AND THEY ALL FELL DOWN!

We know from reading the Gospels of the gut-wrenching agony that Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethsemane. Add to the turmoil of His surrender to His Father's will the fact that His closest followers grossly disappointed Him by repeatedly falling asleep instead of praying.

Jesus prayed that night - all night - in a way that is difficult for us to imagine. The scripture tells us that He prayed so earnestly that He was sweating! Luke reports that "Sweat, wrung from Him like drops of blood, poured off His face" [Luke 22: 44 All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted].

Yet, what is most important for us to realize is that by the time "Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed - carrying lanterns, torches and swords" [John 18:3] - Jesus had it all settled and was completely calm!
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When I was young, we would occasionally hear older believers talk about "praying through". This phrase was used to describe a pressing situation where they clearly needed a deep assurance from God! The use of the phrase indicated that the person had prayed much and fervently until God had given them a sense of assurance that He had all things under His control! [I haven't heard that phrase used in many decades!]
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Jesus had clearly prayed through that evening and had the settled assurance He needed from His Father! He had surrendered: "Not My will but Yours be done" [Luke 22:42].

As a result, He was filled with peace and calm! Let's pick up the dialogue from the point when Judas arrives:

"Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, 'Who are you after?'

They answered, 'Jesus the Nazarene.'

He said, 'That's me.' [TM]

...when He said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back and fell to the ground." [NASB]

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Isn't it interesting that when we read passages like this - IF we read them - we simply roll over these words and fail to catch the impact of what we have read?

Roman soldiers and the temple guards who accompanied them FELL TO THE GROUND AS THOUGH THEY HAD BEEN PUSHED BY AN UNSEEN FORCE!

All at the simple words spoken by Jesus: "I AM He!"

Don't miss the irony of those words: "I AM!" Sound familiar?

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Matthew describes the next moments that John omits:

"Then they came on Him - grabbed Him and roughed Him up. One of those with Jesus pulled his sword and, taking a swing at the Chief Priest's servant, cut off his ear.

Jesus said, 'Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. Don't you realize that I am able right now to call my Father, and twelve companies...of fighting angels would be here, battle ready" [Matthew 26:50-53]?

By the way, Luke - the consummate researcher and also physician - reports in his Gospel that Jesus then turned to the man who had lost his ear AND HEALED HIM!

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Don't you want to live this way?

Don't you want to sustain an intimate relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe?

Don't you want to have a relationship with Him that calms you in the midst of anxiety and storms?

Don't you want to maintain a spirit of peace when everyone around you is losing it?

Don't you want to heal and help, rather than do harm?

YOU CAN HAVE ALL THIS BY LETTING JESUS BE THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE AND COMMITTING YOURSELF TO KNOWING HIM THROUGH THE SPIRIT AND THROUGH HIS WORD!

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If you have 4 1/2 minutes to spare, maybe you'd like to listen to the following recording by John Michael Talbot: "Humble Thyself In the Sight of the Lord"?

John Michael Talbot is an American Catholic musician, author, and founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity, renowned as a pioneer of contemporary Christian music. A multi-platinum, Grammy and Dove Award-winning artist with over 50 albums, his contemplative, Scripture-based songs have influenced Catholic and ecumenical worship worldwide. 

ALL THE DISCIPLES CUT AND RAN!

In John 13-16, we find Jesus giving His final teaching message to His apostles (minus Judas). Much of what He shares in this late evening session is new information that He has not mentioned before! There seems to be an urgency in His delivery as He recognizes that this is His final lesson before His crucifixion!

He concludes this teaching time by emphasizing the fact that He came into this world directly from His Father! We celebrated that a little over two months ago! Now, however, Jesus wants them to understand that He will soon be returning to His Father!

Here are His words: [John 16:28 All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted]

"First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."

The response of the eleven is noteworthy:

"His disciples said, 'Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk - no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything - it all comes together in you. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God.'"
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Words are easily spoken! As we read this, we breathe a sigh of relief! "Ahhh, they finally GET IT!"

And then Jesus continues to speak and our assurance wilts:

"Do you finally believe?"

"In fact, you're about to make a run for it - saving your own skins and abandoning me." [vs. 31-32]

Jesus knows that in a very short time, He will be arrested in the very garden where they are talking. He also knows that in that moment, His followers will flee into the darkness to save their lives - LEAVING JESUS TO BE ARRESTED!!!

But before this happens, Jesus prays very specifically for the apostles. It's an intimate prayer! It's opening words are:

"Father, it's time."

Jesus surrenders Himself to His Father! His heart breaks with compassion! He prays for His followers, even "those also who believe in Me through their word" - THAT'S US!
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John does not tell us about the apostles fleeing into the darkness that night - perhaps he was too ashamed to admit it?

Matthew, however, does admit it [26:56]: "Then all the disciples cut and ran."

So does another younger man who has apparently been quietly following them - eavesdropping on these precious teaching moments. We can deduce that his name was John Mark - who later associated closely with Peter and gave us the Gospel of Mark [probably the first gospel to be written].

Without identifying himself, he tells his story in his own gospel account: [Mark 14:50-52]

"All the disciples cut and ran. A young man was following along. All he had on was a bedsheet. Some of the men grabbed him but he got away, running off naked, leaving them holding the sheet."

JESUS KNEW ALL ALONG THAT THEY WOULD ABANDON HIM! And yet, He loved them and prayed for them!
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That's grace! Amazing grace!

Thank Him today for His patience with you!

We have all denied Him at one point or another!

We have all failed Him or refused to obey His commandments.

We have all chosen sin over obedience!

And yet - HE LOVES US STILL!

Thanks be to God, our gracious Lord, and the Holy Spirit! Amen!

JESUS’ LAST EVENING WITH HIS FOLLOWERS

I’m currently inscribing a Bible for my granddaughter, Rylie. I spend a few hours every morning on this project while thinking of her and asking God to bless her throughout the years of her life.

This morning’s reading included John 13 [I jumped from II Samuel to John to allow me to focus on the Lenten Season.]  Occasionally, I run into passages that make me wish I had more margin-space to write in. 🙂  This is one of those chapters! 

It opens with Jesus observing the Passover Feast with His apostles. Remarkably, John does not choose to tell us about the point in this meal when Jesus passes the cup and the bread around the table for each to partake. It seems odd to me that he makes no mention of this; but fortunately the other gospel-writers give us plenty of details.

There is a point to observe, however, that I find quite remarkable. It’s a simple observation: Jesus served the bread and wine at a time that included Judas!  I find that to be fascinating!  However, the passage is clear to inform us that The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal  [v.2].  [All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted].

We can’t specifically determine the order of the evening, but apparently in the midst of this meal [whether it was before or after the bread and wine we’re not certain],

Jesus got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron [vs.4-5].

It is clear that Jesus chose to wash the feet of Judas as well!

With the meal largely behind them, Jesus addresses the fact that one of those at the table with Him will betray Him.

We need to refer to other Gospel accounts for a few details to give us the full picture of this very special evening when Jesus was feeling the full weight of what was about to happen!

Matthew 26:23 implies that Judas was seated next to Jesus [along with John on the other side] at this table!  After Jesus’ report of betrayal,

…they were exceedingly sorrowful, and each of them began to say to Him, ‘Lord, is it I?’ And He answered and said, ‘He who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will betray Me.’…Then Judas who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have said it’             [vs. 22,23,25  NKJV].  

It is clear that Judas had a seat of honor at the table being close to Jesus!  His response to Jesus also makes it clear that Judas viewed Jesus as a rabbi, but not as his Lord – distinguishing himself from every other person at the table!

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I’m well aware that Judas is described as the ‘son of perdition’ – which is a term that typically needs to be defined. In the original Greek, the term meant ‘son of destruction’ or ‘son of ruin’. Jesus Himself uses this term referring to Judas as He prays in John 17:12,

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”

 

NOTE: Jesus prayed this prayer MUCH LATER in the night after they left the upper room and went to the garden to pray!

We are given the impression in John 13, that Jesus is intentionally reaching out to Judas and trying to “keep” him in the fold!

ü Judas is given a seat in close proximity to Jesus at the Passover Feast.

ü Judas is included when Jesus passes the bread and wine around the table!

ü Jesus washed Judas’ feet along with the other eleven!

[My vivid imagination wonders about the dynamics of these moments. Was Jesus weeping as He washed Judas’ feet? How was Judas handling these few moments as he knew he was about to betray Jesus?]

ü What was going on when he felt the pressure to join the others in asking if he was the betrayer?

Surely, Judas had experienced the love of Jesus! He had heard the messages and seen the miracles! He had travelled with Jesus much of the last two years! He had become friends with the other eleven! Was he torn?

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I’m well aware that I’m skirting a huge discussion between two theological perspectives: Calvinism and Wesleyan Arminianism

Calvinism is a branch of Protestant theology developed by John Calvin in the 16^th century. It emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture and the necessity of grace through faith. Calvinism is characterized by its doctrines of predestination and the belief that Christ’s atonement is specifically intended for the elect.

Wesleyan Arminianism is a theological tradition emphasizing God’s universal grace, human free will and the pursuit of holiness rooted in the teachings of John Wesley and Jacobus Arminius.

Essentially, Calvinist bodies believe that Judas was predestined to be the “son of perdition” or betrayer.

Wesleyan Arminian bodies believe that Judas had a choice and used his free will to betray Jesus – but that he could have chosen to honor and serve Christ.

I attended two seminaries that represented each of these perspectives. I have good friends from both camps. I worship regularly with people who wholeheartedly embrace Calvinist theology! I love them and am very comfortable in their presence – even though I hold to a significantly different opinion theologically. It rarely becomes an uncomfortable place for me to be!

I’d like to share a story from very early in my ministry to close this article.

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I served as pastor of the Oakland Free Methodist Church in East Liverpool, Ohio for thirteen years. I became deeply invested in the local ministerial group and in the community! I regularly participated in providing radio devotionals that were heard on the local radio station.

One year – as we debated how to lead our community through the Lenten season – someone suggested that we have a radio debate about Judas’ role in Jesus’ betrayal with a representative from each of the above mentioned theological perspectives.

I was asked to present the Wesleyan Arminian view. A good friend - pastor of one of the local Presbyterian churches – was drafted to represent the Calvinist perspective.

A few days before the debate, my friend called and asked essentially what I was going to say.  I told him that I would teach what I have always believed:

Judas was called by Jesus to be one of His apostles. He responded by following Jesus for at least two years. But Judas had a dark side and likely had an expectation that Jesus would eventually lead a revolt against the Roman Empire.  He was likely disappointed when this didn’t develop.  However, Jesus persistently reached out to Judas throughout their time together – hoping to see him change his heart. But, Judas had free will! He eventually rejected Jesus’ attempts to call him to faith and ended up choosing to betray Jesus! I do NOT believe that he was predestined to betray Jesus because the Word of God says that,

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance              [II Peter 3:9  NKJV]. 

This is also clearly implied in the well-known and much-loved John 3:16,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

When I got this far, my friend said, “Hal, that’s exactly what I believe! But I know that I’m expected to present the Calvinist perspective. I’m going to have to do some homework and be prepared to present the predestination perspective. 

[The day of the debate, he was a nervous wreck, but dutifully represented his perspective.]

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A quick word of reconciliation:

We are free to hold various opinions on many things taught in the Bible! Why else would we have so much diversity in our land? Generally speaking, there are three major categories of Christianity in America:

·        Mainline Protestantism

·        Evangelical Protestantism

·        Roman Catholicism

These three groups all subscribe to the tenants of the Apostle’s Creed which comes to us as a historical treatise from the fourth century!

We have managed to fracture our Christian witness into over 2,000 denominations – which many consider a travesty since the Bible refers to us as “the body of Christ’ [I Corinthians 12:27  NKJV] who embrace “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” [Ephesians 4:5-6 NKJV].

We need to learn to look for the things that we can agree on and let love, grace and kindness govern the areas where we may have differing views!

DON’T YOU RECOGNIZE MY VOICE?

Some voices are easily recognizable. 

Think James Earl Jones, or Arnold Schwartzenegger, or Sean Connery, or Tom Hanks or even Wanda Sykes. We know their identity in an instant. 

People have often told me that they know I’m in a room when they hear my laugh! Apparently, it’s easily recognizable!

I was reading in John’s gospel today and noticed something for the first time. Isn’t it amazing how each time we read in the Bible, the Holy Spirit speaks to us in new and freshly relevant ways?

Chapter nine tells the lengthy story about a man who was born blind but gained his sight when he crossed paths with Jesus.

This simple healing – which, by-the-way, occurred on a Sabbath day – turned into a complicated controversy between Jesus and the Jews. Even the man’s parents were called in to verify that their son had indeed been born blind.

Interestingly, Jesus used an odd format to heal this man. After spitting on the ground, Jesus made some clay and placed it on the blind man’s eyes. He then told him to go and wash the clay off in a nearby pool.

Consequently, when the man regained his sight, Jesus had already moved on.

That’s when the brouhaha really began to fester. The Jews called the man – and his parents – in for questioning. After a significant period of repetitive grilling, the man boldly replied to the Jews:

This is amazing! You claim to know nothing about him [Jesus] , but the fact is, he opened my eyes! It’s well known that God isn’t at the beck and call of sinners, but listens carefully to anyone who lives in reverence and does his will. That someone opened the eyes of a man born blind has never been heard of – ever. If this man didn’t come from God, he wouldn’t be able to do anything  [John 9:30-33  All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted].

After this, the Jews threw him out into the street!

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, He went and found him. Jesus asked him,

“Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“The man said, ‘Point him out to me, sir, so that I can believe in him.’

Jesus said, ‘You’re looking right at him. Don’t you recognize my voice?’

‘Master, I believe,’ the man said, and worshipped him” [vs.35-38].

I just programmed my new iPhone to recognize my face. Surprisingly, now when I open my phone, it is immediately functional! I no longer have to put in my code numbers! The phone apparently automatically scans my face – recognizes me, and opens my phone for immediate use! Wow! Amazing!

In this passage, Jesus appeals to the man’s memory by asking, “Don’t you recognize my voice?”  

That jog was all it took! The man immediately knew that he was in the presence of the one who had put the clay over his eyes! His instant response was to worship Jesus!

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This – in itself – is a remarkable vignette!

But as I read on, I was mesmerized to find these words repeated three more times as they apply TO US – HIS FOLLOWERS!

“The gatekeeper opens the gate to [the shepherd] and the sheep recognize his voice” [John 10:3].

 

[Jesus teaching] “You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They’ll also recognize my voice”  [John 10:16].

 

[Jesus teaching] “My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand.”  [John 10:27-28].

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So, in essence, Jesus is asking you the same question that He asked the man who had been blind:

DON’T YOU RECOGNIZE MY VOICE?

The voice of YOUR LORD!

The voice of the One who died on the cross in payment for YOUR SINS?

The voice of the One who waits to hear from you daily.

The voice of the One who has ways that He’d like to open for you!

The voice of the One who wants to lead you into an abundant life!

The voice of the One who wants to guide you and make you a fruitful branch!

The voice of the One who desires to protect you and those you love!

 

WHY NOT STOP RIGHT NOW AND PROMISE HIM THAT YOU WANT TO COME TO RECOGNIZE HIS VOICE IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WALK WITH HIM!

THE THRONE OF YOUR LIFE

Ego is a powerful thing! Self-discovery begins so early! Have you watched an infant discover his/her toes – even fingers? At that stage, it seems that everything new gets the ‘taste-test’ – it goes right to the mouth!  😂  Almost everything is new to this new-born! S/he is on a journey of discovery and self-identification that will continue unabated throughout life!

I’ve been seeing a series of ‘reels’ lately where a tiny little girl stands nose-to-nose with a huge, furry, friendly dog. She screams in his face as she scolds him. He could easily shove her to the side with his powerful front legs, but he just stands there and submits to her supposed authority with an occasional ‘woof!’ of response.  I laugh when I see it because of this little girl’s early audacity to think that she is the lord of this massive family pet!  Such is the ego of young children who are still learning and growing.

As we grow, we increasingly come to think that the world revolves around ‘us’! This is because we are the center of our experience!

As childhood emerges into the adolescence years the process continues as the young person begins to distinguish him/herself through the self-identification process. With a fully developed personality by age seven, this child continues to grow, learn, explore as they approach adulthood and the realization of accepting responsibility for the direction of their life! It can be an awesome experience; it can also be terrifying.

BUT THIS IS NOT A PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATISE, BUT A THEOLOGICAL ONE!

If somewhere along this child’s path they are introduced to the love of a divine Savior, they may begin a whole new process with a completely different foundation!  If they embrace the reality of a God-directed life, then they – like so many of us – begin to explore the meaning of a totally different way of being!

Many have anchored their thinking – after serious reflection on the words of the Apostle Paul – found in Galatians 2:19-21 [TM]:

^{[Paul writing]} What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace.

It has been pictured as follows: 

Through a growing understanding of the Word of God and the Spirit-directed life, the young person [or person of any age] begins to desire to live a life that is totally pleasing to God and consequently brings the deepest satisfaction and joy!

The process of sustaining this last lifestyle is a growing process that will require our full attention throughout our life! It is a sanctifying process that involves repentance, forgiveness, prayer, immersion in the Word, and a desire to grow spiritually into a fruitful follower of Christ. It is a process that is highly defined by the depth and availability of God’s amazing grace!

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Today, I discovered a good biblical picture of this process in the life of King David in II Samuel’s closing chapters.

David is old! He’s living in the latter days of his life. His kingdom has just survived an attempted coo by his son, Absalom!  As David resettles into the palace and the routines of being king over a massive accrual of subordinate nations, David falls prey to his own pride.

The beauty of all biblical characters is the fact that they are all one-hundred percent human – just like us! The great, highly admired King David falters – just like we often do!

He sits one day and wonders how many fighting soldiers he has between Israel and Judah? “Hmmm. I’ll bet it’s a pretty high number!  I think I’ll have them counted!” [he muses].

David orders Joab – his army commander – to take others and move throughout Israel and Judah to count those men. Joab sees the foolishness of the task and resists the order, but ultimately submits.  After nearly ten months, 

“…they canvassed the whole country and…arrived back in Jerusalem. Joab gave the results of the census to the king: 800,000 able-bodied fighting men in Israel; in Judah 500,000…But when it was all done, David was overwhelmed with guilt because he had counted the people, replacing trust with statistics. And David prayed to God, ‘I have sinned badly in what I have just done. But now God forgive my guilt—I’ve been really stupid’” [II Samuel 24:9,10].

 

David’s pride got the best of him!

It happens. To all of us from time-to-time.

Unfortunately for David, this error cost the lives of seventy thousand of his people who died from an epidemic initiated by God as punishment for David’s audacity! A horrible reality that caused David terrible grief and pain! It's also a reminder that leadership has increased responsibility!

Even in the midst of this punishment, David is careful to keep himself pure! He is told by Gad the prophet to 

“Go and build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”  

When David attempts to buy this threshing floor from Araunah, he tries to donate it to King David as a gift! But David is wise and responds: “I’ve got to buy it from you for a good price; I’m not going to offer GOD, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice…GOD was moved by the prayers and that was the end of the disaster” [vs.24-25].

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We must be vigilant in keeping Christ on the throne of our lives and NOT assuming that role on our own! This is why we call Him LORD!

JUST AS I AM

The hymn by this name was for decades, the traditional ‘Invitation Hymn’ of the evangelical church in America.

Having been raised in a conservative, Wesleyan church, it was used to invite people [typically] to come forward to an altar where they would kneel and pray to receive Christ into their lives.

IT’S HISTORY:

At the age of 32 [1821], Charlotte Elliott [of London, England] suffered a serious illness that left her a semi-invalid for the rest of her life. Within a year she went through a spiritual crisis and confessed to the Swiss evangelist Henri A. Cesar Malan that she did not know how to come to Christ. He answered, "Come to him just as you are." Thinking back on that experience twelve years later, in 1834, she wrote a poem titled: “Just as I Am" as a statement of her faith.

The original tune, "Woodworth", was written by William B. Bradbury, and was published in 1849. The "Woodworth" tune was first used for another hymn and then Thomas Hastings adapted Bradbury's tune for "Just as I Am" years later.

Just as I am - without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - though toss'd about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am - Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
-O Lamb of God, I come!

This song became an altar call song in the Billy Graham crusades in the latter half of the twentieth century. Graham used the title of the hymn as the title of his 1997 book - Just as I Am: The Autobiography of Billy Graham.

 

MY MEMORIES

This hymn was traditionally used at almost every revival meeting in my home church and also at ‘Camp Meeting’ every July.

There were others, of course, but this was the one most commonly used.

It’s powerful words and alluring tune had an influential impact on those who sang it.

Growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s, we teens came to make a bit of fun of this hymn. Evangelists were famous for saying – as they extended the ‘altar call’ – let’s just sing one more verse.

Sometimes – to a teenager – it seemed that these ‘invitation appeals’ went on forever! I must confess that we snickered in the back of the sanctuary and made guestimates of how many more times we’d “sing another verse”!

The end of the service at Camp Meeting was filled with drama.

Sometimes, old ‘Harvey’ would let loose with his famous “Wooohooo”. It tickled us to see people jump when he did it!

There were a few little old ladies who would occasionally take off across the front of the sanctuary waving a hankie, crying and shouting “Glory to God!”

Occasionally, the district superintendent or evangelist would walk the aisles of the tabernacle and extend a personal invitation to come forward and pray! Even some of the older ‘saints’ would sometimes slip into the pew with someone and ask if they’d like to go forward to pray.

Sometimes we’d sing three or four ‘invitation hymns’ in a row. This part of the service could easily go on for half-an-hour or more. 

You may be thinking that I’m being cynical, but hey, we were teens! Just remember that there were a lot of times that we went forward during those altar calls and began the process of cementing our relationship with God through His Son, Jesus. During many of those services we felt the drawing of the Holy Spirit and responded. 

Actually, I’m writing this blog because sixty years later I get up every morning and spend hours reading and studying the Bible. It is my favorite time of the day – long before most people have even begun to stir. I never tire of this practice. I’m always finding new thoughts and perspectives.

Just today I was reading II Samuel 7 [in The Message Bible] where God initiates a covenant with David through his prophet, Nathan. It’s a pretty attention-getting passage:

[God speaking to Nathan] “So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I’m making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth...  Finally, I’m going to give you peace from all your enemies.

“Furthermore, God has this message for you: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you’re buried with your ancestors, then I’ll raise up your child, your own flesh and blood, to succeed you, and I’ll firmly establish his rule. He [Solomon] will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom’s rule permanently. I’ll be a father to him, and he’ll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I’ll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I’ll never remove my gracious love from him, as I removed it from Saul, who preceded you and whom I most certainly did remove. Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I’m keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid.”

Nathan gave David a complete and accurate account of everything he heard and saw in the vision.

King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed: “Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming, for you’ve also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God, just as I am.

[II Samuel 7:8-20 TM]

Now I’m well aware that this was not in Charlotte Elliot’s mind when she wrote her poem!  I’m not suggesting that this was the source material for this great hymn!

However, at the same time I couldn’t read these words without noticing them! 

David – King David – is overwhelmed with the honor that God is bestowing on him. “Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured.”

David was well aware of his humanity. Just three chapters later, we’ll find him sinning with Bathsheba!

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It’s a pretty incredible message for all of us!

God knows us just as we are! He knows our weakness and our frailty. He knows that we’re “Prone to wander – prone to leave the God I love”.*  Yet still He accepts us, redeems us, and provides for us far beyond what we deserve!

That – my friends – is AMAZING GRACE!

 

*  From the hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

SELECTING A SPOUSE

In reading through I Samuel, I came across the story of David’s intersection with an odd couple. The man’s name was Nabal [which means ‘fool’] and his wife’s name was Abigail.

Nabal was a very prosperous farmer/rancher with 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats.

The scripture gives a description of this couple:

The woman was intelligent and good-looking, the man brutish and mean.

[I Samuel 25:3  -  All quotes from The Message Bible unless otherwise noted]

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How does this happen? How do beautiful women and mean-spirited men choose one another [or vice versa].

I can’t believe that I’m about to reference a Hallmark movie to illustrate this point!

Last night I watched a Hallmark movie about a woman who had moved to a small town – with her young son – to restart her life after a failed marriage. She eventually reflected on this marriage as having been an impulsive and immature decision. After having the son, they simply drifted apart and then divorced.

Then, of course, enters the man who has returned home for a brief stint of teaching in the local elementary school. He had a deep love in this town many years earlier and since it ended has been unable to establish roots anywhere. He travels the country as a substitute teacher.

Through a number of awkward and humorous vignettes, these two repeatedly run into one another and eventually discover that there is a mutual interest in exploring the possibility of having a relationship. 

They’re each mature enough at this point in their lives to evaluate the complex and sacrificial changes that they would have to make if they choose to develop and mature this relationship!

Surprise! Surprise! The movie has a happy ending! 😊  *

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It rather lamely illustrates my point.

There is no training for selecting a spouse. For the most part, it’s largely dependent on our circle of friends and the ‘magic of love’.

This process lacks the specificity that we might expect it to have. For instance, do you know anyone who asked their intended spouse to have a battery of physical tests to see if they were healthy or what their prognosis is for a long life?  I just saw your jaw drop!  😄  Of course not! Don’t be silly, Hal.

Do we have them take a psychological test to evaluate their mental health?

🙄  C’mon, Hal!

Do we consult with family and friends to get their opinion about the potential for our compatibility before we ‘Pop the Question’?  How many women – when the man drops down on his knee to offer her a ring – push the ‘Pause’ button and say something totally reasonable like: “I hope you’re not offended, but this is a big step and I’m going to need some time to think it through.”? 😳

I retired from my role as a pastor in 2017. Throughout my years, I mandated ten hours of counseling for every couple that I married. I also asked them to attend worship together while we were doing the counseling. I became trained in the Taylor/Johnson Temperament Analysis instrument so that I could have some relatively objective ways of considering their compatibility potential. This was a costly investment on my part since these counseling sessions usually involved evenings or weekends. But, it was important to me to help launch them with the information and tools that could help them to have a great marriage! Also, once they got to know me – it gave them a viable place to return to – if they ran into trouble down-the-road. The topics we discussed together were:

·        Finances – lawyers report that finances are a key cause of most divorces.

·        Sex – I focused on the differences between the male and female approaches to relationships. Most couples became quite animated with these discussions.!

·        How-to-fight-fair – This was a fun topic where we discussed many helpful techniques for fighting that could lead them to more productive results!

·        Children/Parenting – It always surprised me how many couples had never discussed vital questions like:

Ø Are we going to have children?

Ø When will we start this process?

Ø How many children do you think we will have?

Massive disappointment and contention can result from a failure to discuss these issues!

·        We usually ended by talking about Gary Chapman’s book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts. This always led to valuable learning sessions that were very personal to the couple and how they experienced love.

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Without direction and seasoned input, Abigails keep marrying Nabals, and the pain destroys people’s lives for long periods.

NOTICE:

Although I’m a pastor, I’m only now bringing up the idea of consulting with God!

I began every wedding with the same words:

Dearly beloved,

we are gathered here today in the presence of God… 

Wise couples will do some spiritual discerning about this most important decision of their lives!

Nabal’s will not likely offer to pray with Abigails. 

HERE’S AN OBSERVATION:

If you don’t pray together during the courting period, why would you think that you’ll pray together after you’re married?

Some will think me strange for saying this, but our sexual relationship isn’t the most intimate thing we will do!

Talking together to God is the most intimate thing you can do!

I snuggle into my warm bed each night and quietly pray until I fall asleep. Yesterday, I said goodbye to Deb for four days. She’s going to stay with my sister-in-law this week to encourage her and help her recuperate from a broken arm. As we said goodbye, I told her: “I was praying for Joyce last night as I went to sleep. Please tell her that I love her and am praying for her.”

Deb responded – as she has on many other occasions: “I heard you praying and was agreeing with you!”

She has repeatedly affirmed me that the closest she feels to me is when we lie in bed together with my arm around her and we pray!

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Here’s a final note:

My blog audience is typically an older group of people. Many reading this are likely to have made marriage choices many years ago.

But guess what?  You can still breathe new life into a relationship by addressing some of the things we’ve discussed here. It’s NEVER too late!

Also, maybe you'd like to refer someone you care about to this blog for their personal benefit?

* For those who are dying to know what movie it was: A Harvest Homecoming.