Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
I once scorned ev’ry fearful thought of death.
When it was but the end of pulse and breath,
But now my eyes have seen that past the pain
There is a world that’s waiting to be claimed.
Earthmaker, Holy, let me now, depart,
For living’s such a temporary art.
And dying is but getting dressed for God.
Our graves are merely doorways cut in sod.
— Calvin Miller
I Bind Unto Myself Today
By: attr. St. Patrick
I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
I bind this day to me forever,
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan River,
His cross of death for my salvation,
His bursting from the spiced tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.
I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.
I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, his might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need,
The wisdom of my god to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The Word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.
I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three,
Of whom all nature has creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
Salvation is of Christ the Lord!
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Hymn # 172 from Lutheran Worship
1 My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!
2 Wake up, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
3 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
4 For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.
6 Now rescue your beloved people.
Answer and save us by your power.
–Psalm 108:1-6, NLT
David has tapped into strength and significance. The astounding part of it is–it’s a Person, not a method. He has a relationship that alters the reality around him. David is outrageously enthusiastic about this. He exudes a confidence that can’t be contained. Our strength is in a person! (Not religion, a moral code, ethics or even discipleship.) It’s Jesus, it is a relationship, that is personal–a intimate friendship.
David refers to a ‘harp and lyre.’ These are obsolete for the most part. But I think any musical instrument can be used. A piano or a guitar, (even a cherry red Stratocaster) is quite acceptable. But there is an interesting shift. David’s heart and soul is his musical instrument! Worship starts right there, not in a set of drums. His heart is the primary place of worship. That is where worship must happen. And we can easily confuse this.
King David understands innately the significance of worshipping God. He visualizes going out to all the peoples of the world–not as a diplomat, but as a worshipper. That is his central thought and theme. No trade treaties, or ambassadors or even peace envoys. But Jehovah God is his ingrained purpose.
And worshipping Him is a reasonable thing. David proclaims two attributes that are ‘sparkplugs’ for his spiritual life, (v.4).
These ignite his love and worship. When King David thinks about them, he can’t help but sing and worship. And they are extremely significant for us as well. When you think of God’s love and His unceasing faithfulness–and if they are properly seen, and understood, you too will worship. As a matter of fact the existence of heart worship is evidence of a healthy spiritual heart.
David wants to God to show Himself to the whole earth–everyone! Far jungle tribesman and Eskimos, all need to see God! Everybody gets to see Him. That is the wonderful purpose of Christian missions. David wants desperately to share this with all. He has a true zeal (and sometimes that scares us).
Verse 6 hints of the existence of sin and evil. These are things so engrained and prevalent in our society, and in our hearts–we need a deliverer and a savior. Jesus has to step in. We have no other options, and our creator has got to be our Savior. When we begin to realize our desperate predicament, all the vanity (an old fashioned word) and emptiness, we are halfway there. I encourage you to worship, everyday.
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“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
– John 14:1-3
Our hearts can be very disturbed. It happens more frequently than we think. We are like a styrofoam cup on the sea in a storm. Jesus asks us to trust Him in this. Your trust is very important to Him. He covets your faith in Him.
Jesus reveals a bit of heaven to us.
We see our Lord Jesus taking a personal interest in our stay. He is involved in making heaven a remarkable place. That intrigues me. Somehow eternity seems more hospitable with Jesus directly handling our transition. He is making all the arrangements on our behalf.
A promise has been given. He intends to be our escort into heaven. No one gets lost, or confused as He is completely present. Our destination is sure, and our Savior is strong. When Jesus spoke these things, His disciples were encouraged and fortified in their hope and faith.
“It is not darkness you are going to, for God is Light. It is not lonely, for Christ is with you. It is not unknown country, for Christ is there.”
Charles Kingsley
The promise is precise. Where I am, there you will be! This is solid and definitive. There is nothing vague or ethereal about this. We will be in His presence just as if it were a dear friend coming by for coffee. Too often this all gets lost in a haze or fog, and reality is just not there. But it is real, and its this life, here and now that has no eternal solidity. And, He has given us His word.
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