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Photo credit:http://www.churchmedia.net/forums/thematic-ideas-and-metaphors/8442-ideas-for-theme-sermon-series.htmlThis morning during my devotional time this passage from Hebrews 13:5-6 came to mind, as the words from the Amplified Bible ministered to me in a most comforting yet energizing way:Hebrews 13:5-6 (Amplified Bible)Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?I also thought of the lyrics to the “How Firm a Foundation” which I recall singing countless times in the past, but the words arrested my attention this morning and reinforced the message of the passage from Hebrews. The lines from the last stanza impacted me in a particularly profound way:"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose I will not,I will not, desert to his foes;That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I'll never, no never, no never, forsake!"
Here are the lyrics to the entire song:How Firm a FoundationHow firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!What more can He say than to you He hath saidWho unto the Savior for refuge have fled?In every condition, -- in sickness, in health,In poverty's vale, or abounding in wealth,At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, --The Lord, the Almighty, they strength e'er shall be."Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."When through the deep waters I call thee to go,The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;For I will be with thee thy troubles to blessAnd sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.The flames shall not hurt thee; I only designThy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."E'en down to old age all My people shall proveMy sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne."The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for reposeI will not, I will not, desert to his foes;That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,I'll never, no never, no never, forsake!"
To reinforce the message of the passage and the song, here is a rendition of the powerful hymn from the album, "Together for the Gospel Live" from Sovereign Grace Music:
A most remarkable sunesis or coming together of rivers of understanding, occurred in my mind that overflowed with inspiration to compose this poem:This I Know Is TrueHebrews 13:5-6God says, “I will never, never, never leave you.”“All those called by My name I will never forsake.”Despite all that befalls me, this I know is true.To do His will I do whatever it may take.His words of comfort encourage and speak to me:“All those called by name I will never forsake.”I walk by faith beyond anything I can see.Since God is my helper, I say, “I will not fear.”His words of comfort encourage and speak to me.Though He may seem far away, He is always near.I will not covet anything: I am content.Since God is my helper, I say, “I will not fear.”When fiery trials press me to the fullest extent,I rest in the Word of God, in absolute trust.I will not covet anything: I am content.I rest in the Word of God, in absolute trust.God says, “I will never, never, never leave you.”I rest in the Word of God, in absolute trust.Despite all that befalls me, this I know is true.As I was concluding this blog, a song from my distant childhood days came to mind with these lyrics:Yes, I'm working on a building.It's a true foundation.I'm holding up the blood-stained banner for my Lord.Just as soon I get through working on a building,I'm going up to Heaven to get my reward.I went to see if I could find a recording to share, and I came across this lively performance by the Oak Ridge Boys who comfirm the essence of the message regarding our "true foundation" which is indeed firm.
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