2004-07-01 - Early Morning Hymns

Matt 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)

During my college years, a friend of mine met me one day very excited to share something with me. This gentleman happened to be a Priest, and he knew my love of choral music and the harmony of a good group of voices. The album was a group of monks from the upper New England area. I wasn't sure quite what to expect. I no long recall their names or where they lived, but I may never forget their voices, from soaring tenor to mellow baritone and base. He let me enjoy this feast for my ears for about twenty minutes before he leveled me with the fact that this recording was made at four in the morning in their chapel.

These men were not superstars. They were men who got up in the morning and put their pants on one leg at a time like you and me. They started singing together as one of those happy accidents that God arranges. There were no apparent soloists. They shared the spotlight with each other. No one was outshining anyone else. They were humbly joined in worship, in singing praises to their Lord. It was still dark outside. But the joy in their songs and the gentle harmonies spoke volumes. In this the words were allowed to speak for themselves of the Creator they each knew intimately and wanted to know better.

It is easy to think of God in the light of His unlimited power and might with thunder rolling and lightening flashing. It is often harder to consider the Father Who waits to hold us when we are down-hearted, betrayed or simply exhausted. It may be harder still to think of the Lord Jesus Who sobbed over the death of His friend Lazarus. They are one and the same. He accepts us in spite of our weaknesses and failures. He willingly repairs the heart of the repentant child who has strayed. And He sits quietly with us as we sing praises to Him. He loves to talk with us. Indeed God made man to have fellowship with Him. And Jesus, God from God, Light from Light, willingly humbled Himself to the cross of Calvary to save us from the Hell that we deserve while we were still His enemies.

In the Revelation, we see the character on the throne change a number of times. Once it is a figure of a man Who's face shown like the Sun at midday. Another time the figure is a lamb. The figures are facets of the character of God that we will undoubtedly spend eternity learning about. Consider the God Who is large enough to hold the universe in the span of His hand, and also walks with us and talks with us, and tells us we are His children. As the fireworks roll across America this week, consider the power and the thunder displayed, and remember the humble Friend who hold the lantern for our path.

Selah.

Grace & Peace,
Mike

jmhoskins@gmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.peacewithgod.net

All verses are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.
2016-01-07