Friday, October 11, 2013

Good Grief

When grief consumes my heart and soul, when sorrow grows beyond control,
When clouds crowd out the light of day, it seems my faith is far away.
For surely I should never grieve; why, joy is mine if I believe!
If God Himself is in control, why should sadness grip my soul?

And yet, before He took His cross, the Son of God dealt with His loss.
His grief was great; the angst and fears caused my Lord to shed great tears.
He did not bravely raise His chin, ignoring pain that gripped within.
He did not face His grief alone; instead, He stormed His Father’s throne.

He shook with fear to play His part, but still He sought His Father’s heart,
And when at last his grief was done, His Father’s will and His, now one;
With courage He could face His cross. His life He offered up as loss
To gain what I can’t comprehend – the privilege to call me friend!

Who am I to bury pain, to loathe my grief with great disdain?
Oh no, to do so would be wrong! It’s when I’m weak that He is strong.
It’s when I’ve nothing left to give, through Jesus I can learn to live.
No, being weak is not a sin – that’s just the time when God moves in.

ML Fuller 12-21-10

Friday, March 1, 2013

What Have I Given?


I'm currently reading through "The Harmony of the Gospels" using this chart. Today I read about the Temptation of Jesus, and as I worked through each temptation, I realized that He said NO to each one because it would have disqualified Him from the purpose for His incarnation...my redemption. LOVE for His creation had brought Him here for a single purpose, our redemption. Giving into these temptation would have ended that pursuit. He would not have it. 

While I had much to contemplate concerning the first two temptations, it was the third that really hit home. There stood the tempter with the Creator of the universe, offering Him "all this" if only He would bow down and worship. Jesus said no to greed and idolatry. When it comes right down to it, most of my daily pursuits could be summed up in these two things. Colossians 3:5 reads, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." I want what I want when I want it. I crave the good things of this world. 

Jesus was single-minded in His purpose: "Because of the joy that was set before Him (that joy was ME. I was His prize. WOW!) He endured the cross, disregarding its shame." Hebrews 12:2.  As I considered this, an old hymn came to mind. I did a google search for the lyrics, and ended up here (Visit this link to read the story of Francis Ridley Havergal and her inspiration for the following hymn). I am saddened by what my response would have to be to the question of each refrain.

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed,
That thou might ransomed be, and raised up from the dead
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?
I gave, I gave My life for thee, what hast thou given for Me?

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne
I left for earthly night, for wanderings sad and lone;
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?
I left, I left it all for thee, hast thou left aught for Me?

I suffered much for thee, more than thy tongue can tell,
Of bitterest agony, to rescue thee from hell.
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?
I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, what hast thou borne for Me?

And I have brought to thee, down from My home above,
Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?
I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, what hast thou brought to Me?