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Third Verse Devotion: Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us

 Thou hast promised to receive us, 
Poor and sinful though we be; 
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, 
Grace to cleanse, and pow’r to free: 
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, 
Early let us turn to Thee; 
Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus, 
Early let us turn to Thee 

 hymnary.org 

My husband and I moved to North Carolina for a while following college. I had never driven in big cities. I had a little experience with Shreveport, Louisianna, but that was it. On our way to North Carolina, I had managed somehow to drive through Atlanta, Georgia, but that’s another story for another time. After we arrived, we needed to return our U-haul to Raleigh. So, he drives the truck, and I drive our car. We get separated at a traffic light. I am driving around an unfamiliar town trying to find a U-haul truck. End of story, we are re-united by God’s grace, and everything is fine. The point is that one wrong turn, one traffic direction was all it took for us to become separated.  

How easy it is in our lives for us to become separated from our loving God because of one wrong turn. One wrong step. One bad choice. This is why this third stanza of this hymn is so beautiful. He has promised to receive us even though we are poor and sinful. Even though we have made a mess of our lives, he will still embrace the one sheep who wanders away.  Isaiah 53:6 says 

All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him. 

I don’t know what you are going through today or where you have been. I just know that he stands ready to bring you back into the fold. He is ready to receive you and wash you clean. Don’t wait until you think you can clean yourself up; it never works. We can’t clean ourselves enough. If you made that wrong turn and lost your way, the shepherd is searching for you. Just stop. Stop running from him. Run to the shepherd who loves you and gave himself for you. He has grace to cleanse and power to free.  

All for One 

Angela 

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Third Verse Devotion: He Leadeth Me

This song was written by a Baptist minister on the back of his sermon notes following an evening service. You can find the story on www.hymnary.org as usual, but he had been speaking on Psalm 23 and got caught on the phrase “he leads me.” This was the genesis of the hymn.

The third stanza is one of contentment. Contentment is something that is lacking in society. We are always looking for the next big thing. We have a hard time separating need from want. I think we can take away three ways to be content from this stanza of “He Leadeth Me”: put our trust in Him, be content with what we have, and starting with the basics.

Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.

First, the best way to find contentment is to put our hand in the hand of the Lord. This means to put our trust in Him. It is not focusing on our circumstances but focusing on God. We can do this in three ways: regular bible reading, prayer, and church attendance. There may be other ways to help focus our attention on God, but I believe these are the three biggest things we can do to keep our attention on him and not on our circumstances.

We need to be daily engaged with the Word of God. There are plenty of systematic readings you can choose from and several bible apps that can assist. Bible Gateway, Bible, Blue Letter Bible, Bible Hub, are a few online apps that you may find useful. Following daily bible reading is prayer and is a natural flow from reading the bible. Keep your focus on God through prayer and adoration. Be sure to carve time alone with God. These two, bible reading and prayer lead naturally to church attendance. We need the fellowship of other believers. We have the opportunity each week to celebrate and worship with other Christians.

The second way to find contentment is to be content with what we have. I must confess I was not familiar with the word repine, so I looked it up. The online Mirriam-Webster dictionary defined it this way:” to feel or express dejection or discontent – complain.” Websters 1928 had three explanations:

“1. To fret one’s self; to be discontented; to feel inward discontent which preys on the spirits; with at or against. It is our duty never to repine at the allotments of Providence.

2. To complain discontentedly; to murmur.

Multitudes repine at the want of that which nothing, but idleness hinders them from enjoying.

3. To envy.”

There is a line from a song I heard years ago. I am not sure of the artist or the song title, but the line has stayed with me since. It was something like “have what you want but want what you have.” Can you look at your life and your things and say honestly that you have what you want and want what you have?  Paul found this place. If anyone had reason to complain, it would have been Paul. He had been jailed, beaten, shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, stoned, left for dead, abandoned by those he called friends, unjustly accused and on it goes. Yet in Philippians 4: 11-13 he says this,

“Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

It is only by holding to the hand of Christ we find our contentment and we find our strength. When we are holding on to him and better yet, when he is holding on to us, our complaints and murmurs just seem to fade away. Our envies, discontentment, and complaining have no place when we are looking at him.

The third way to find contentment is to start with the basics. All we really need is food, clothing and shelter.  What that looks like and anything beyond that is where discontentment come into play. A bigger house, better clothes, a well-stocked pantry, these are what we look for as basics. They are nice, I will not lie. It is nice to not have to wonder where your next meal is coming from or worry about the holes in your shoes or the holes in your clothes, or if your roof leaks. However, for many people in the world this is their lot in life. Remember what Paul said earlier? He found himself in both situations. Neither gave him reason to complain. He could find contentment in both. He writes to Timothy:

1 Timothy 6:8

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

You may argue that this is easier said that done. We need money to get by in this world even if we are content with our situation. We still have bills to pay, you argue. Yes, we do. I agree. We have a responsibility to take care of ourselves to the fullest of our ability. We were not made to be idle. We were made to work. So certainly, find a job and work at it with all your heart as to the Lord. We all have something to contribute to humanity through our job. It may be serving food in a restaurant, gathering trash at a the end of a driveway, digging a ditch for a roadcrew, assisting a doctor in an office, preparing for surgery, filing in an office, teaching children to read and write, the list goes on. There are millions of jobs available. If you need one, you can find one to help provide for your basic needs. Beyond that the writer of Hebrews said,

Hebrews 13:5

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,”

We don’t have to be wealthy to be content. Neither do we have to be poor to be content. We just need to find contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves. I think that is the point the writer of our song today is trying to make. Whatever lot we are in we find contentment knowing “‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.”

I encourage you to search your life and see where you are most discontent. Is there an area God has been calling you to give to him and you have been reluctant? Will you give it over to him today? Put your hand in his and be content with what you have and be content with the basics of food, clothing and shelter. He will not leave you or forsake you. Have you found your contentment in Him? Today is a good day to begin.  

Angela

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Third Verse Devotion: Are You Washed

The greatest anticipation of Christians is the return of Jesus. We have been expecting his return since his ascension 2, 000 years ago. I know some might say he is slow in his return, yet Peter already had an answer for that very argument.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

His delay is for those who have yet to believe. The Lord will keep all his promises, including his promise to return. He doesn’t want any to perish in an eternity away from him, so he waits. He gives ample opportunity for unbelievers to come to him in repentance for salvation. One day the clock will run out and he will return. As sure as I type these words, he will return. Our hymn today asks the question, Are you ready?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
and be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When he comes have you done what you needed to in preparation? Jesus told a parable in Matthew 25 of the second coming in relation to ten virgins five had extra oil and five did not. When the bridegroom came the hour was late and five virgins trimmed their lamps with their extra oil and went out to meet him. The remainder did not have enough oil. They tried to borrow some from the other five but there would not have been enough for all of them. They were told to go to the market and purchase more. While they were out, the bridegroom came, and the party went in and shut and locked the door. Finally, they came and knocked on the door begging to be let in but were refused. They weren’t prepared, they weren’t ready in advance of his coming.

The second part of the line is “will your robes be white” and harkens to Revelation and perhaps Isaiah. In Revelation chapter 7, John looked and saw a great multitude. Look at Revelation 7:9

…I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands…

John was asked by one of the elders with him if he knew who they were, he answered he did not. The elder responded with,

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

There is a time coming when a great tribulation will fall on the earth. A man of lawlessness will reign for a short time. Any who profess to believe in Jesus during that time will suffer for their belief like never before. These martyrs for the name of Jesus are the ones who are referred to here. Earlier in chapter 6, John had witnessed those who had been martyred crying for justice. At this time, they were also given a white robe. (Revelation 6:11)

This idea can also be found in Isaiah 1:18,

Though your sins are as scarlet,
They shall become as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be like wool.


When we are covered in the blood of Jesus, we are made new again and made white as snow. Our sins are no more. We will be ready for the bridegroom and our robes will be white. Then we will be ready for the mansion bright. Jesus talks about that mansion in John chapter 14. He has been talking to his disciples about going away to prepare a place for them and he says this,

John 14:2

In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

The many rooms translated in the New American Standard is often translated mansions in other versions. It means he is preparing a place for us. Whether it is a room or a mansion, he has us in mind, and it will be magnificent. It will be a place beyond our wildest dreams. So, if he has gone to prepare a place for his believers, doesn’t it stand to reason he will come back for them? Yes, he will.

 I don’t know when but someday Jesus will come back for his church until then let me encourage you to be ready. Be washed in the blood of the Lamb. Let your robe be white and be ready for the mansions bright. O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Angela

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Third Verse Devotion: At the Cross

Mary Shelley wrote a book called Frankenstein in which a doctor became so obsessed with creating life he robbed graves and stole cadavers and used the parts to create a man. He managed to bring this man to life. Once the deed was done, however, he was so horrified by what he had done he could not even look upon his “creature” as he called him. The book goes on to describe the lengths the “creature” went to in which to gain his creators attention and approval. The creature wanted companionship and love and acceptance and all he received was rejection and scorn.

As I read the book, I could not help but consider the comparisons between God’s “creatures” and Himself. Only in this case it was in reverse. God created us with his own hands and gave us life and the gift of speech and intelligence and yet we deny His very existence. He paints the sky with sunrises and sunsets to get our attention and we say it is only she way the suns rays react with the water droplets in the atmosphere. Or some other scientific explanation. We see the earth’s majesty and say it all began with some cosmic accident or ooze from the ocean. Really? The creature denies the Creator. We were created to love the Creator. We were created to fellowship with Him. Yet in a reverse Shelley story we run from the very one who loves us. Why? Because of the creature’s sin.

Isaac Watts addressed this in his hymn “At the Cross.” There are five to six verses to the song. I have posted five for context. Usually verses three and/or four are omitted when singing. I want to talk about both in the time and space we have.

1 Alas, and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sov’reign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Chorus:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

2 Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown,
And love beyond degree![Chorus]

3 Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in
When Christ, the mighty Maker died
For man, the creature’s sin.[Chorus]

4 Thus might I hide my blushing face
While Calv’ry’s cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.[Chorus]

5 But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
‘Tis all that I can do.[Chorus]

When Christ was on the cross the sun was “hidden” so to speak. Matthew 27:45 reminds us that, “Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour.” For three hours the sun hid in darkness shutting in the glories of God. Many scholars believe it was during those three hours that Christ bore the weight of God’s judgment. He felt the full force of our sin. It was in these hours the price was paid for our redemption. At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” Someone ran and gave him a drink (verse 48). In verse 50, Jesus cries out again with a loud voice and gives up his spirit. The mighty maker died for man the creature he loved. For those whom he gave a free will to choose him or deny him. Who were under so great a weight of sin they could never be free any other way.

The fourth stanza goes on to remark that as we look on the event of the crucifixion we should look away in shame for our sin. Yet the cross stands as a reminder of the great price which was paid there. It is this reminder which brings us to our knees in thankfulness and tears. Jesus paid a debt he did not owe. Paul writes to the Corinthians,

2 Corinthians 5:21

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

He loved you and me that much. He is not a weird Dr. Frankenstein, and you are not created out of leftover body parts. You were created with design and purpose. He loved you and gave himself for you.

 Oh, how lovely is the cross of Christ. The instrument of torture has become our symbol of freedom. What can we do in return but give ourselves to him?  The Creator is waiting Creature.

Angela

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Third Verse Devotion: The Haven of Rest

This is one of my favorite hymns. I could not find the background for the song only the name and life of the author. As always, you can learn about the author, H. L. Gilmour, as well as the full text of the hymn at www.hymnary.org. Here is the third verse as found in the 1975 Baptist Hymnal.

The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole,
Has been the old story so blessed,
Of Jesus who’ll save whosoever will have
A home in the haven of rest.

In what way has the Lord made you whole? Has there been a habit you have stopped? An addition you have been set free from? Has your language been cleaned up? Have your relationships changed? See, when he makes us whole, things change. He delivers us from the muck and mire of our sin and shame and gives us a safe place to stand. When we find we are safe and whole the old temptations may be there but now we are not alone

Maybe you need to be made whole.  Your life is a mess, and you can see no way to fix it. You have done things you are not proud of. You may be cut off from friends and family and you don’t know how to restore the relationships. Maybe you are in a bad relationship and don’t know how to get out. Maybe you are in the grip of drugs or alcohol, and you have tried on your own to break free and it doesn’t work. Whatever the situation, He stands ready to make us all whole in large and small ways.

I can’t help thinking of Peter. Jesus wanted to be alone to pray and he sent the disciples ahead across the sea of Galilee. A storm came on them suddenly so that the boat was taking on water. In the middle of this they saw someone walking on the water. They all thought it was a ghost. It was actually Jesus walking on the water to them. He calls to them to not be afraid. Peter called out “If it is really you, tell me to come to you.” Jesus tells him to come. Peter stepped into the water with the storm raging with wind and waves and he walks to Jesus. Soon though the storm catches his attention, and he looks around and realizes he is walking on the water and begins to sink. He calls out to Jesus to save him, and Jesus is right there to save him. Jesus is ready to save you and me just like he did Peter.  He is not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Take a moment and really read those words. Jesus is ready to save. All you have to do is call to him. You can have that haven of rest today. Come and anchor your soul in him today.

Angela

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Third Verse Devotion: Trust and Obey

I can still recall this hymn from my youth. It was most often the offertory hymn. Four men would gather at the back of the church when the song leader gave the cue. It went something like this. “For our offertory hymn, let’s stand as we sing the first, second, and last verses of…” That was all it took, and they would leave their seats as we all stood with hymnals in hands. I wonder if this wasn’t one of his favorite hymns. We seemed to sing it every other Sunday. The men would stand at the back and wait for the last verse then march down the aisle to stand before the pulpit. The song leader would nod at one of them to pray or the pastor would come to pray then they would begin to take the offering. I didn’t realize then that this was just as much a part of worship as the preaching and singing. Giving back to the Lord just a portion of what He had given to us.

Take a moment to read the verses to the hymn.

1 When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

2 Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

3 But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

4 Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

Hymnary.org

The hymn was written by John H. Sammis around 1887. He was a businessman who was born in New York. He eventually settled in Logansport, Indiana where he became a secretary for the local YMCA. He later became a Presbyterian minister. He is said to have penned more than 100 other songs.

The backstory for the hymn is uncertain as I have read at least two varying accounts. However, what is clear is that a gentleman stood up during a Dwight Moody revival in Brockton, Massachusetts and stated, “I am not quite sure – but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.” This statement was the catalyst for Sammis to pen the hymn.

Verse three is our primary focus. Sammis reminds us that “we never can prove the delights of his love…” What a beautiful thought.  We can never out test God’s love. God is steadfast in His love for us. He does not waver; He does not change. His greatest act of love is when he sent Jesus to the cross. In return, we lay everything on the altar. Give our all to Him.

Sammis points out it is in this giving everything on the altar, this trusting and obeying, that we experience His favor and the fullness of His joy. Indeed, we are encouraged to trust Jesus for our eternity, and we show our love for Him by our obedience.

There are examples of individuals experiencing the delights of God’s love, favor, and joy throughout the Bible. These experiences are accompanied by trust and obedience. I do not say that the path is easy. Many in the scriptures who chose to trust and obey had difficult journeys and troubled paths. Yet their joy was complete knowing they had accomplished what their God had sent them to do.

Psalm 84:12 encourages us, “LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.” (NIV)

What is the Lord asking you to do? Are you hesitant to begin? Let me encourage you to take that first shaky step. Will you be like the gentleman I mentioned at the beginning from Dwight Moody’s service? I will trust. I will obey.

Trust and obey

For there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

Angela