29 Jan 2011

Return, O Wanderer

Return, O wanderer, return,
And seek an injured Father’s face;
Those warm desires that in thee burn
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.

Return, O wanderer, return,
And seek a Father’s melting heart,
Whose pitying eyes thy grief discern,
Whose hand can heal thine inward smart.

Return, O wanderer, return,
He heard thy deep repentant sigh,
He saw thy softened spirit mourn
When no intruding ear was nigh.

Return, O wanderer, return,
Thy Savior bids thy spirit live;
Go to His bleeding feet, and learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.

Return, O wanderer, return,
And wipe away the falling tear;
’Tis God who says, “No longer mourn,”
’Tis mercy’s voice invites thee near.

by William Bengo Collyer
References Proverbs 27:8; Malachi 3:7; Jeremiah 31:18-19

2 Aug 2010

A Church Cemented in the Routine

This piece by Tozer sure hit home with me when I read it today.  I am always blown away by timeliness of these classics.

A Church Cemented in the Routine by A.W. Tozer

What is the worst enemy the church faces today? This is where a lot of unreality and unconscious hypocrisy enters. Many are ready to say, “The liberals are our worst enemy.” But the simple fact is that the average evangelical church does not have too much trouble with liberalism. Nobody gets up in our churches and claims that the first five books of Moses are just myths. Nobody says that the story of creation is simply religious mythology. Nobody denies that Christ walked on the water or that He rose from the grave. Nobody gets up in our churches and claims that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God or that He isn’t coming back again. Nobody denies the validity of the Scriptures. We just cannot hide behind liberalism and say that it is our worst enemy. We believe that evangelical Christians are trying to hold on to the truth given to us, the faith of our fathers, so the liberals are not our worst enemy. Neither do we have a problem with the government. People in our country can do just about whatever they please and the government pays no attention. We can hold prayer meetings all night if we want, and the government would never bother us or question us. There is no secret police breathing down our backs watching our every move. We live in a free land, and we ought to thank God every day for that privilege. The treacherous enemy facing the church of Jesus Christ today is the dictatorship of the routine, when the routine becomes “lord” in the life of the church. Programs are organized and the prevailing conditions are accepted as normal. Anyone can predict next Sunday’s service and what will happen. This seems to be the most deadly threat in the church today. When we come to the place where everything can be predicted and nobody expects anything unusual from God, we are in a rut. The routine dictates, and we can tell not only what will happen next Sunday, but also what will occur next month and, if things do not improve, what will take place next year. Then we have reached the place where what has been determines what is, and what is determines what will be.

What did you think?  Does this resonate with you or your experience?

19 Feb 2010

Heavy on my heart…

This was laid heavy on my heart after some quiet time of reflection on a plane last night and felt compelled to share.

By what right do I receive the love of God or the sacrifices that were made by Jesus?  I am not worthy or deserving of that which I am to receive or will gain from the relationship I have with Christ. I have and thankfully receive mercy that is freely given though I deserve death and punishment.  Haven’t I participated in the rebellion against the throne? Haven’t I denied him by not humbling myself completely to his teaching and turning from my sin?  Can’t I claim the name Judas, but I was given the name Son, Bride and Beloved.  I am treated as a son, celebrated for returning home and not shunned for my betrayal or banished for my treachery.  I have received compassion and forgiveness without reason or conditions that is unfathomable.  I do not receive what is deserved because of the infinite mercy of God.  God’s shows us His goodness and compassion by confronting my suffering and guilt through compassion, mercy.  His mercy is great enough to cover any pain that hurt my spirit man, but I have to be willing to accept it.  I must not only accept His mercies, but believe and live within it.  To not live knowing that God is compassionate and kind and offers mercy to me is to short change your relationship with the Him and to not value His sacrifice.

Though I have earned banishment I will enjoy communion with God.

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