Author Archives: lrbartel

A Song of Spring… from the Bible! Psalm 65

Here’s what you should do this fine spring morning… Put some beautiful spring music on your device (perhaps some with even the sounds of nature… you know, birds singing, brooks murmuring, even rain pattering…) And then read with relish, gratefulness and praise this “Song of Spring” (that’s what I call it) from the Bible. Be sure to read the whole thing… It will be a great way to start your day… I promise!

“Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come! When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas!

The one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy! You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it. You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.” (Psalm 65 ESV)

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Metamorphosis… It’s not just for caterpillars and butterflies … It’s for Christians too!

Metamorphosis … the miracle of transformation that takes place when a caterpillar goes through a process (a metamorphosis) and becomes a beautiful butterfly (see the pic).

Was reminded of that miraculous process as I read 2 Corinthians 3:18 this morning during “coffee with the Lord!”

We, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed (the Greek word is interestingly enough METAMORPHOO/METAMORPHOUMETHA – transliterated) into the same image (Christ’s likeness) from one degree of glory to another. This comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (a transformation worked from within us by the Holy Spirit).

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Wow! I’d say that miracle eclipses the wonder of what even happens when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly! In this case sinners become saints – Christ-rejecters become Christlike! It doesn’t happen all at once – just like the metamorphosis of the butterfly, it’s a process. Becoming Christlike isn’t necessarily easy either – there’s some pain and transforming pressure that takes place. It’s an inside – out thing… death to self – alive to Christ! Now we’re in process… we’re becoming! But one day we shall be like Him! Praise the Lord!

How did the old worship song put it?

“From glory to glory He’s changing me,

Changing me, changing me;

His likeness and image to perfect in me,

The love of God shown to the world.

 

For He’s changing, changing me!

From earthly things to the heavenly!

His likeness and image to perfect in me,

The love of God shown to the world!”

There is a great desire in the human heart for a personal God! An impersonal object of worship won’t cut it!

I’ve experienced the fact that there is a great desire in the human heart for a personal god! A generic, abstract, impersonal object of worship just won’t cut it – we want more! We want Someone we can really talk to, Someone who hears, Someone who answers our prayers, Someone who understands us, Someone who cares, Someone who can and will help us!

Psalm 63 talks about a God like that…

“O GOD, YOU ARE MY GOD; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands… I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you and your right hand upholds me.” (from Psalm 63:1–8 ESV)

Now that’s my God – that’s what He’s like! But He can be your God too!!