The words of old hymns often come into my mind, impacting and bringing a blessing, just when I need the words, to lift me up to God. I sometimes have gone down thought pathways that are not blessing me, and it is so good to be lifted up, by words God has given another in poetry, written to music. I make the following words, a prayer today, as we contemplate passages of scripture.
O God, Unseen, Yet ever Near – Edward Ouler, (1798 – 1863)
“O God, unseen, yet ever near, reveal Thy presence now while we in love that hath no fear, before Thy glory bow.
Here may Thy faithful people know the blessings of Thy love, the streams that thro’ the desert flow, the manna from above.
We come, obedient to Thy word to feast on heav’nly food, our meat, the body of our Lord, our drink, His precious blood.
Thus may we all thy words obey, for we, o God, are Thine. And go rejoicing on our way, renewed by strength divine.”
1 John 3: 1 – 3 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is, 3 and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” To be pure as Jesus is such an attractive prospect; but until then there is much to purify out of the heart and life now while it is day, and Jesus tarries His coming. Let us not waste a moment in the mobilizing of our God given abilities from the Holy Spirit’s power and direction, in preparing for the coming of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 2 : 13 – 15 “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.” I have often found when I have difficulty understanding some verses in scripture, that after prayer, and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak, understanding eventually comes; though it may be a day so later. It always better to rely on coming to God with an prayerful heart and an open mind, and then allow scripture to interrupt itself by comparing scripture with scripture, than going off with one verse, or going only to the understanding of another human person. God will deliver on His promise to give understanding to every true human seeker after truth. Proverbs 2: 3 “Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding.” V 5, 6 “Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;” I am so glad God provides understanding for His written word. I now understand if it is so important for us to understand scripture, that He sends the Holy Spirit to bring understanding, it behooves us to apply ourselves personally to reading scripture, and in the way He has revealed in His word. Proverbs 3: 5, 6 ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Thanks and praises to the God of my salvation, again today, Psalm 25: 1 “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.” V4, 5 “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.”