Friday Morning Prayer:)… March 3, 2022
March 3, 2022 - 6 minutes readMy Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine;
for thee all the follies of sin I resign;
my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I love thee because thou hast first loved me
and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow;
if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.
I’ll love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
and praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath,
and say when the deathdew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.[1]
“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;”[2]
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A brother shared this verse with me this week, Isaiah 51:1. God’s words of comfort to his exiled people. The Jews believed but were struggling with uncertainty. Like the weary dispirited Jews during Isaiah’s time, many people who consider themselves Christian, do believe, yet are weak and succumb to unbelief through worldly and fleshly ways of being. My divine calling, and yours too, is to believe according to God’s saving grace and his sustaining indwelling power! Therefore, I ask Jesus to give me ears to hear, and a constant desire to listen to him, with great discerning effort. The holy pursuit is righteousness, even deliverance from anything that fails to reflect genuine live-changing belief!
I fail at times to maintain godly reactions, and respond with words that do not reflect my regenerate heart—I do believe, but those types of fleshly behaviors, reactive words, anger, pride, etc. reflect unbelief! My succumbing to faithless reactions of a worldly nature! Thank you, God, for the brothers and/or sisters you sovereignly place in our lives—the Spirit convicting, prompting the regenerate heart to repent, and continually work out this great salvation with fear and trembling. Like the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, I too need to cry out for help when my life reflects unbelief. “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.”[3]
As I sing from a genuinely redeemed heart, I recognize my constant need to examine myself. Yes, “…I love thee, I know thou art mine;” and, I am encouraged that by God’s preserving grace, you, and me, are given the confidence to sing, “…for thee all the follies of sin I resign;” and, the strong conviction that keeps us walking, talking, have our being, because of “…my gracious Redeemer, my Savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”
The Apostle Paul defines our pursuit, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer…. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”[4]
Beloved, be ye encouraged as you look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn (dug). Yes! A new creation in Christ, the Rock on which we stand, and have our being! God gives grace to the humble and is faithful to his promises regarding his saints—the God of all comfort is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Indeed, our hope is in Christ, even as we long for the promised new heaven and new earth to God’s glory.
In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ’tis now
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Friday Morning Prayer:)… First Baptist Church, 1912 Arnold Way, Alpine.
Sisters meet at 0900
Brothers meet at 0730
Join us if your schedule allows. It is always a joy when the saints of God join together, especially for intentional prayer as the Spirit leads.
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Men’s Breakfast
Brothers are invited to men’s breakfast at Mt. View Bible 2710 Alpine Blvd, Alpine. This Saturday, March 5, 2022 @ 0800.
[1] https://www.christianmusicandhymns.com/2019/09/my-jesus-i-love-thee-hymn-lyrics-and.html
[2] Isaiah 51:1
[3] Mark 9:24
[4] Romans 12:9-12; 17-18
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