November 26
Romans 8:18-10:21
Robert Robinson, the composer of "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing", was converted under the preaching of George Whitefield, but later drifted from the Lord. He had been used mightily as a pastor, but the neglect of spiritual things led him astray. Disillusioned and dejected he began to travel in an attempt to re-discover peace. During one of his trips he met a young woman who was evidently very spiritually minded. She asked Robinson, "What do you think of this hymn I have been reading?" She handed him the book and it was his own hymn. He tried to avoid her question, but it was hopeless, for the Lord was speaking to him. He finally broke down and confessed who he was and how he had been living away from the Lord. "But these 'streams of mercy' are still flowing, the woman assured him, and through her encouragement Robinson was restored to fellowship with the Lord. Many never seek the Lord and live their entire lives lost, though they don't realize the reason for their misery. Others find Him, but over time choose to drift. Drifting is easy. Simply attach yourself to the things of the world rather than the things of God, and allow yourselves to be pulled with the current of societal norms. Allow this for long enough and you won't believe the unrecognizable shores such drifting can bring you to. Interestingly, God never leaves us or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). Swimming against the current is near impossible. But God is more than able to pick you up, take you on board of the boat of grace and mercy and guide you against the current of society back to His own shore of salvation.
Interestingly, often we don't see ourselves correctly, or our Father in heaven correctly. We see ourselves as deserving something. Many see our Father as unfair or inept. This is the conclusion of what the world, or societal norms will lead you to. But we have a Father who loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins, conquering both sin and death, and His Holy Spirit who will guide us to navigate the waters of life on a day by day and moment by moment basis. These mistakes are not new, as we read in Romans 9:14, "Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose." But you might ask "Why does God allow us to go through such difficulties?" We read in 8:28, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." If you think that the current of the world is too strong and it's lure is too great, remember 8:31, "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?"
We can give others a bunch of "feel-good" self-help messages, and even go to them ourselves, but we read what we should do in 10:14-17, "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"... So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ." Going against the current is difficult, but we read the first step in 10:9-10, "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved." It doesn't matter what you have done or what you are doing. It doesn't matter how long or far you have allowed yourselves to be carried along the godless stream of society. Come to Him, or return to Him and your course will become clear, and with Jesus as the Captain of your faith, you are on your way to the life of faith which will fill you with joy and purpose.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: