Delightful Deliberations Of Christ and His Kingdom
offered by Doug Blair, Kitchener ON, 2021
Room to Spare (Luke 14) And yet there was room
The lord’s banquet awaiting
Many who should have come
Made poor excuse.
Servants dispatched
To the highways and byways
Bring in the halt and lame
Seeming refuse.
Here was a giving heart
Few could right fathom
Wanting to bless and raise
Hurting and lone
Up to his cause for joy
No questions asking
Guest list adopted
As his very own.
Wouldn’t we love a Man
Steeped in such mercy?
Wouldn’t we love to give
Him some joy too?
Tell others of the Feast
And blessed community
They come as you have come
Thankful and true.
Almighty Dance Comforter needed
In this very hour
A resting assurance
And almighty Power.
My status so lonely
And full of self doubt
But you Blessed Spirit
Can sort it all out.
I knew through the Church
Of the seasons and song.
But there’s an indwelling
That you pass along.
The Voice of my Jesus
Remembered each day
And sweet sweet communion
Whenever I pray.
You’re there for the taking
I thrill at the chance
To partner with Heaven
And sing, serve and dance.
I’m rendered audacious
My God dwells inside
And fit for each challenge
I’m part of His Bride.
Upright.
The word appears so frequently in the Good Book. Blessed in all respects. Having special connection with God. Knowing that God’s righteousness counts for everything. Forgiveness. Holy living. Confidence. Creativity in prayer. Spiritual discernment of the message of Redemption; of New Life through repentance.
The upright man or woman is not leaning forward in impatience, presumption, personal confidence or untimeliness; not leaning backward in timidity, condemnation or self doubt. But rather standing straight and tall, on level ground, face looking upward for the next comfort, instruction or assignment. (Psalms 64, 112, 140 and 143)
There are important missions of mercy, giving and testimony coming to the upright one. He meets them without pride, but rather with unstoppable faith in the equipment, guidance and timing given by the Lord. A partnership eternal, and as close as those two oxen under the yoke.
What Things...All Things? All things can do And the whimsies run crazy
Every contingency
Christ has a way.
Paul the Apostle
Now there’s an adventurer
Travels and tossing
He carried the day.
Wouldn’t I thrill
As my wish is becoming
Yet just another
Rich plumb in the hand?
But hear it all
And submit to the measure
“Through Christ” one capable
Please understand.
Here is the measure
Is Christ in this venture?
Would He concur
To this path to pursue
Or rather see the trap
Flesh failed to credit?
Call on the Spirit
The One inside you.
Listen for yay or nay
Wisdom of Heavenlies
Pause as that humble child
Sovereignty led.
You are Christ’s purchase
And treasured immensely
Look to His Cross of pain
See how He bled.
(Philippians 4)
Trade-Off Extraordinaire
That day The greatest Soul Who walked this orb In loving deeds Was hung up high A spectacle For fools to mock “He moans. He bleeds!” And like a lamb Unmarked and pure He hung in sin’s dread place That Holiness Saw justice done To cleanse a needy race. As sin The Christ knew grief Without compare
As sin He bore the curse His Father’s tears A sight so rare. And we Are told “Rejoice. Set free” In this transaction odd. And we Are left amazed Transformed, the righteousness Of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 Note: Believer, you are the righteousness of God. Get this fixed in your consciousness from one of the richest of New Testament chapters. Stand in the thankful assurance of it when someone mocks your moderation or transformed tongue; when someone in terrible need asks for prayer; when someone rants that faith is just a crutch for losers; when someone humbled appears ready to hear the Good News.
Bless Your Name Hallelujah Amen
Yes praise God
In the midst of this
Might seem quite odd
To be praising loud
To extol your worth
When the hardships here
Seem the worst on earth.
But I lift a song
And the song revives
And the Christ is King
Despite all, He Lives!
And this King has me
In His powerful hands
In such trust and joy
My tried heart expands.
Might I seize the path
That the Saviour trod?
Might I bless your Name
Oh most worthy God.
Trailing the Master (Simon of Cyrene just into Town)
And I trailed the Teacher Wooden beam digging into my shoulder The One ahead bloodied And receiving scorn and jeers unimaginable. Hail the King Save yourself Loser That cross is waiting. But I heard no complaint No self defence Nothing but that look On the face unrattled. In tremendous pain and fatigue Yes…but unrattled. And I from Cyrene Here briefly for the Feast. Ordered by Rome to Help this malefactor. Shameful chore. What did he do wrong? Women at the sidelines Weeping for crushing Dismay and injustice. He stumbling occasionally on the rocks. Insatiable whippings right after. His back riddled with red. And then the Hilltop The post and pit The uplift…the drop. Crucified. And I His helper (Or did He need the help?) And His follower
Seeing odd wealth in the suffering Odd majesty. This strange admiration...and thanks Part of my life. Christ now and forever. (Image by James Tissot - Earthquake at the Crucifixion) No believer could perform the incalculable service of Calvary, but we might lift high our thankful impression of that dues-paying for our transgressions by the Prince of Men, the Messiah Jesus. The chastisement of our peace fell upon Him, and with stripes we are healed.
The Prayers in Ephesians
“Knowledge of God” As Paul once prayed A glorious resource And not man-made. No not some maxim Or fable rehearsed No listing of ethics Or rule book’s Tough verse. It’s something just given A partnership pledge The love of the Saviour His working knowledge. We read the Evangels We soak in His ways We call for His input In challenging days. Few sermons Get to this. But no mental strain Will match the Translation Of Christ come to reign.
It is the indwelling of Jesus by the Spirit that will direct our ways and means to blessing, not some memorized list of ethics or howto’s or facts about the Gospel story. Of course we delight in the telling of the four Evangels. But Spiritual understanding is imparted and not imitated. The Master has come to live inside.