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This morning I was reading another prayer from my wonderful Valley of Vision book. These are Puritan prayers and devotions, collected into one volume by Editor Arthur Bennett and printed by The Banner of Truth Trust. It is a must-have for your bookshelf.
These prayers often stop me in my tracks with their convicting beauty, depth of spirit, and fervency of faith. Today's prayer was the first prayer in the section "Redemption & Reconciliation", and it's called The Gospel Way. You can read the entire prayer here.
I was immediately struck by the first line.
Think about this for a while.
Really think.
This one statement has enormous ramifications. Thoughts could erupt in a thousand different paths. For me, I clearly remember the years (decades) before I was saved. I remember being mightily puzzled by the Jesus people, their fixation on the blood (Ew, gross) and the communion bread/wafer they ate that was supposed to be the Lord's body (Ew, grosser). I remember being confused by their joy even when they were diagnosed with a dread disease, why they so often and profusely thanked the Lord for anything and everything (Oh, get over it, I'd say), and why, oh why, has Christianity persevered all these thousands of years when other religions ... didn't?
No mind that ever thought up a religion, even with satan as its author, ever invented anything close to the mystifying, beautiful, terrible Gospel. No mythology conceived by cultures from the time of the Tower of Babel to now has ever neared the hideous perfection of the cross. No philosophy invented by man approximates the horror of God-man absorbing wrath for people's sins.
Valley of Vision's gratitude is well put,
Amen.
These prayers often stop me in my tracks with their convicting beauty, depth of spirit, and fervency of faith. Today's prayer was the first prayer in the section "Redemption & Reconciliation", and it's called The Gospel Way. You can read the entire prayer here.
I was immediately struck by the first line.
BLESSED LORD JESUS,
No human mind could conceive or invent the gospel.
Think about this for a while.
Really think.
This one statement has enormous ramifications. Thoughts could erupt in a thousand different paths. For me, I clearly remember the years (decades) before I was saved. I remember being mightily puzzled by the Jesus people, their fixation on the blood (Ew, gross) and the communion bread/wafer they ate that was supposed to be the Lord's body (Ew, grosser). I remember being confused by their joy even when they were diagnosed with a dread disease, why they so often and profusely thanked the Lord for anything and everything (Oh, get over it, I'd say), and why, oh why, has Christianity persevered all these thousands of years when other religions ... didn't?
No mind that ever thought up a religion, even with satan as its author, ever invented anything close to the mystifying, beautiful, terrible Gospel. No mythology conceived by cultures from the time of the Tower of Babel to now has ever neared the hideous perfection of the cross. No philosophy invented by man approximates the horror of God-man absorbing wrath for people's sins.
Valley of Vision's gratitude is well put,
Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way,
Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God
Amen.
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