The power of Gospel-saturated words.

Yesterday I got a call from the office as I was driving in that a woman in our church who has been a "cancer warrior" (her own words) for over 7 years was in the hospital with kidney and liver failure and the doctors saying that nothing more could be done.  I headed down to the ICU and hung out with the husband for a while as well as another pastor from the church.  At one point they both left and it was just me and her.  I asked her if she wanted to listen to some music and she was softly muttered "yes."  I was able to play one of my favorite cd's of hymns believing it would be comforting and familiar to her.  It is the Together for the Gospel Live (from 2008) and the first two hymns are "A Mighty Fortress" and "It is Well."
Both of these hymns are saturated with words written by men deeply affected by the truth of the Gospel.  For most of the time I was there she simply moaned (seemingly in pain though she said she wasn't) with about every breath.  When these hymns were being played the moans changed.  They were no longer ones of pain, but seemingly of relief and joy.  I believe she also tried to break a smile.  Especially with these words:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!  

This is glorious truth that I am convinced she is resting in.  And though her husband, family, and friends will miss her; she is about to experience joy inexpressible!  

O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul. 

Amen, come Lord, come!

Sermon update

For any who are interested here is a link to the sermon I preached on John 14:15-31 on June 12th at North Cincy.  Just click on the "Latest Sermons" tab and you'll see mine listed.  Enjoy. 

Delight leads to study

111      1     Praise the LORD!
                  I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,
      in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
            2      Great are the works of the LORD,
      studied by all who delight in them.
            3      Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
      and his righteousness endures forever.
            4      He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
      the LORD is gracious and merciful.
            5      He provides food for those who fear him;
      he remembers his covenant forever.
            6      He has shown his people the power of his works,
      in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
            7      The works of his hands are faithful and just;
      all his precepts are trustworthy;
            8      they are established forever and ever,
      to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
            9      He sent redemption to his people;
      he has commanded his covenant forever.
      Holy and awesome is his name!
            10      The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
      all those who practice it have a good understanding.
      His praise endures forever!

     "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them."  This verse leapt off the page at me this morning.  There are a couple of assumptions that are in this text.  First, simply that the Lord's works are great.  And to help with that understanding and belief the rest of the Psalm rehearses what many of the Lord's works are (provides food, remembers covenant, giving the people the nations, etc...).  Second, that they are worthy to be the object of our delight.  His works are delightful.  Think through them for a moment (seriously take a moment and think through the Lord's magnificent works)--even just what the psalmist listed.  Clearly the most magnificent work is the Lord remembering His covenant by sending Christ to obey the Law perfectly, die in our stead, and be raised for our justification.  Finally, it seems to presume that all who delight in the Lord's works will study them.  They will be sought after and inquired of to learn more about them and then to see the greater majesty that they posses. 
    This verse is challenging to me because when I don't feel like studying God's works and seeking after them it tells me that I am first not delighting in them (and by implication Him).  That also means that I am delighting in things that are less worthy; and therefore, as I wrote in my last post I need to train my appetite for true beauty, goodness and truth (see Phil. 4:8). 

An old CD and random thoughts...

Love life with all your might, 

Love peace but be willing to fight,  

Love beauty and train your sight, 

And nurture your appetite for beauty goodness and truth, 

Be strong and be brave, believe and be saved...for there is a God.

Wes King

     This past Sunday I had the privilege of preaching at North Cincy on John 14:15-31.  The focus of the text is on Jesus preparing His disciples for His imminent departure.  How He does this is by letting them know that they will not be left alone; that they have His Word, His Spirit, and He is giving them His peace as well.  It's a beautiful passage and one I was glad to be able to study more in depth.  I was blessed by my time in this passage and as I thought about I was reminded of the lyrics above from Wes King.  

     Why you ask?  Good question.  As I studied it and realized all that we have been given in Christ I realized more about my own heart.  I don't meditate often enough about the riches that we have by being in vital union with Christ.  I can expound them and rattle them off, but my experience of them needs to grow; not only for my benefit but for God's glory!  Even as I write this I am reminded of 2 Peter 1:3-8:  3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

     My life so often is a walking contradiction and surely less fruitful and effective than it could be.  I want what is good, but I settle for junk.  My appetite is too easily satisfied and it is to my detriment.  His "precious and very great promises" are true, but it is easy to look elsewhere (see Psalm 106 and Israel's history) and not make "every effort" to go after that which is best.  My prayer is that God would be my overriding passion and that in my life (practically) all else would pale in comparison (as it does in truth/reality) to His beauty, goodness and truth.  Lord train my sight and use me for Your glory!

(By the way--this album by King is well worth getting)