Coffee With The Lord

I’ve just felt all day that there is someone out there (perhaps most of us) who need to hear the simple, but true message, of this gospel song…

UNWORTHY (Ira Stanphill)

“Unworthy am I of the grace that He gave,

Unworthy to hold to His hand;

Amazed that a King would reach down to a slave,

This love I cannot understand.

Chorus:

“Unworthy, unworthy, a beggar;

In bondage and alone;

But He made me worthy and now by His grace,

His mercy has made me His own.

“My sorrow and sickness laid stripes on His back,

My sins caused the blood that was shed;

My faults and my failures have woven a crown

Of thorns, that He wore on His head.

Chorus:

“Unworthy am I of the glory to come,

Unworthy with angels to sing;

I thrill just to know that He loved me so much,

A pauper, I walk with the King

Chorus:”

The message of this wonderful gospel song brings to mind two great passages…

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  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.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 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.”  (Romans 8:33–39 ESV)

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have not been justified [made right with God] by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”  (Romans 5:6-11 ESV)

So… one more time…

“Unworthy, unworthy, a beggar;

In bondage and alone;

But HE MADE ME WORTHY and now by His grace,

His mercy has made me His own!”

Someone needed to hear that today!

Just finished reading a wonderful review of the life, ministry and theological contributions of W. H. Griffith Thomas, an Anglican Bible scholar and theologian who served the Lord and the Church in several places, finishing his ministry at Evangelical Theological Collage (which later became Dallas Theological Seminary).  The article I read was written by Thomas H. Cragoe, and is found in THE HANDBOOK OF EVANGELICAL THEOLOGIANS.

Here is what impressed me today as a part of my devotional reading and reflection… I’ve been mulling over it all day long…

According to M. Guthrie Clark, Griffith’s biographer, Griffith Thomas, known for his scholarship and commitment to a high view of Scripture and his passionate dedication to ministry would annually write and re-sign the following statement that he drew up for himself the first time in 1888 at his ordination…

“On this the … anniversary of my ordination, I desire to renew my vows to God and reconsecrate myself to His service.  May He fill me entirely with His Spirit!  May I be holy in character, and earnest in work!  May He continually keep me, ‘All for Jesus!’”  Signed:  W. H. G. Thomas.

Oh what a model for those involved in Christian service – especially in key leadership positions like “pastor!”  I’d like to adopt the practice as my own!  I not only want to sign a statement like that, I want to LIVE my life and carry on the ministry and calling God has given me with those values foremost!  Oh, help me Lord not to fail you. your calling. or your people!

Authentic Christians – devoted followers of Jesus – over the centuries have been distinguished by their distinctive behavior and Godly values… At least that’s the way it’s supposed to be… But I wonder about the powerful impact we could (and would) make on our culture if we would heed Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 2:14-16? …

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” (ESV)

Me thinks we would “stand out in the crowd” in a positive and incredibly attractive way and it would make our verbal witness to the Gospel much more effective!  What do you think?  With God’s help and the Holy Spirit’s nudges let’s do it!