Just as I am Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Because Thy Promise I believe
O Lamb of God I come I come
Just As I Am 1835
By: Charlotte Eliott (1789-1871)
Listen to this simple version of this popular hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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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 beloved hymn come with fresh ears. Sometimes a song can be so familiar some of the meaning can get lost. Try to reclaim a bit of this one as we look deeply at these words. Let’s tune our hearts.
He Will Receive
When you think of God what image comes to mind? For many I think it is some cosmic killjoy standing off at the end of existence idly watching events unfold. For others a malevolent father waiting to chastise his children every time they step out of line. For others some different woefully inadequate and inaccurate view of our Lord.
For me it is of a righteous, gracious King who offered His only Son to pay the penalty of our sins.
He receives us. All because of Jesus.
Just as I am Thou wilt receive
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV
We are received based solely on the merits of Jesus Christ given for our salvation. We are drawn to the Father, given eternal life and spared from never-ending anguish if we believe in Him. Even still few choose to come. Thank God for receiving you just as you are.
We keep coming back to this central theme. There is nothing I have to do before I come to God. I do not have to get my act together, clean myself up, or somehow make amends for all my failures. I simply come. Just as I am. God receives me. Hallelujah!
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider what Jesus did so we could be received. God opens His hands up to accept us. We could never have been welcomed without the work Jesus did. Make this your simple prayer today “God, I praise You for receiving me.”
He Will Pardon
While each one of these four words is very powerful, for some reason I am fixated on one in particular, pardon.
The first line talks about receive, so the word welcome is a very natural next step from that thought. The final word also is the natural and supernatural result of the middle two. The order of them is interesting, pardon and cleanse, which I would argue is intentional. He pardons us even before He cleanses us. He can do that because we are pardoned on the merits of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and cleansed by His blood.
But what about that word pardon? To pardon is to forgive or excuse an error or offense. Legally, it means to release from the consequences of an offense or conviction. We were guilty, but God chose to pardon us.
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:7ESV
Wicked and unrighteous. Those are the words that describe us before we return to the Lord. His compassion is revealed in the sacrifice of His Son and flows to us through the quickening of our conscience by the Holy Spirit. We are abundantly pardoned. Give praise to God!
God can receive me as I am because He can do all the pardoning, cleansing and relieving that I could never accomplish on my own. That work clears the way for Him to receive me and even welcome me which is simply remarkable. Thank Jesus for welcoming You.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on your abundant pardon. You were guilty, but God chose to pardon you, releasing you from all guilt, and opening up the opportunity to be welcomed. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Jesus, thank You for welcoming me.”
God, I am so thankful you receive me, and that You make it very plain that You do. You welcome me and pardon me. Hallelujah! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Pardoned Tuning!
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Video 33.3 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.
Just as I am Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve
Because Thy Promise I believe
O Lamb of God I come I come
We keep coming back to this central theme. There is nothing I have to do before I come to God. I do not have to get my act together, clean myself up, or somehow make amends for all my failures. I simply come. Just as I am. God receives me. Hallelujah!
God, I praise You for receiving me.
God can receive me as I am because He can do all the pardoning, cleansing and relieving that I could never accomplish on my own. That work clears the way for Him to receive me and even welcome me which is simply remarkable. Thank Jesus for welcoming You.
Jesus, thank You for welcoming me.
Though it is no small thing and many fail to do it, the only thing we must do is believe. Believe His promise. Believe that He has already accomplished everything needed to grant us access. Believe we can come. And demonstrate that by simply coming. Will you come today?
Spirit, help me to believe and come.
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. John saw Him and exclaimed this truth. Have you ever done that? It is on the basis of this belief we can come at all so we should be quick to declare it. Believe it in your heart and confess it with your lips today.
Lord, help me to declare Your saving work.
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.
The post What Is Your Default View of God? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Just as I am Thou wilt receive – https://pixabay.com/photos/receiving-hands-hands-receive-1920865/
Wilt welcome pardon cleanse relieve – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/gavel-hammer-judge-justice-court-568417/
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