Section Six
Blessed Trust
Chapter Sixteen
Heed the Call
Psalms 84: 12. “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
Paul writes to the Philippians in 2: 5-8, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Yeshua the Messiah, who, being in the form of Yahweh, did not consider it robbery to be equal with Yahweh, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross”.
In his commentary on this Scripture Albert Barnes writes, “If (Yeshua) was really divine, then His consenting to become a man was the greatest possible act of humiliation”. To explain the ultimate depth of love Yahweh has for us, consider Yeshua’s words through John in 3: 16. “For Yahweh so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Paul also writes of this self-less act of our Lord to the Romans in 5: 8. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us.” In v. 9, he says we have “now been justified by His blood” and “saved from wrath through Him”. In v. 10 he says “we (WERE) His enemies”. Even so, “we were reconciled to Yahweh through the death of His Son”. Even more than that reconciliation, we were “saved by His life”. And, this reconciling brings great rejoicing, as he says in v. 11.
This reconciliation is in no way part of our doing. For, Paul prefaces these preceding verses with v. 6. “For when we were still without strength, in due time Messiah died for the ungodly.” He told the Ephesians in 2: 8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of Yahweh, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Then, he concludes his comments in v. 10 with, “For we are His workmanship, created in Yeshua the Messiah for good works, which Yahweh prepared beforehand that we should walk in them”.
Now is the time any preacher of YAH’s word longs for—harvest time. This is the time he takes in the harvest and reaps the fruit of his labor. The key to this altar call is found in one word in John 3: 16—“believes”. Consider what James says about the devils in 2: 19. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” Therefore simple believing, head knowledge, is not the answer. The word used in consideration of “believes” signifies a complete resting upon, heart knowledge.
It is the same resting and trust that you are now portraying in reading these words. You are resting the entire weight of your body on that chair in which you are sitting. That is the trust you have in the ability of that chair to hold you up. In believing in Yeshua, the same faith and trust is evident. You simply rest your entire being, your past failures, your hopes, your dreams, everything you are and hope to be in the person of Yeshua our risen Messiah.
It is as simple as Paul said to the Roman jailer as recorded in Acts 16: 31, “Believe on the Lord and you shall be saved”. It is as simple as Paul wrote to the Romans in 10: 8-10. “…The word is near you in your mouth and in your heart…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Yeshua and believe in your heart that Yahweh has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
I leave you with the words of an old invitational hymn favorite as I routinely perform it, and have recorded on my "Humble Beginnings" album, “Softly and Tenderly”. I invite you to heed the call of our benevolent Master Shepherd and be gloriously and eternally encouraged as the Psalmists conclude this beautiful 84th Song. “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man (or woman) who trusts in You!”
“Softly and tenderly Yeshua is calling,
Calling for you and for me.
See on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary come home.
Earnestly, tenderly Yeshua is calling,
O, sinner, come home.
(Narration: Yeshua said, “Come unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. For he that comes unto me, I shall in no wise…I shall in NO wise…I shall in NO WISE cast out.”)
Why should we linger when Yeshua is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me.
Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary come home.
Earnestly, tenderly Yeshua is calling,
O, sinner, come home.
(Narration: Yeshua said, “Come unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest…rest for your weary, weary soul.”)!”
Thank You For Reading My Series on Psalms 84--Your Comments Are Appreciated
No comments:
Post a Comment