Standing outside door
Holy Son of Man
Knocking and waiting
Sharing Father’s grace plan
Conquering darkness
Timeless gift He brings
Coming to serve man
Soaring on eagle’s wings
Hearing now His voice
Sacred, divine love
Calling to repent
Witnessing from above
Opening thy door
Christ boldly walks in
Showing wounded hands
Forgiving every sin
From Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
Daily journey, full of needs
Holy God sees every one
With Living Bread, Father feeds
Faith’s light among us, His Son
Fueling spiritual needs
Son infusing them and more
Opening each heart, He seeds
Timely mercy, faith cared for
Adopted children of God
Trusted steps reach freedom’s place
Trinity, faith’s new tripod
Bestowing glorious grace
Forgiving life’s trespasses
Savior’s blood setting man free
Viewing faith through new glasses
From Calvary’s bended knee
Trusted insight, wisdom’s light
Destiny’s faith walks ahead
Spirit remains always bright
Leading to Heaven’s homestead
From Ephesians 3:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
There’s no sight like seeing the light from Calvary kiss a human face as it fills the heart with the assurance of Divine forgiveness.
From Hebrews 6:10-12: “For God is not unjust; He will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for His sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”
Rodney “Gipsy” Smith (1860-1947) was a British evangelist who conducted campaigns in both his native land and the United States for over 70 years.
There is someone who fully knows what lurks in our hearts. Our God, alone knows. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and forgives all our transgressions. To Him there are no secret struggles or silent cries. He hears. He sees. He stays near.
From Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
The happy sequence culminating in fellowship with God is penitence, pardon, and peace–the first we offer, the second we accept, and the third we inherit.
From Ephesians 1:7: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Charles Brent (1862-1929) was the Episcopal Church’s first Missionary Bishop of the Philippine Islands. Canadian-born, he served as Chaplain General of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.
Looking back over my life, all I can see is mercy and grace written in large letters everywhere. May God help me have the same kind of heart toward those who wound or offend me.
From Ephesians 4:31-32: “Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
Jim Cymbala (born 1942) is an American pastor and Christian author. He firmly believes that God will share His goodness in our lives.
Where there is much prayer, there will be much of the Spirit; where there is much of the Spirit, there will be ever-increasing prayer.
From James 5:15-16: “The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
Andrew Murray (1828-1917) was a South African Christian pastor, writer, and teacher. He believed that Christians should always place a great emphasis on maintaining a rich, personal devotional life.
From Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Storm’s surging rage
Turning away from sin
Transgressions now forgiven
Lighting faith within
Light leads our way
Stirring righteous feelings
Freed from enemy’s facade
Praising truth’s dealings
Living water
Quenching believers’ thirst
God’s glory reigning supreme
Seeing hope dispersed
Every new day
Serving merciful Lord
Countless opportunities
Calling, come aboard
Father’s guidance
Flowing from grace-filled heart
Future course plotted and set
Receiving fresh start
From Isaiah 43:25: “I alone am the one who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
From Colossians 1:12-14: “Giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Life’s challenging journey
Filled with traps of despair
Father always with us
Pulling each from evil’s snare
Life’s tormenting voices
Dragged into darkest seas
Father always with us
Catching mercy’s faithful breeze
Life’s foolish decisions
Swayed by misplaced actions
Father always with us
Forgiving sin’s transactions
Life’s pride overflowing
Drowned amongst false idols
Father always with us
Responding to His bridle
Life’s unforgiving walk
Misguided force’s fraud
Father always with us
Walking with transforming God
From 1 John 1:8: “ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
From Romans 6:4: “Therefore we have been buried with Him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”
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Are we truly walking in Christ?
With a new life, born again
Follow Jesus, He paid our price
True sanctification will come
Only from burial of an old life
Known as “white funeral” to some
Baptized into Christ, the Holy Son
Baptized into His death
With His death, victory is won
Through the confirmed Resurrection
We humbly come to a Holy God
His defining purpose, brings reflection
God is leading, always out front
Facing trying times of adversity
Our duty shall be, always to confront
Come to almighty and loving God
Sanctify a promise with the Father
God’s will be done, by His rod
When Christ forever defeats the Cross
His lasting, living Resurrection offers
“Walking in newness of life,” without loss
To Jesus, surrender these sinful ways
Hear Him, accept Him, follow Him
Ask for His forgiveness, without delay
Mighty God of angel armies leads
His righteousness marches with us
Filling a hungry soul, His Word feeds
Freed from sin, obedient to God
Wages of sin only bring death
Accept Jesus, He overcomes all odds
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From the words of Scottish evangelist and Christian teacher Oswald Chambers: “No one enters the experience of entire sanctification without going through a “white funeral”–the burial of the old life.”
Originally published February, 2020.
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