“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions.” – Isaiah 43:25
One of my historical heroes was the great song composer Charles Wesley. He has given us hundreds of great hymns and praise choruses to enjoy. He and his brother, John, have provided so much inspiration to the evangelical community.
While I really appreciate many of the new praise and worship music, I prefer listening to those theologically rich old hymns and gospel music. I feast on the wonder and majesty of the old hymns and all that they teach us of Scripture lessons about life.
When Charles Wesley experienced the joy of divine forgiveness through God’s grace, he told a Moravian friend of his new sense of pardon, and added, “I suppose I had better keep silent about it.” His friend responded, “Oh, no, my brother. If you had a thousand tongues, you should go and use them all for Jesus.”
Wesley went home and penned the great hymn: “O for a thousand tongues to sing/My great Redeemer’s praise, /The glories of my God and King, /The triumphs of His grace!”
In a world filled with wickedness, God says to all who believe, I’m the One who can blot out your sin. That is called grace my friend, amazing grace. It is that unmerited favor we seek and receive from God Almighty. Whatever our sin, whatever our failures, whatever we feel about ourselves we must remember that the gift of forgiveness is a wonder of our faith. It is God saying that the sacrifice of His son on The Cross covered the sins of mankind. The one condition He placed upon His gift is that it would be received.
In order to believe we must receive. Have you received God’s gift? Open your heart and ask Him to forgive and receive you into His Kingdom. Amen
Scripture Reading: Romans 3:24, Romans 5:2
Personal Application: How are you showing grace to others; especially, people who seem ungrateful? What could you do to be a person who better exemplifies a grace-filled life?
Wendell Morton and Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5