Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Comment: woke up this morning with the grand opening praise song which The Benedictus is: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel. Why? For He hath visited and redeemed his people: and hath raised up a mighty salvation in the house of his servant David.
I didn’t carry my old prayer book with me, and so I had to go to Luke 1:67, to read the entire song by Zechariah. The father of John the Baptist, who is credited for singing this prophetic song.
And as I read, in preparation for divine worship in this 8 degree strange land as I mentioned in the blog yesterday, I continued reading the Word of God, and found this of great significance. In context!
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”
Luke 2:6-7 NIV
Which then led to the strains of the wonderful and challenging hymn above, entering my mind: That Jesus came to set thy people free.
And that if we continue to be persistently disobedient, after hearing and understanding The Good News of Salvation, then we will stand accused of “ with mocking scorn, bearing our Lord to Calvary. Once again! Mercy.
A more subtle and nuanced message about disobedience came as I prepared to sleep in the arms of God last night. A word from Oswald Chambers. An extract.
The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…” (1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know…” (John 7:17).
And so to the extent that we continue as individuals and as church to be disobedient, we miss the opportunity to become “ something that you have never been”. Which is to become more and more like Jesus. With the message of the Good News to set people free from murder, and gross immorality and inequity and corruption and injustice. All by-products of Sin, and being ruled by the evil one. No longer being salt, and thus destined to be cast away.
O Jesus have mercy on all of us and the collective church, and set us apart, consecrate us to thy service, so that the earth shall be filled with glory of God as the waters cover the sea.
In obedience, wherever I am,
Shalom,
LWJ
Sermons 