His Serf, and Happily

His Serf, and Happily Offered by Doug Blair, Waterloo ON Posted on ​October 28, 2020

Perfection just a worrisome thing Will not attain nor answers bring But the Word has said it’s so Paul declared all stains would go.

Perfect and complete said he (Colossians 4:12) But all of God and none of me.

The Spirit in my inmost Man To bring God’s heart, to bring God’s Plan.

And I am just His serf on quest He soothes and says, “Just rest Child, rest.”

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The Apple Displays It

Friday, July 31, 2009

Dear Little Book

For almost 25 years now my wife and I have been turning to the daily selection from "Daily Light on the Daily Path" compiled by the Bagster publishing family of England. It is one of the earliest known topical scripture helps, over 175 years old and translated into numerous languages the world over. The book was compiled as a collaborative effort by family members bringing to the table their research, reflection and revelation on numerous pivotal Bible topics. Discussed, sorted and revised with love.

It is astounding how often the daily portion for either morning or evening will address some very pertinent topic or challenge being faced by the reader. It provides another illustration of how the Word of God "lives" for your need.

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Consider for example yesterday's posting on this blog entitled "Peculiar Person" and note how appropriate and timely today's Daily Light appears to this writer. (I had not read it when I made the entry.)

July 31 morning Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people. - It became him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering. - We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God. - We do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.)

The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

II TIM. 2:3. Isa. 55:4. Heb. 2:10. Acts 14:22. Eph. 6:12,13. II Cor. 10:3,4.

I Pet. 5:10.

What a good word is said here by Peter in the last selection - ​"make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you".

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There is the suggestion here of progressive perfection, as in the case of, say, the apple - the perfect leaf, the perfect blossom, the perfect ripe fruit (crisp and tart for the lunch box), the perfect over-ripe fruit (sweet and rich for the baked pie). All in God's ordered purpose through grace. (the "peculiar" blessing of the redeemed)

The Impossible Preserved in a Sermon He took His stance Cool mountain air And scores of eager people there The blessings that he spoke Were odd The weeping, searching Peaceable of God. It was not just the law to heed The thought must Come before the deed.

An end to lust and hatred yes The purge complete Could only bless.

And all religion learned by rote Now sung in one triumphant note.

Tis love that serves In second place Tis giving wholly In God’s place 4

Tis praying in A child’s meek way As Holy Spirit Wins each day.

Yes Spirit holds The key to all Relinquish self, for self will fall.

More Than Conquerors

A wonderful image is offered in Romans 8: 33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

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To be more than a conqueror. To get more than a battle won. To get the assurance of ongoing victories. This is the heritage of those taken up in a covenant of love with Jesus. Trials come and we are tempted to fret. "Oh, it looks as if I am going to go through that knothole again. I don't think I can stand it one more time. Last time I got around to the point of trusting in God, and He brought the deliverance in a way not quite anticipated. But I don't think that I can go through it again; don't think that I should have to. It just isn't fair!" Have you ever heard yourself thinking or talking along this line? Has it not ultimately been proved to be a waste of adrenaline and a denial of His love and of the appropriateness of His plans for you?

The old evangelist R. W. Schambach gave a beautiful illustration of being more than a conqueror. He described a long drawn-out prize fight in boxing. Many rounds and many apparent swings in the advantage.

Toe to toe; blow for blow. Finally in the tenth the one pugilist seems to receive a supernatural surge of determination, agility and punch power.

A knockout to the cheers of the crowd! The belt. The ensuing press conference. The money prize. And the weary fighter changes in the dressing room, takes his dream cheque home, and turns it over to his wife. Now SHE is more than a conqueror.

One gets the same impression in reading the Old Testament story of Ruth. The wealthy civic leader Boaz has been kind in harvest time to the sorry little Gentile widow. Her loving mother-in-law Naomi realizes that this man is near kinsman to the deceased husband and that God is at work in all these circumstances to give the woman a home and a name and honour and the laughter of children. Boaz is able to attend to legal matters at the gate before witnesses to bring it all to pass. Dear Ruth is

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more than a conqueror. It has all been done for her. (see also Deuteronomy 25: 5,6 and Ezekiel 16: 6-10) Labels: ​Overcoming​, P ​ revailing​, ​Rescue​, ​Schambach

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Inheritance

It’s the joy of our sins all forgiven.

It’s the peace of the Lord’s resumed smile.

It’s the hope of new tasks in the Kingdom.

It’s the hush of His presence a while.

It’s the promise of kin never parting.

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It’s the safety of homes filled with grace.

It’s the dignity love gives the lowly.

It’s the Body where each has his place.

It’s the troop of a marvelous Captain.

It’s the news of a battle well won.

It’s the end of all fretful endeavour.

It’s a right-standing now in God’s Son. It’s the certainty His Word is faithful.

It’s the relish in simplest of prayer.

It’s the blazing of light at life’s passing.

It’s the knowing our Christ will be there.

(Picture by Maynard Dixon)

at ​October 10, 2010​ Labels: ​Death Loses​, ​Gospel of Peace​, P ​ oetry​, ​Prevailing​, ​Thanksgiving

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