April 23, 2013

• Grace me! (a plea to the God of all grace)

  I Peter 5:6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

  

  Grace me! (a plea to the God of all grace)

  As the devil roars, this I know:  that God is for me
  On the God of all grace I cast all my anxiety

  Though my enemies press in on every side ––
  Many devourers –– in One Savior I confide

  Truly, I am my Beloved's, and Jesus is mine
  "Have pity! Be gracious! My God, hear my cry!"

  Lifted from the ash heap to the Kingdom of His dear Son
  Covenant purchase, redeemed with the Lamb's precious blood

  My soul, 'tis God's possession –– no need to fear
  He considers my tossings, counts my ev'ry tear

  Though sifted like wheat, His favor has not failed
  My Great High Priest, the Guarantor, wholly prevails

  Whether in the valley of the shadow, Baca, or Achor
  Who can thwart Immanuel's pleasure –– Fount of sovereign favor!

  His turtledove nestling in the bosom of eternal Love
  Satisfied with Christ's favor, feasting on fat things from above!

  ~ See Psalm 56.

  Numbers 6:22  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

  23  “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

  24  The LORD bless you and keep you; 25  the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

  27  “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

  Hebrews 7:11  Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12  For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13  For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14  For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

  15  This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16  who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17  For it is witnessed of him,

  “You are a priest forever,
  after the order of Melchizedek.”

  18  On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

  20  And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21  but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

  “The Lord has sworn
  and will not change his mind,
  ‘You are a priest forever.’”

  22  This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

  23  The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24  but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25  Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

  "I wish to mention to you some passages, which have been peculiarly sweet of late.... Another is the account of our Saviour's ascension, in the last chapter of Luke: 'And he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And while he blessed them,' &c. Observe 'while he blessed,' &c. The last thing he was ever seen to do on earth, was to bless his disciples. He went up, scattering blessings; and he has done nothing but bless them ever since." ~  Edward Payson writing in a letter to his mother dated April 1, 1806 from "Memoir, select thoughts and sermons of the late Rev. Edward Payson, Volume 1 by Edward Payson (1783-1827) and Asa Cummings,"  366, emphasis mine.

  
  Romans 8:31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  33  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36  As it is written,

  “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
  we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

  37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
  

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  Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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