Good Morning, Meetpastordan Readers… when Pam and I were out walking the boys (Glenn and Cliff) this morning, one of my favorite childhood hymns invaded my mind. By the time we got home, I believe I had recalled the words from all three verses. Without fail, whenever one of those hymns captivates my thinking, it’s always a joyful experience. It’s a flash-back to my church in Crooksville, Ohio, and I can see and hear our congregation jubilantly belting out those “oldies but goodies.” While we were no threat to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in terms of pitch, right notes, rhythm, blend or balance, our enthusiasm could not be bridled! The powerful message presented in these few verses really stirs my emotions. In my youthful days, it was about picking out the alto and tenor parts and fitting those notes into the musical fabric. Today, it’s all about the power of these words.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee, Thou changest not, Thy compassion’s, they fail not, As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
(refrain) Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness mercy and love.
(refrain)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
(refrain)
One reason Christ- followers can stand firmly on the Word of God is because one of the majestic qualities of God Jehovah is his “immutability”. That is a “churchy word” meaning that God and His Word does not change; it is THE TRUTH! This was clearly stated by Jesus and recorded in Mark, 13:31: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will last forever.” That’s why we can develop and put our faith in Him. His faithfulness to us is never shaken, as verbally portrayed in vs. 1, and in the refrain above. Even nature proclaims his faithfulness in vs. 2, and our strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow bears witness in vs. 3. This faithfulness is our stability in this unstable world.
Last night, we had the privilege of hosting and dining with two of our friends in Christ, Gaines and Sandy Dittrich. Gaines was just proclaimed “cancer-free” after a long bout with that insidious disease. Both he and Pam have been through the baptism of fire when it comes to believing in, and standing on, the promises of God concerning healing. Neither waivered in their trust, and THE author of all healing was faithful to them. What incredible witnesses they are to THE TRUTH of God’s Word, the power of God’s Word, the transforming power of God’s Word, and His faithfulness to His promises. Therefore, I am dedicating this blog to both Gaines and Pam.
As a Christ-follower, our faith develops as we begin experiencing THE TRUTH of these Words, meaning…our life changes from the inside out; it’s a “heart change”. And faith, “that confident assurance that what we hope for is going to come to pass; the evidence of things not yet seen” , (Hebrews 11:1) is what sets our belief system apart from every other world religion. Every other belief system is about earning God’s favor through works. But our belief tells us “it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.” (Hebrew 11:5-6)
Our reward comes from our relationship with Him. The more we seek and come to know God, the easier it is to accept His majestic qualities, such as omnipotence (all powerful); omniscience (all knowing); omnipresent (everywhere at once); alpha and omega (no beginning or end); Godhead of the Trinity; and Creator of the universe. While we cannot logically wrap our finite minds around such “qualities of grandeur”, what we do know is that God did not mislead us about His personal qualities of being a loving, merciful, gracious, kind, forgiving, and compassionate Father. After all, He was willing to sacrifice His only begotten Son so we could join Him in an eternal relationship.
With such a rock on which to stand, it is clear why our “source of strength for today and our bright hope for tomorrow” (Vs. 3 in the hymn above) comes from God. For those of us who are in Christ, it’s easy to say, “How do those who don’t know Jesus Christ get along in the world today?” I think the continuing rise in addictions, broken families, suicides, violence, corruption, intolerance, and hatred answers that question. THEY DON’T! Our society is morally and spiritually bankrupt, and if people continue to seek relief from any other source of strength than Jesus Christ, they are settling for a counterfeit solution that will never provide a lasting solution. So, what is the answer? Jesus Christ is the ONLY answer!.
Apostle Paul addressed that same conundrum in the first century. “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? That is what the Scriptures mean when it says, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news”! (Romans 10: 13-15) Jesus also gave us a commission before He left the earth. He said in Matthew 28:18-20): “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, GO (my edit) and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commandments I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
So… we know THE TRUTH! But it isn’t enough for us just to know THE TRUTH. Our commission is to share THE TRUTH with those who are lost and suffering. Our culture isn’t teaching this truth; our media isn’t teaching this truth; our schools aren’t teaching this truth, and most families aren’t teaching this truth. Our calling is to be Jesus’ light in this dark world; to let His love shine through us. Don’t forget what it means to be in Christ. 2nd Peter 1:3 tells us, “As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, His divine power (Holy Spirit) gives us EVERYTHING we need for living a godly life.” Our charge is to call on the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and courage so we can share THE TRUTH of the Good News with those who are still suffering. Jesus has set us free! Now let’s pay it forward by sharing THE TRUTH that can set others free!
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May God Bless You Abundantly,
Dan Presgrave (a.k.a. Pastor Dan)
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