Just Pondering
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Rick Branan |
For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.
1 Corinthians 7:22-23 (CSBBible)
Philip P. Bliss (b. Clearfield County, PA, 1838; d. Ashtabula, OH, 1876) left home as a young boy to make a living by working on farms and in lumber camps, all while trying to continue his schooling. He was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve. Bliss became an itinerant music teacher, making house calls on horseback during the winter, and during the summer attending the Normal Academy of Music in Genesco, New York. His first song was published in 1864, and in 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to become a singing evangelist. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hymn collections entitled Gospel Hymns. The first book of the series, Gospel Songs, was published in 1874. Bliss's tragic death at the age of thirty-eight happened near the end of 1876. Philip P. Bliss and his wife were traveling to Chicago to sing for the evangelistic services led by Daniel W. Whittle at Dwight L. Moody's Tabernacle. But a train wreck and fire en route claimed their lives.
Bert Polman
I Will Sing of My Redeemer
I will sing of my Redeemer
and his wondrous love to me;
on the cruel cross he suffered,
from the curse to set me free.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
on the cross he sealed my pardon,
paid the debt, and made me free.
I will tell the wondrous story,
how my lost estate to save,
in his boundless love and mercy,
he the ransom freely gave.
I will praise my dear Redeemer,
his triumphant power I'll tell:
how the victory he gives me
over sin and death and hell.
I will sing of my Redeemer
and his heavenly love for me;
he from death to life has brought me,
Son of God, with him to be.
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
on the cross he sealed my pardon,
paid the debt, and made me free.
Written by Phillip P. Bliss
The economy is always a big topic, especially grocery prices. I saw a meme recently that complained about how he was getting stronger: he used to carry $100 of groceries in 2 arms, now he only uses one arm. It is an expensive trip to the grocery store. As Christians, we were “bought at a price,” as Paul tells us. Paul explains the accepting Christ frees us from sin and the Law but makes us slaves or servants to Him. In our hymn, Phillip Bliss puts it his way, “With his blood he purchased me; on the cross he sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free.” We are free because Christ died for us.
That freedom requires us to reject the world and serve Christ was obedience. Paul finishes his thought to the Corinthians by writing, “do not become slaves of people.” As Toni and I have been reading C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, we find that Uncle Screwtape is telling Wormwood to try and keep his patient (the new convert to the Enemy (God)) with one foot firmly planted in the world. We must be completely sold out to the cause of Christ because we were bought at the ultimate price: Christ’s blood for our sin.
Just pondering . . . Bro. Rick