Say What You Mean/Mean What You Say

I am not against couples renewing their marriage vows. But as for me, fifty years ago, when I spoke those words to that lovely young lady standing beside me, I said what I meant and meant what I said!

And so it was when I bowed the knee to my blessed Lord fifty and four years ago. It is for this reason I personally do not believe in so-called “rededication.” What I do believe in is “repentance,” after one has broken their sacred vow to the Lover of their souls.

Far too many are copping-out, doing the first of the above mentioned, over and over again during a so-called “altar call,” when they should be doing the latter, with strong crying and tears in the privacy of their prayer closet.

Consecration is a once-for-all thing; repentance is on-going as long as we are in this flesh.

Loaded Down

“[In]…our trouble…we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth up the dead.”

We’re not told exactly what this “trouble” was, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. But we do know it was above and beyond the normalcy of everyday Christian trials. So much so that this suffering saint “despaired even of life.” This unknown and unique experience brought the apostle to the place of utter helplessness.

It’s well to remember that this human beast of burden had borne the heaviest of loads all his life. But this one weighed him down to the extent that it could be said, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

What are we to do at such a time of hopelessness? We can emulate Paul. He passed sentence on all fleshly confidence, letting it become history. And, in exchange, he put all his trust in the God who “…raiseth up all those that are bowed down.”

Weighted down with burdens now, weighted down with GLORY then! (2Cor.4:17) I’ll take that, won’t you?

Around the Clock Care

"I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day." The song "Moment By Moment" should be a favorite of all believers who seek to live a victorious Christian life. There is not a moment, day or night, which God is not keeping us. Our God does not work shifts, but, rather, around the clock. David found great solace of soul in this truth. "He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth...shall neither slumber nor sleep."

Our heavenly Father, says Jesus, is the heavenly Vine-dresser who promises He will keep us moment by moment. Whether it is the scorching heat of the day, or the long lonely hours of the night, the Keeper of our souls has us under His watch care. No wonder Paul could say, "I...am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

"Kept by the power of God" Who knew better than the one who penned these words...the Apostle Peter.