Articles and thoughts by Steve Green.
Your need of Him…
October 25th, 2006I must confess that often, while listening to a sermon, or reading a book, or singing in worship, one phrase or line seems to grab my heart and open up a whole new stream of thought. Perhaps by the end of the meeting I can’t tell you all that was said, but I have pages of notes and scribbled thoughts spurred by just one new insight. Surely I’m not the only one. Maybe you too have been hit by one such line and been unable to think of much else.Do you remember the hymn, “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy”? You know the first verse and chorus,
Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,Weak and wounded, sick and sore,Jesus ready stands to save you,Full of pity, love and pow’rOh, the Fountain’s standing open,And the cleansing waters rollWhile salvation is so near you,Come and bathe your weary soul.
However, there is a line tucked at the end of the third verse that grabbed my attention and sent me on a journey of grace.
Let not conscience make you linger,Nor of fitness fondly dream;All the fitness He requirethIs to feel your need of Him.
If you are like me, you work hard to be prepared, presentable and appropriate for every occasion. I want to know the expected dress requirements for important meetings and I want to be familiar with the books and music of others, so as to converse freely in their areas of interest. I labor in preparation, for many right and good reasons, but also to be approved. That is why the third stanza stops me in my tracks.
All the fitness He requirethIs to feel your need of Him.
On his way home, the prodigal son worked on his speech. What he didn’t know was that he did not need one. Coming home was his speech; the evidence of his repentance. Like me, do you feel deeply your need of Jesus today? That sense of need is planted in our hearts by His grace. The thirst, the hunger, the ache, the longing are God’s doing, meant to lead us to the only One who can satisfy and who alone is fully sufficient.
One of the prayers in “The Valley of Vision” says it this way:
“The world is before me this day, and I am weak and fearful, but I look to thee for strength; Be thou my arm to support, my strength to stand, my light to see, my feet to run, my shield to protect, my sword to repel, my sun to warm.
All thy loving kindness is in thy Son. Accept his worthiness for my unworthiness, his sinlessness for my transgressions, his purity for my uncleanness, his sincerity for my guile, his truth for my deceits, his meekness for my pride, his constancy for my backslidings, his love for my enmity, his fullness for my emptiness, his faithfulness for my treachery, his obedience for my lawlessness, his glory for my shame, his devotedness for my waywardness, his holy life for my unchaste ways, his righteousness for my dead works, his death for my life.” Amen.
13 Comments »
Thank you for your journal. I enjoy your writings. Your Ministry has greatly impacted my life, so it is good to read your entries.
In Christ,
DAN RECK
Comment by Dan Reck — October 27, 2006 @ 8:09 pm
I was under a wonderful sermon on those things that Christ has saved me to. How that we trust Him in salvation and for our lives… even our daily breath… but that He even trusts (or rather entrusts) me to many things in this relationship. the Preacher was illustrating His trusting us for ‘telling others’, being ‘faithful’, for living in righteousness. It was all very good. I thought how that He has even trusted us to ‘overcome’ in this life for His sake. I know the Preacher did not know (as he was a visitor) that the family in the row behind me had lost a child to death in a car accident nearly two years before. That this loss has consumed their lives and depression and saddness overwhelmed them daily. He has called us to ‘overcome’. And I trust He will be there with me every step to give me His power, strength, wisdom and love to overcome this world.
Comment by Fathom McKeown — October 29, 2006 @ 12:44 am
I can totally relate…
God has recently(only since February of last year) been blessing me with songs -
melodies and words anyway…
and often times they will erupt out of a part of a scripture or prayer or some pearl of wisdom that one of my sisters or brothers in
Christ has given me
I get so focused on that one bit - and then it just pours out
and to feel your need for Him - so simple but so deep -
and the world desperately needs to NEED God - but it is so sad - and heartbreaking because they do not even recognize the need at all
Yes - the world is trying to satisfy their need with drugs, alcohol, and relationships with people when the only relationship that will ever satisfy is a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior. We live in such a culture of self-help, when really all we need is God’s help! Amen!
See you in Reading at Spring Valley!
God Bless and may he grant you traveling mercies on your journey!
Comment by jewels — October 29, 2006 @ 3:36 am
Dear brother in Christ;
Thank you for sharing as you do your thoughts in your Journal. God onlys knows what we need.
Your comments on that “one aspect” of truth just delighted me…for just this morning God had illuminated truth in the following one verse that I could not leave in my time before Him. THis morning I stumbled on this in my NLT:
Psalms 66:5
“You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our Savior. YOU ARE THE HOPE OF EVERTONE ON EARTH, EVEN THOSE WHO SAIL ON DISTANT SEAS.”
This one thought reminded me of hearing a wonderful message by Rev. Bill Hybels at Willow Creek on a summer evening, attending the church with my parents and two sets of Aunts and Uncles…all in their 80’s. Bill had spoken on a time in his life when he had needed to see a Christian counselor..who was to remind him of his need to enjoy life again..through his passion for SAILING. For me, this ONE ASPECT this morning reminded me of my commitment to counsel with compassion through my own brokenness and need of the Savior.
Your journal entry that same day (but in the late afternoon) just confirmed or sealed it again for me.
I have become recently aware of the fact that for too long I have been content with bread from other’s plates…when I want the feast myself from His Word! I huhger for the conviction and truth of the Word applied to my heart and mind and soul. I am not content anymore to worship without this, and feel so much like the prodigal daughter…
Thanks again, dear brother in Christ…for once more being an inspiration to so many.
Blessing upon Marijean and your loved ones.
In Christ,
Natalie Kleefisch
Comment by N. Kleefisch — October 30, 2006 @ 4:15 am
Yes, Steve…there are a few songs that do that to me..
Here’s a line from one:
O Joy that seekest me through pain, I will not close my heart to thee, I trace the rainbow in the rain, and know the promise is not vain that morning will tearless be.
WOW! The Lord has used that very profound and powerful verse to remind me that I am very completely and simply HIS. Regardless of the rain, the pain, or even the rainbow. I am His.
Comment by Phil Hoover — November 13, 2006 @ 3:16 am
Hi, Steve.
I know you know a little bit of what God has been doing lately in the life of my brother. He really enjoyed talking to you the other day. God has used your life and ministry to impact my brother’s life in an awesome way. I was searching your website to find a b-day gift for my brother and I came across this section. It’s a good thing that I’m alone at work today and that things are slow because sitting here I started bawling. I have been struggling for the past few months with my flesh and wanting to live a godly life, and fear of being discovered. While reading your journal “Leading with a Limp” and this one God reminded me that He is here in the midst of my struggles, and that even when I don’t always know what to say or can’t find the words to explain how sorry I am- that’s ok, because I don’t always need a speech, just like the prodigal son coming home is my speech. God knows my heart, and oh how my heart knows it needs Him! Thank you for your words.
Comment by Indira — November 22, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
Steve, this happens to me all the time. Something strikes me as important or relevant and I suddenly find my pen flying over the pages where before I was taking the standard sermon notes. Sometimes, when I see a sermon topic I’m tempted to think “I already know all about this” and allow my mind to wander. But even when it is a “repeat” sermon (which my pastor does from time to time), it is important for me to pay attention and see if God has something to say specifically to me.
Comment by Debra — December 27, 2006 @ 5:56 pm
i HAPPENED UPON THIS PORTION OF YOUR SITE–NOT ACCIDENTALLY. I, TOO, HAVE WORKED HARD IN PREPARATION, ONLY TO BE BROUGHT TO MY KNEES, EMPTY AND DEPENDANT ONLY ON hIM.
Comment by dEBBIE — December 30, 2006 @ 3:41 am
I too must confess that I am guilty of denying myself the gift of God’s grace by not recognizing my desperate need of Him in every situation whether it be good or bad. At times, I am hardly aware of my need of Him until the circumstances are truly desperate. Sadly, this world has a way of desensitizing and numbing us to the true emotional and spiritual need within our hearts. Strangely enough (or maybe not so strange), God is able to use these moments of brokenness and bitter despair to shine forth His amazing grace and love into our lives. I know I am not the only one who has asked the question: “Why does God allow us to suffer or experience the effects of sin if He loves us so much?” By placing our faith and hope in Christ we are able to find an answer to this question. The following quote simply states: “Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been; we could never fly.” Christ ascended into heaven victorious and we can share in His victory. All we need is faith! And where there is faith, there is a fountain of grace! II Corinthians 4:16-18. Thanks Steve for sharing that faith.
Comment by Mark LaFlamme — January 8, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
Dear Steve:
Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. It’s so easy to become complacent and self-asured in this world today. But thank God for His amazing grace and enduring faithfulness. Eventhough I may struggle with my weakness and sin, He is patient with me to the end. (Phil 1:6) My path is secure in knowing Jesus Christ as my personal saviour. Praise be to God!
Sing-cerely,
Mark
P.S. “Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in life. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been; we could never fly!” — Whatever it takes Lord to keep me faithful. AMEN
Comment by Mark LaFlamme — March 28, 2007 @ 1:59 am
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Comment by robaxin online — May 12, 2008 @ 10:18 pm
Hey Steve,
Let me start by thanking you for the blessing that your music has been to me.
Let me continue by saying that I know exactly what you mean: My name, Pauline, means “little one”. A couple of years ago, I went through a spell of doubting. One of the ones where you ask “how can I know that I’m REALLY saved?” One day, babysitting, I was singing songs with the boys. We were singing that simple children’s song, Jesus Loves Me. When we got to the part “little ones to him belong”, I got shivers…my name is literally “Little One”! And I have not doubted since - all because of one line in one song!
Comment by Pauline — February 26, 2009 @ 11:52 pm
Pauline,
Great story. Thanks. Isn’t it good to know that if even our small faith is based upon the certain promise of God, we are safe? Our part is to believe the gospel!
Steve
Comment by steve — February 27, 2009 @ 1:16 am