any place where the praise of God has been squelched.

Jesus, cause me to be unwilling to allow my praise to stay silent. Empower my tongue that it may erupt with unceasing adoration for Your Name. When it does, push back a bit of the rot of this weary world, and in that moment and place, establish Your kingdom! Begin in my soul, as I speak within, but cause it to grow, until it bursts without.

1000 different languages

My single language simply is insufficient to speak the inestimable worth of my dear Redeemer, my glorious God, my gracious King. Oh, that I might be able to speak 1000 different languages. Each has not only unique sounds and articulations, but certainly expressions that are idiomatic and colloquial as well as guttural, managing somehow to expound on the magnanimous character of our God. This brings to mind some memories…

Traveling abroad and being in awe as I heard God’s praises sung in multiple languages at once.
Learning the Dvorak Biblical Songs in their original Slovakian, with the help of a native speaker and marveling at the beauty of the unfamiliar sounds.
Talking with a tour guide in Europe who spoke six languages and envying him not because he could converse with so many different people, but because he could express his praise in so many different ways, not to mention the possibility of dreaming of praising God in a language not my first.

This thought also reminds me of the Day of Pentecost, and allows me to see the blessing hidden initially in God’s working at the Tower of Babel. We began to think to highly of ourselves so God muddled our ability to communicate with all people by creating distinct languages. This curse comes full circle and essentially becomes as blessing when at the Day of Pentecost people from all over the world each heard the disciples speaking their native tongue. I do not even need to broach the controversial and divisive subject of the gift of tongues to make the point that having other means to praise God is a reasonable desire for every believer.

Holy Spirit, whether I develop the ability to speak another language or You supernaturally give me such utterance, enable me to use every capacity I have at any given moment to give praise to God. I long for the greatest ability possible, whether in number or skill, to sing the glories of my God, but instead simply ask that You help me to make the very most of the one tongue I currently possess. May I ever and only use it for this highest of purposes.

Joyful 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.

Subscribers and Free Members, enjoy this podcast! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Podcast 3.1 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.

O for a thousand tongues to sing

Psalm 147:1 ESV

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

I think Wesley is possibly desiring one of two things here, either for a thousand different languages, or a thousand mouths, or both, but all for one purpose, that he may have even greater capacity to sing the praises of God. Ask God to help you make the most of every resource at your disposal to bring Him praise.

My dear Redeemer’s praise!

Hebrews 13:15 ESV

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

Our Redeemer, through His redemptive action, grants us the access that allows us even to offer any praise at all. Take advantage of that freedom to use your lips to bring Him praise right now, and then ask Him to help you never stop.

The glories of my God and King,

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We will focus on Jesus’ name in the next stanza, but for now, simply thank Him that you have the great treasure of being able to choose to use your tongue to worship Him now.

The triumphs of His grace!

2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

A triumph is a great victory or achievement. Your redemption is at once a triumph of grace, and a demonstration of the triumph of God’s grace. Do not hesitate to make your weaknesses known, for they demonstrate the power and victory of our God. How might you humbly do that 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.

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise!
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace.

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

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Amazing Grace
By: John Newton, 1725-1807

Listen as you read. This version features Ayako Ishikawa on violin.

Eternity-10,000 years=Eternity

I suppose there is probably some mathematical flaw in that formula so please forgive me, but that helps me to come to terms with the phrase “we’ve no less days”. How do you wrap you mind around that? Eternity is the hope that Jesus and His grace have made available to us, and it is just as real today, as it will be ten thousand years from now. In other words, it is infinitely true for infinity.

But what difference is that making for you today? Maybe the first question to answer is whether you believe it should make a difference? Think about it.

If you are living like you do not believe having eternity waiting for you makes a difference, maybe it is because you have never really determined if you believe it. I am confident that there are many believers, meaning those who have decided to place their confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ alone, who have not come to terms with everything that confidence avails and implies. Fortunately, whether we have apprehended the magnitude of our inheritance does not effect our ability to fully possess it one day. [If you are looking for something that may help try this from Francis Chan.]

For me, the tragedy is that many of us spend next to no time thinking about some of these inspiring truths, let alone what difference they should make in our daily living. Part of that hinges on our understanding of “when we first (began)”. I think it is safe to say the writer here, not John Newton as this was a verse added later, was referring to the praise we begin to offer in glory. I feel equally as confident saying I believe you could also interpret that our praise begins the moment we begin to follow Jesus.

Enjoyment

I read something recently with regard to praising that resonated with me. C.S. Lewis gave a great explanation in his Reflections on the Psalms. He makes a connection between praise and enjoyment that escapes many of us on an intellectual level, even if not an experiential one. He says this.

I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation…the delight is incomplete until it is expressed.

It is this enjoyment that I believe fuels our praise not only in eternity, but here and now as well. We begin to praise God the moment we realize what He has done for us, and we keep doing that forever, at least we should. If we don’t, and sadly we don’t, then we need to examine what are the things that we enjoy more in that moment than our eternal inheritance.

Getting Ready

Over the years I have teased people that everyone in church should want to be involved in worship ministry because it is the one ministry that prepares you more for what you are going to spend eternity doing, praising. I believe there is actually some truth to that, but it really revolves more around the fact that praising ushers in the enjoyment of God that heightens our awareness of His presence with us. It is not about the singing or music making, but about realizing I can do everything in a way that brings God glory.

My point is simply this. Don’t wait until you are “bright shining as the sun” to begin your perpetual praise. Work on it every day, at least until it is really it not work at all. What can you do today to cultivate a life that enjoys God continually?

Joyful Thinking!

Jesus, thank You for eternity. It is almost impossible for me to grasp the enormity of it. Even still, help me to work at developing a heart of perpetual praise by showing me how to grow in this today and every day, even as I wait for the rest of forever to begin. In Jesus name. Amen.

Finding some help here tuning? Subscribe to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

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.

Below is content generally available only to Subscribers, but with this blog to everyone for two reasons. First, this is one of my favorite stanzas of any hymn. Second, I want everyone to get a taste of the podcast content that follows this same format each week.

Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here. Or check out some samples at our Free Member Content Library. We have lots of tools and lots of options designed to help you be Resonant! Check them out today!!

Enjoy the podcast! And transcript below.

Podcast 2.7 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.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

2 Peter 3:8 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

How? Because He is eternal. It is very difficult for us to comprehend eternity, but 10,000 years will barely scratch the surface of all God has in store for us. And He definitely has something in store. Ask Him to heighten your anticipation of heaven.

Bright shining as the sun,

Matthew 13:43a ESV

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.

Wow! Righteous because of what Jesus has done. Shining because of the transformation that will have occurred to this mortal flesh. Home in His eternal Kingdom because we are His children. Hallelujah! Give Him praise.

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

And here is another motivation for our praise, we know the path of life. It will usher us into His presence. There we will enjoy eternal pleasures. Thank You Jesus!

Than when we’d first begun.

Revelation 5:13 ESV

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Oh how I long to join that song! After the elders and angels lead out, we will begin our eternal praise. Certainly we begin the moment we are redeemed, but how I look forward to singing with this choir! What do you think of that?

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.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

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

Newton memory — Image from the movie “Amazing Grace”

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.

Amazing Grace
By: John Newton, 1725-1807

Listen before you read this one. This version features Wintley Phipps.

I hope you listened to that informative and inspiring rendition of Amazing Grace. If not, I want to encourage you to take a few minutes and do that. I will even try to tighten up my verbiage a bit for this one.

I really want to pick up where we left off from the last Tuesday Tuning from 2.5.19 about calling and draw an interesting distinction between the unchanging nature of the calling of God and the implications of change it has on evening else. What I mean is simply this. Though even earth and sun made fade away, God’s call on us will not. In the face of the constancy of the call, we are confronted with our need to be transformed in order to truly answer. Our illustrative subject for today is our author, John Newton.

John Newton

He was an interesting character who, like Wilberforce, came to faith later in life. Unlike Wilberforce, Newton was a sordid individual who was considered extremely profane, which is remarkable especially because he was a sailor. After leaving the Royal Navy, he continued sailing and eventually became a captain on a slave ship.

But that was not the most significant change in his life. He never forgot calling our for mercy in the midst of a perilous situation at sea, and eventually surrendered to the call of Christ, first becoming a Christian and then after some time an Anglican priest and abolitionist. The slave trader became an advocate for freedom, in more ways than one. That transformation helps to add weight to not only the quote above but also this one.

The More Things Change…

I have often said the Christian life is a life of change. Newton nailed it with his litany of what he is not. The same could be said of the standing and experience of all who have responded to the call of Grace, and yielded themselves to His transforming power.

Most of us are not naturally very fond of change, unless we are in charge of it, and the changes Christ requires of us are no exception to the general rule. The interesting dichotomy I see here is that it is the Unchanging God who issues an irrevocable call which initiates and demands transformation. Everything in creation will change, but not Him, or His call on us.

The More They Stay the Same

So we take great confidence from this. God who called us to be His in this age, will ours throughout them all. He does not change, and neither does His grace.

Think about it. If God could turn this slave trader into the man who would write these words sung by millions in praise of God’s grace each year, what does He have in store for you. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you the truth that although many things around you may change-profession, finances, future-God’s grace for you will not. Let the peace that flows from this truth transform the way you think, what you say, and how you act. Then you will be able to say with Newton that although you are not yet what you want to be, you are not either what you used to be, all by His grace.

Joyful Thinking!

Jesus, thank You for You unchanging call, and the way it is changing me. Cause me to long for it now so that realization will be even sweeter. Help me love You with all my mind as I wait! In Jesus name. Amen.

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.

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

Podcast 2.6 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.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

The earth and the works that are done…everything about this temporal existence will evaporate like a mist, melting away in the heat of that Day. Are you ready for it? Ask Him to help you be ready.

The sun forbear to shine;

Acts 2:20 ESV

The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

It will be a great and magnificent day for all trusting in God’s grace, and a dreadful and terrible day for everyone who is not. Determine to put all your trust in His grace to carry you through to the end.

But God, who called me here below,

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

And herein lies our confidence. We did not approach Him. He approached to us. He called us from darkness to light. May we always be quick to acknowledge the grace of His call as we offer our praise for his excellencies.

Will be forever mine.

Song of Solomon 2:16a ESV

My beloved is mine, and I am his;

This inner peace is such a stark yet tender contrast from the external chaos unfolding in the cosmos at the end of days. The intimate confidence is especially striking when set against the public turmoil. Thank Him for that confidence.

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.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

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

Yep

For Comparison

Good News

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

Romans 5:9 ESV

Jesus, the Fear Charmer

Jesus the Sorrow “Ceaser”

Do Fears, or Sorrows, Have Ears?

Matthew 8:26ESV

Luke 7:13ESV

Mark 2:17ESV

John 16:33ESV

Two thoughts

1000 actual tongues

1000 different languages

Psalm 147:1 ESV

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV

2 Corinthians 12:9

Enjoyment

Getting Ready

2 Peter 3:8 ESV

Matthew 13:43a ESV

Psalm 16:11 ESV

Revelation 5:13 ESV

John Newton

The More Things Change…

The More They Stay the Same

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

Acts 2:20 ESV

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

Song of Solomon 2:16a ESV

Connect With Us

*Mark 2:17**ESV*

*John 16:33**ESV*