Thursday, February 11, 2010, 7:45 a.m. – I woke with this song in my mind:
Precious Lord, Take My Hand / Unknown
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I then read II John:
My Understanding: I read a commentary on this passage of scripture. It stated that the “chosen lady” was either an anonymous noble lady in the church or she represented a specific Christian community of believers metaphorically identified as the “chosen lady and her children.” [REF: Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary] The commentary continued by stating that since ancient times opinion has been divided on this subject. Either way, the words spoken in this passage of scripture can encourage our hearts individually, as well as collectively, in the Body of Christ - His Church, His Bride - “The Chosen lady and her children.”
This morning, the Lord used this passage of scripture to encourage me personally. Sometimes I do get tired. Sometimes I feel weak and worn. At times, the distractions of this world will pull on me. From time to time I feel as though I am being stretched in too many directions, and I experience that finding that right balance is somewhat difficult, i.e. setting the right priorities and deciding which comes first and what can wait until later, etc. Occasionally I feel overwhelmed by it all and I feel I am neglecting something for the benefit of another and so I must take time to just sit back and listen for God’s voice to speak to my heart and to not let it get to me.
So, when I read this scripture passage this morning, I was immediately encouraged. The Lord spoke to me individually today when he said “To the chosen lady and her children…” Then, the best words ever followed that, “whom I love in the truth…” When we feel weak, tired, worn, and/or torn in too many directions and we begin to feel as though we are not up to par or we feel as though we failed to “perform” to the level that we believed we should, those words are music to our ears… “whom I love in the truth.” God’s love for us is not based upon our performance. He does want our hearts and he does want our obedience, but his love does not change for us if some days we are not “supermen” or “superwomen.” That is the truth!
One command that we will see over and over again in scripture is that we “love one another.” We can’t go wrong if we are doing that. Of course, we need to understand what true love is so that we know how to love one another with the right kind of love, but loving other people is always the right thing to do. Then, he describes what “true love” is: “that we walk in obedience to his commands… and his command is that you walk in love.” So, there we have it! Obedience = love, and love = obedience. If we are loving God, we will obey him and part of obeying him is loving each other. So, clearly I can make that a top priority in my life. That’s a “no brainer.”
Then, the writer warns us against “deceivers.” And, we are cautioned to “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” So, there I had to look at what all is involved in “what you have worked for.” Truly my relationship with Jesus Christ fits in here, not that I worked for my salvation, but the Bible does tell us to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…” That is the key here – “It is God who works in you.”
So, what we have “worked for” is what God has been working in us and through us in saving us, in calling us to be his disciples, in building within us character, hope, peace, endurance, perseverance, etc. The deceiver is called a “deceiver” for a good reason, because when we go through those times when we are “weak and worn”, that is when the “deceiver” does some of his best work on us. He tries to make us feel guilty or to accuse us of not “performing” 100%, among other things. So, when we hear those voices telling us “You’ll never win,” we need to listen to the “Voice of Truth” within us that reminds us, “Do not be afraid,” and that this is for His glory.
This first song was so encouraging to me this morning as I sung it in my mind back to God in prayer – “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand… through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” First of all, he is a very precious Lord! And, he does take our hands all the time, but especially we must realize that he is holding on to us when we have those times when we feel “weak and worn.” We need to know that he is holding our hands. And, he will let us stand, i.e. he will help us to stand when our knees are buckling and we think we can’t go on. He’ll take us right through those storms and through those difficult periods in our lives. And, he will lead us to the light – the light is Jesus and the light is truth. He will dispel those lies of Satan if we will listen. And, he will lead us home, and truly our home is not of this earth.
Finally, he encouraged me with the words of this song. I admit that I cried through these words as they were such an encouragement to my heart this morning:
God Is In Control / Twila Paris
This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control
History marches on
There is a bottom line drawn across the ages
Culture can make its plan
Oh, but the line never changes
No matter how the deception may fly
There is one thing that has always been true
It will be true forever
He has never let you down
Why start to worry now?
He is still the Lord of all we see
And He is still the loving Father
Watching over you and me
Watching over you...watching over me..
Watching over every things..
Watching over you..watching over me..
Every little sparrow..every little things...
Precious Lord, Take My Hand / Unknown
Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
When the darkness appears
And the night draws near,
And the day is past and gone,
At the river I stand,
Guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord,
Lead me home.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I then read II John:
My Understanding: I read a commentary on this passage of scripture. It stated that the “chosen lady” was either an anonymous noble lady in the church or she represented a specific Christian community of believers metaphorically identified as the “chosen lady and her children.” [REF: Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary] The commentary continued by stating that since ancient times opinion has been divided on this subject. Either way, the words spoken in this passage of scripture can encourage our hearts individually, as well as collectively, in the Body of Christ - His Church, His Bride - “The Chosen lady and her children.”
This morning, the Lord used this passage of scripture to encourage me personally. Sometimes I do get tired. Sometimes I feel weak and worn. At times, the distractions of this world will pull on me. From time to time I feel as though I am being stretched in too many directions, and I experience that finding that right balance is somewhat difficult, i.e. setting the right priorities and deciding which comes first and what can wait until later, etc. Occasionally I feel overwhelmed by it all and I feel I am neglecting something for the benefit of another and so I must take time to just sit back and listen for God’s voice to speak to my heart and to not let it get to me.
So, when I read this scripture passage this morning, I was immediately encouraged. The Lord spoke to me individually today when he said “To the chosen lady and her children…” Then, the best words ever followed that, “whom I love in the truth…” When we feel weak, tired, worn, and/or torn in too many directions and we begin to feel as though we are not up to par or we feel as though we failed to “perform” to the level that we believed we should, those words are music to our ears… “whom I love in the truth.” God’s love for us is not based upon our performance. He does want our hearts and he does want our obedience, but his love does not change for us if some days we are not “supermen” or “superwomen.” That is the truth!
One command that we will see over and over again in scripture is that we “love one another.” We can’t go wrong if we are doing that. Of course, we need to understand what true love is so that we know how to love one another with the right kind of love, but loving other people is always the right thing to do. Then, he describes what “true love” is: “that we walk in obedience to his commands… and his command is that you walk in love.” So, there we have it! Obedience = love, and love = obedience. If we are loving God, we will obey him and part of obeying him is loving each other. So, clearly I can make that a top priority in my life. That’s a “no brainer.”
Then, the writer warns us against “deceivers.” And, we are cautioned to “Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.” So, there I had to look at what all is involved in “what you have worked for.” Truly my relationship with Jesus Christ fits in here, not that I worked for my salvation, but the Bible does tell us to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…” That is the key here – “It is God who works in you.”
So, what we have “worked for” is what God has been working in us and through us in saving us, in calling us to be his disciples, in building within us character, hope, peace, endurance, perseverance, etc. The deceiver is called a “deceiver” for a good reason, because when we go through those times when we are “weak and worn”, that is when the “deceiver” does some of his best work on us. He tries to make us feel guilty or to accuse us of not “performing” 100%, among other things. So, when we hear those voices telling us “You’ll never win,” we need to listen to the “Voice of Truth” within us that reminds us, “Do not be afraid,” and that this is for His glory.
This first song was so encouraging to me this morning as I sung it in my mind back to God in prayer – “Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand… through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.” First of all, he is a very precious Lord! And, he does take our hands all the time, but especially we must realize that he is holding on to us when we have those times when we feel “weak and worn.” We need to know that he is holding our hands. And, he will let us stand, i.e. he will help us to stand when our knees are buckling and we think we can’t go on. He’ll take us right through those storms and through those difficult periods in our lives. And, he will lead us to the light – the light is Jesus and the light is truth. He will dispel those lies of Satan if we will listen. And, he will lead us home, and truly our home is not of this earth.
Finally, he encouraged me with the words of this song. I admit that I cried through these words as they were such an encouragement to my heart this morning:
God Is In Control / Twila Paris
This is no time for fear
This is a time for faith and determination
Don't lose the vision here
Carried away by emotion
Hold on to all that you hide in your heart
There is one thing that has always been true
It holds the world together
God is in control
We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
God is in control, oh God is in control
History marches on
There is a bottom line drawn across the ages
Culture can make its plan
Oh, but the line never changes
No matter how the deception may fly
There is one thing that has always been true
It will be true forever
He has never let you down
Why start to worry now?
He is still the Lord of all we see
And He is still the loving Father
Watching over you and me
Watching over you...watching over me..
Watching over every things..
Watching over you..watching over me..
Every little sparrow..every little things...
