With Grateful Hearts Adoring
Posted: Saturday, June 13, 2009
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
"With grateful hearts adoring...."
This is a song of the redeemed. Like the drowning man, when we cease fighting the One who came to rescue us, then we can be saved and we can sing with adoration of the Savior.
A large man in an expensive-looking suit stood at the front of a church. He had flown thousands of miles to be there for the church's silver anniversary. He had been invited to be one of the speakers.
He could not figure why the blood of Christ was so important to those who believed in Him. It irritated the man that the church insisted on this talk of blood, which also came up every time there was communion.
"This is my blood, shed for the remission of sins," the Lord had said, raising the emblem of it, the wine in a cup.
The context of the Lord's words was at the last supper that Jesus shared with His disciples, the meal of the evening of His arrest by Roman guards.
" And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom"(Matthew 26: 26-29)
As the man spoke in that church that Sunday morning, I was so surprised that it was mention of the blood of Jesus that had hindered him. There are many reasons people give for refusal to believe, but I had not heard that one.
But there was no surprise at the man's reaction and his life's change when he came to comprehend the significance of Jesus' blood, to him. I did not miss the way his voice broke for a moment as emotion rose to the surface and he continued to testify of the differences Christ, the Suffering Savior, brought to his life.
The movement of the Holy Spirit, the Bible says, is like the wind, which man cannot control. Only God can direct the wind. And when the Holy Spirit moves upon the heart and mind of a man or a woman, it is like the wind, which blows where it wishes. The Spirit witnesses to a person's spirit in that way, and the person comprehends, mysteriously and really, that Jesus is the Son of God.
And when that happens, then many things once revolting or objectionable about the truth of God become clear. Not only are they clear, but also honored, holy, and precious. Now, the scales have fallen from stubborn, fog-filled eyes. Now, ears are opened. Now, the heart can retain the Word of God and God can begin to work His amazing, indescribable ways.
I love C. S. Lewis' description of this mystery, which I will tell by paraphrase. He had been seeking God, and he had come to accept faith in God's being, yet he was not sure about Jesus. Then, Lewis later wrote, he was on a bus to a zoo. "When I got on the bus, I did not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and when I got to the zoo, I did."
Those are the mysterious workings of God upon the heart and soul of those willing to seek Him, to know the truth. The other things of God are not shown to unbelievers who resist Him, who refuse to want to know the truth about God. Yet, when one becomes willing to know, and then believes, a wonderful journey begins. And one never forgets that it was God who sought and saved.
That is why those believing on Jesus Christ for life now and eternally are now "with grateful hearts adoring" the One who rescued them. He shed His life's blood on that cruel cross, for their sins, and His body was broken for them . To love the Lord is to know the difference by grace, and to want to praise Him continually. And no power on earth can stop that, for it happens secretly all the time, in the inner recesses of the heart now joined with God. People physically imprisoned in godless places, for their faith, are otherwise free, for they know that Christ has set them free. He said, "It is for freedom that I have made you free." They know it and bear witness of the Light in any situation of darkness.
For this reason, the follower of Christ has hope at all times, whatever is going on. For this reason, we desire to decrease that He may increase in us. For this reason, we desire others to know this joy. There is no jealous clinging to God. His children want the world to know and to realize and share the perfect love of God that reaches out to them personally and with saving grace.
You may be suffering now. God's comfort is as near as your breathing, if you will open your heart to Him now, willingly. Whether it is for the first time or again after many other times that you invite His help, He wants to comfort and give peace to you as often as needed. For you , His love never dies. The One who died for you, and whom God raised from the dead, bridged the gap between earth and the highest heavens.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)hi jane,if not for my belief in Jesus and God, I know i would not be here today. isn't it ironic that what we can't see, but can feel, guides us through our lives, and what we can see and hear, sometimes drives us away from life, and into our own little world?thanks for sharing,my best,sueDear Sue - I think that what you wrote is part of why those who do not believe cannot understand why they cannot explain God or His non-existence, which they hold to. We have to seek God before our eyes can open to see or unless another kind of miracle occurs by which we suddenly "see"! I agree with you. Without the privilege of knowing God through Jesus Christ life is a mess or worse. We need to be right with Him. Blessings, Jane
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