October 26, 2021 · 9:43 PM

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses

For All the Saints[1]

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus . . . (Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV)

People put a lot of effort into cultural observances and celebrations. Halloween seems to be one that tops the “effort” list, given the decorations, costumes, parties, and the annual “trick or treating” of kids (small and large) going door to door. According to one source, Halloween’s origins date back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain which was held on November 1, a date when it was believed the souls of the dead returned to their homes. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to hopefully keep the ghosts away. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as “All Saints Day,” a time to honor all followers of Christ who had passed from this life to the next.[2]

God condemns calling on dead spirits and other occultic practices (Leviticus 19.31; 20.6; 20.17; Deuteronomy 18.10-12), but He does call us to remember those who lived faithful lives and left a godly legacy as a lasting testimony. In fact, an entire chapter in the New Testament – Hebrews 11 – calls to remembrance the lives of “saints” who lived and died “in faith.”  To the Jewish recipients of the letter to the Hebrews, the names Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses would remind them of what it meant to live a life of faith and trust in God.

At the end of Hebrews 11, the writer makes this interesting statement: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:39-40 NKJV). It seems that there is a connection between the people of God in the past and those living in the present; between the work God has done in the past and what He is doing now and will do through believers in the future. The writer of Hebrews goes on to say that the people of God in the past are “. . . so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1 NKJV) who should serve to motivate us to faithful and godly living.

Bishop William Walsham How’s hymn “For All the Saints” helps us celebrate the memory of the lives of our forebears in the faith and make the connection between their experiences and ours. The first stanza simply affirms the God-honoring lives they lived.

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The “saints” of old left an example of looking to God and trusting in Him whenever they encountered troubles or trials.

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one True Light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The people of God – past and present – have a common destiny and form a “blessed communion” and “fellowship divine.”  Those in the past are now enjoying the great reward of being in the presence of their Lord and hearing his “. . . well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV). Such is the hope that the people of God in every generation have – “the calm of paradise the blest.”

Oh, blessed communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine,
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

But there is more. There is coming a day when the glory of King Jesus will be on full display. “And behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him” (Daniel 7.13-14 NKJV).

But yonder breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

These saints “triumphant . . . in bright array” will form “. . . a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hand, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7.9-10 NKJV).

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The ancient Hebrews remembered Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Ruth, David, Elijah, and many others. Today, we remember Luther, Calvin, Edwards, and Wesley. We remember those whose witness for Christ affected us personally and profoundly. For me, I remember my grandmothers Leota Neely and Ada Rabon. What a glorious hope! What a wonderful destiny! Let us live today and every day following the notable example of those who have gone before us, keeping our eyes on King Jesus and the prize that waits ahead for us.

Enjoy this video which gives a compelling visual illustration of each of the verses of this hymn.

=========================================

To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community. A SONG TO THE LORD is just one of the audio resources that are available free at the website of The Fellowship of Ailbe – www.ailbe.org. There you will find many printed, audio, and video resources for individual and group study available free of charge.

T. M. Moore, the Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here.

Rusty Rabon also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays). The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website. And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here  You can follow Rusty Rabon at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rusty.raabon.9/, and on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/RustyRabon.

Join the Ailbe Community!

As a member of The Fellowship of Ailbe Community you join a movement of men working for revival, renewal, and awakening, built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification. The Ailbe Community is devoted to practicing the Kingship of Jesus in every area of our lives. Go to ailbe.org to learn more.

[1] WORDS: William Walsham How (1864, 1875). MUSIC: Ralph Vaughn Williams, 1906.

[2] https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween

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October 19, 2021 · 10:47 PM

Security for Life

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. (Matthew 7:24-25 ESV)

A building is only as sturdy as its foundation. The same can be said for a life.

Those who design buildings give careful attention to the foundation required for any project they undertake. They study the ground on which the building will be built, and meticulously plan for the composition of materials needed to lay an adequate foundation that will make the building stable and secure. There will be stresses exerted on the building that can only be withstood with a proper foundation.

This is also true of a human life. We can only withstand the stresses we endure when the foundation we are building our life on is designed and built with the right materials. A building’s foundation is constructed using brick and mortar and steel and cement to fashion a foundation that will support thousands of tons of weight. A life, on the other hand, is built with choices, values, and beliefs that are made and embraced from a person’s earliest years. And what material is used in making and embracing those choices, values, and beliefs? Jesus told us in Matthew 7, and the writer of the hymn “How Firm a Foundation” made it clear as well.

How 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 said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24 ESV). All the material needed to build a strong and vibrant life is found in the Word of God. But just like a builder must put his knowledge of construction into action, so a person must put his knowledge of God’s Word into action. It is not enough just to know. As James writes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only . . .” (James 1:22 ESV). When we put what we know from God’s Word into practice, we can then be assured of God’s strength in our daily lives.

“Fear not; I am with thee. O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid.
I will strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.”

A proper foundation gives a building the strength to bear the weight of all that is built on top of it. We, too, have internal stresses – “deep waters” as the hymn writer puts it – sorrows, trials, and distresses – that we must bear, and for which we need the solid foundation of God’s infallible Word.

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”

In Matthew 7, Jesus talked about a house facing rain and floods and wind. Buildings are built to withstand pressures in the atmosphere and from the shifting of the ground. So, it is in our daily living. Forces come to bear on us that would cause us to crumble were it not for the “grace all-sufficient” that is our foundation.

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient, shall be thy supply.
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.”

My friend Bruce Van Patter, in his column 8:18, wrote recently about finding an old church building that had been built in the mid-1800s.  While no longer in use, it is still standing, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When we see a building that has stood the “test of time,” we know that it was built well. When we see a person in their later years whose life has been lived well, we know that such a person has known the “sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love” of the God whose Word they have lived by.

“Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when silver hair shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”

Jesus said that the house of the wise man felt the brunt of rain and floods and wind. They “. . . beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:25 ESV). You and I at times feel like “all hell” has been unleashed upon us, but our confidence need not be shaken. If we have built the foundation of our lives on knowing God and His Word, and obeying God and His Word, then we have his promise that He will “never, no, never, no, never forsake” us.

“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.”

Follow this link to a recording of “How Firm a Foundation” that you can sing along with.

=========================================

To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community. A SONG TO THE LORD is just one of the audio resources that are available free at the website of The Fellowship of Ailbe – www.ailbe.org. There you will find printed, audio, and video resources for individual and group study available free of charge.

T. M. Moore, the Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here.

Rusty Rabon also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays). The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website. And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here  You can follow Rusty Rabon at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rusty.raabon.9/, and on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/RustyRabon.

Join the Ailbe Community!

As a member of The Fellowship of Ailbe Community you join a movement of men working for revival, renewal, and awakening, built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification. The Ailbe Community is devoted to practicing the Kingship of Jesus in every area of our lives. Go to ailbe.org to learn more.

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October 12, 2021 · 12:22 PM

Delighting in the Greatness of God

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness . . . (1 Chronicles 16:29 ESV)

In his book “Providence,” John Piper tackles the question of why it is good that God desires to receive praise from his creation, while the same desire in human beings would be considered egotistical.

He first answers the question qualitatively. He writes that God’s “. . . glory is of infinite value. It is infinitely beautiful. Therefore, God, in all his glory, will prove to be more satisfying than anything or anyone else.”[1] Then to illustrate, Piper tells how C. S. Lewis discovered that “. . . all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise . . . we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.”[2]  So, the call to “ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name” (1 Chronicles 16:29) is a call to enjoy the perfections of God and to freely express that enjoyment.

Walter Chalmers Smith has given us a beautiful means of expressing our enjoyment and praise of God with his hymn Immortal, Invisible. This hymn guides us to particularly praise God for four attributes which belong to God alone – or as the theologians describe them, God’s incommunicable attributes. First is God’s attribute of being eternal.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise;
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes;
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days;
Almighty, victorious – Thy great name we praise.

“God has no beginning or end and is in no way bound by time, although he sees events and acts in his world in time . . . Those who trust the God of eternity can know peace, rest, and comfort in the busyness of life and despite impending death, for God keeps them in safety and joy forever.”[3]  Therefore, the psalmist writes:

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. (Psalm 90:2 ESV)

The second stanza of Smith’s hymn speaks of God as being independent.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light;
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might.
Thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

“God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation can glorify him and bring him joy. God never experiences need, so serving God should never be motivated by the thought that he needs us. He is the provider in everything.”[4] As the apostle Paul noted when addressing the people of Athens:

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:24-25 ESV)

Paul’s words lead us to the third stanza of the hymn, which gives praise to God as the unchangeable giver of life to all.

To all, life Thou givest – to both great and small.
In all life, Thou livest – the true Life of all.
Thy wisdom so boundless, Thy mercy so free;
Eternal Thy goodness, for naught changeth Thee.

God is immutable. “He is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises . . . God can always be trusted because he always keeps his word and is never capricious or moody.”[5]  He says through the prophet Malachi:

For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6 ESV)

And this eternal, independent, and immutable God is omnipresent. He is everywhere at once, receiving the adoration of angelic beings and the praise of his people on earth, which is celebrated in the hymn’s final stanza.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight.
All praise we would render – O help us to see
‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

“God is present everywhere with his whole being. God can be sought anywhere regardless of place. Believers should never feel lonely, and the wicked should never feel safe.”[6] As God says through Jeremiah:

Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him, declares the LORD? Do I not fill heaven and earth? (Jeremiah 23:23-24 ESV)

Immortal. Invisible. Eternal. Independent. Immutable. Omnipresent. Just. Good. Loving. The Essence and Giver of life. The list could go on and on. Hymns like this one from Walter Chalmers Smith, and the words that fill holy Scripture, keep us mindful of how God’s glory is of infinite value and beauty. May our enjoyment of the beauties of God lead us to daily – moment by moment – “ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name.”

=========================================

To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community. A SONG TO THE LORD is just one of several audio resources that are available free at the website of The Fellowship of Ailbe – www.ailbe.org. There you will find many printed, audio, and video resources for individual and group study available free of charge.

T. M. Moore, the Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here.

Rusty Rabon also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays). The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website. And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here  You can follow Rusty Rabon at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rusty.raabon.9/, and on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/RustyRabon.

Join the Ailbe Community!

As a member of The Fellowship of Ailbe Community you join a movement of men working for revival, renewal, and awakening, built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification. The Ailbe Community is devoted to practicing the Kingship of Jesus in every area of our lives. Go to ailbe.org to learn more.

[1] Piper, John. Providence. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Publishers, 2020, p. 53.
[2] Piper, Ibid., p. 54.
[3] ESV Study Bible
[4] ESV Study Bible
[5] ESV Study Bible
[6] ESV Study Bible

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October 5, 2021 · 9:26 PM

The Shepherd I Need

Psalm 23 is a “go to” psalm – a “destination” psalm – a psalm that speaks to many of the situations we face. It is the psalm often turned to when we need comfort in times of trouble or struggle. It is an oft-quoted psalm at funerals but is equally relevant for happier occasions like weddings or baptisms. Perhaps this is because Psalm 23 speaks to universal needs – needs we have in all the seasons of life – and how our Lord lovingly provides for those needs.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff – they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.[1]

We are like sheep, and we need our Shepherd. There are times when we need assurance that situations and circumstances will work out in our lives, and our Shepherd Lord provides that assurance by giving us “green pastures” and “still waters” that bring restoration and strength. Our Shepherd Lord promises that He will give us guidance and direction so that we might bring Him glory in and through our lives. Just like a middle eastern shepherd considered his flock to be his possession, so our Shepherd Lord sees us as His possession, a truth captured by the writer of the hymn Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us.

Savior, like a shepherd lead us; much we need Thy tender care.
In Thy pleasant pastures feed us; for our use Thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us; Thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us; Thine we are.

Another universal need is that of safety and protection. In Psalm 23, David affirms that our Shepherd Lord, like a middle eastern shepherd who was the model for the biblical image of God as our shepherd, will walk with us through the deepest, darkest moments of our lives. If we begin to get off the path, He will take the initiative to get us back on track. He knows the sound of our voice. He hears our cries in times of fear, and He responds.

We are Thine; do Thou befriend us; be the Guardian of our way.
Keep Thy flock; from sin defend us; seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Sheep have a reputation for needing constant attention. They have a knack for drifting away from the rest of the flock and getting into trouble. As do we. We are “poor and sinful” and daily need our Shepherd Lord’s mercy, grace, and power to fix the messes we make in our lives. And our Shepherd Lord is right there for us.

Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be.
Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Early let us turn to Thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Early let us turn to Thee.

Isn’t it good to know that our Shepherd Lord’s love for us is unconditional and unfailing? As Psalm 23 promises, His goodness and mercy sustain us through all of life – they never cease. Our Shepherd Lord will never abandon us. We all need the care and provision of our loving and faithful Shepherd Lord. This day, let us reaffirm our commitment to every day drawing near to Him, receiving His love, and doing His will, enjoying what King David in Psalm 23 describes as dwelling “. . . in the house of the LORD my whole life long.”

Early let us seek Thy favor; early let us do Thy will.
Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our beings fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us; love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us; love us still.

Enjoy a beautiful performance of this hymn by the Weimar Chamber Singers at this link:  https://youtu.be/hGFHhoykILg

====================================

To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community. A SONG TO THE LORD is just one of several audio resources that are available free at the website of The Fellowship of Ailbe – www.ailbe.org. There you will find many printed, audio, and video resources for individual and group study available free of charge.

T. M. Moore, the Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here.

Rusty Rabon also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays). The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website. And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here  You can follow Rusty Rabon at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rusty.raabon.9/, and on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/RustyRabon.

Join the Ailbe Community!

As a member of The Fellowship of Ailbe Community you join a movement of men working for revival, renewal, and awakening, built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification. The Ailbe Community is devoted to practicing the Kingship of Jesus in every area of our lives. Go to ailbe.org to learn more.

[1] Psalm 23 NRSV

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September 28, 2021 · 9:29 PM

Thinking Like Jesus

I saw an ad a few years ago from a fund-raising organization for colleges that had this tag line: “a mind is a terrible thing to waste.”  The Bible tells us how important the mind is and contains many exhortations about the condition and content of our minds.  For example:

  • You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37 NKJV)
  • For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6 NKJV)
  • Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)
  • For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16 NKJV)

“We have the mind of Christ.”  What did the apostle Paul mean by that?  He elaborates in his letter to the Philippians.

  • Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV)

According to Paul, the “mind” of Christ is an approach to living that does not focus on personal interests or desires and does not cling to personal privilege or prerogative.  Having the “mind” of Christ leads a person to sacrifice self for the good of others.  This is what Jesus did in his incarnation, and it is the example He calls us to follow in our lives.  Kate Wilkinson’s prayer hymn, May the Mind of Christ My Savior, beautifully expresses the desire to have the mind of Christ.

May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day;
By His love and power controlling all I do and say.

As we yield our minds to the thoughts and attitudes that please the Lord, our outlook is guided by His love and our daily living is empowered by His Spirit.  We take no credit for what good we may accomplish but give praise for His presence and guidance in our lives.

May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour;
So that all may see I triumph only through His power.

As the mind of Christ controls our living, the peace of God keeps us steady no matter the turmoil we face in life.

May the peace of God my Father rule my life in everything;
That I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.

May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self-abasing – this is victory.

“Him exalting, self-abasing.” The mind of Christ is a humble mind.  To have the mind of Christ is to make much of Christ rather than self.  The early church father Chrysostom said, “If you are in love with precedence and the highest honor, pursue the things in last place, pursue being the least valued of all, pursue being the lowliest of all, pursue being the smallest of all, pursue placing yourself behind others.”[1]  As C. S. Lewis wrote, true humility is “. . . not thinking less of our selves but thinking of our selves less.”

May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe;
Looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.

Athletes who run races are coached to never look back but always keep their focus on what is ahead of them in the race – particularly focusing on the finish line.  So it is in the Christian life.  Having the mind of Christ leads us to live by “. . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,” always looking “. . . toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV).  May our greatest desire be to win the prize of God’s “well done” at the end of life, leaving a legacy of active involvement in building His Kingdom.

May His beauty rest upon me as I seek the lost to win;
And may they forget the channel, seeing only Him.

The Norton Hall Band released an arrangement of this hymn that you can enjoy at this link:

“May the Mind of Christ My Savior” – Norton Hall Band

=============================

To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community. A SONG TO THE LORD is just one of several audio resources that are available free at the website of The Fellowship of Ailbe – www.ailbe.org.  There you will find many printed, audio, and video resources for individual and group study available free of charge.

T. M. Moore, the Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here.

Rusty Rabon also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays).  The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website.  And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here  You can follow Rusty Rabon at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rusty.raabon.9/, and on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/RustyRabon.

[1] Chrysostom, The Gospel of St. Matthew, Homily 58.

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September 21, 2021 · 6:52 PM

Food for Life

One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. (Psalm 27:4 NKJV)

In chapter 6 of the Gospel of John we find the account of Jesus feeding over five thousand people.  John records how this miracle impacted the twelve: “Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world’” (John 6:14 NKJV).  John says that Jesus then went away by himself because the people wanted to “. . . come and take Him by force to make Him king” (John 6:15 NKJV).  John then adds an application to this event later in chapter 6.  Sometime later that evening, Jesus and the apostles went across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum.  The next morning, people who had been in the crowd got into boats to find Jesus.  When they found Him, He gave this critique of their motives: “You seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.  Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you . . .” (John 6:26-27 NKJV).  Jesus was saying that the people were guilty of seeking the “blessing” more than the “Blesser.”  They wanted to find Jesus not because the miracle had opened their eyes to who He was, but because they were pleased with the benefit that being with Him brought to them.

We are often guilty of the same thing.  Our prayers are often filled with lists of things we desire rather than with words of praise for our Sovereign King or words of conversation with our Faithful Friend.  Instead of allowing the Bible to be the “Gospel food” that whets our appetite for more time in God’s presence, we are satisfied to find an answer to a question or a boost for our emotions.  As John quoted Jesus, we are looking just to be filled but not seeking the One who alone can fully fill forever.

This is the point that Mary Lathbury made in her Gospel hymn, Break Thou the Bread of Life.

Break Thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, as Thou didst break the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord; my spirit pants for Thee, O Living Word.

Jesus, the Living Word – the Bread of Life – makes Himself known to us and feeds our souls through the written word – the Bible.  But knowing Bible facts or truths alone is not what we need.  I heard someone pray recently that the Lord would deliver us from “dead orthodoxy – being right in the head but wrong in the heart.”  We can have a lot of Bible knowledge without that knowledge leading us to the Source.  The written word was given so that we might know and love the Living Word.

Break Thou the bread of life, O Lord, to me, that hid within my heart Thy Word may be.
Mold Thou each inward thought, from self set free, and let my steps be all controlled by Thee.

This is the point that is made in Psalm 119: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NKJV).  The purpose of the written word is that we hear from the Spirit of the Living Word and open ourselves up to being changed from the inside out.

Open Thy Word of Truth that I may see Thy message written clear and plain for me.
Then in sweet fellowship, walking with Thee, Thine image on my life engraved will be.

This is also the point that the apostle Paul made when writing to the Corinthians.  God is not interested in us just knowing about Him, but in our transformation as we spend time with Him. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV).

O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me, that He may touch my eyes and make me see.
Show me the truth concealed within Thy Word; and in Thy Book revealed I see the Lord.

May the Spirit of God do such a work in us that we will “. . . pant for Thee, O Living Word;” that all our steps will be “. . . controlled by Thee;” that His “image on [our lives] engraved will be;” and that in Him we will truly find our “. . . peace, [our] all in all.”

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me, as Thou didst bless the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall, and I shall find my peace, my All in All.

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To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community. A SONG TO THE LORD is just one of several audio resources that are available free at the website of The Fellowship of Ailbe – www.ailbe.org.  There you will find many printed, audio, and video resources for individual and group study available free of charge.

T. M. Moore, the Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here.

Rusty Rabon also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays).  The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website.  And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here  You can follow Rusty Rabon at www.rustyrabon.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rusty.raabon.9/, and on Twitter at https://mobile.twitter.com/RustyRabon.

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September 17, 2021 · 9:19 AM

All His Good Promise

There has not failed one word of all His good promise . . . (1 Kings 8:56 NKJV)

I was blessed with two grandmothers who were women of prayer and the Word.  My maternal grandmother taught a Bible class in her church right up to her death in 1970, and her class is still identified with her name in that church over 50 years later. 

My paternal grandmother was always admonishing her family, “Don’t forget the read (the Bible) and pray!”  She particularly emphasized “claiming the promises” found in Scripture.  On my desk I keep a little book titled “Personal Promises from God’s Word” that belonged to her. The pages of this book are filled with Bible promises concerning many different emotions and life situations.  There are promises to claim when you feel afraid, discouraged, hopeless, lonely, or angry.  There are promises listed for when you need comfort, forgiveness, patience, or peace. The cover is tattered.  Within the book are handwritten notes and many Scripture verses are highlighted and underlined.  Before passing it on to me, my grandmother kept this little book of Bible promises with her at all times, referring to it frequently. Daily.

God is a promise-making, promise-keeping God.  In 1 Kings 8, King Solomon affirmed this attribute of God in his prayer dedicating the Temple he had built for the worship of God in Jerusalem.  The fact that Solomon had been able to build the Temple was evidence that God kept His promise to King David (8:24).  It was also evidence of God keeping His promise to Moses that the Ark of the Covenant – and the nation of Israel – now had a permanent home in the land.  In fact, Solomon declares, “There has not failed one word of all His good promise” (8:56).  God was faithful to the promises He made to the people of Israel, just as He is faithful to the promises He has made in His Word to us.

This is a truth that Kelso Carter wrote about in a Gospel hymn that he set to a robust, enthusiastic tune for singing.

Standing on the promises of Christ my King!
Through eternal ages let His praises ring.
“Glory in the highest!” I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

“Standing on the Promises” can be a motto for Christian living.  When the apostle Paul writes that “. . . the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God . . .” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV), he is saying that his daily living is grounded in his confidence in the faithfulness of God to His promises, the ultimate example of which is seen in death of Christ on the cross in fulfillment of many Old Testament promises and prophesies.

Therefore, when trouble comes, we can confidently stand on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail!
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God, I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

When the Enemy of your soul wages war against you with strong temptations, you can put your faith in the promises of God.

Standing on the promises, I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me.
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

When doubts or fears fill your thoughts, you can stand securely on the promises of God.

Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s Sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

As you live in the assurance that God is faithful to all His promises, you can patiently and confidently wait for the leading of the Spirit as you discern His will for you.

Standing on the promises, I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my All in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

The promises of God are one piece of the armor God gives us to wage spiritual warfare in this life – the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God.  So, we take up this armor to “. . . be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13 NKJV).  So, stand.  Stand on the promises of God – this moment, this day, and every day.

Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Enjoy this beautiful performance of Standing on the Promises by the One Voice Choir from Ghana, West Africa.

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September 7, 2021 · 6:55 PM

A Melody in My Heart

“. . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV)

I have been reading about the suffering and persecution of Christians in the Middle East in a 2016 book titled THEY SAY WE ARE INFIDELS by Mindy Belz.[1]  Despite their persecution and suffering, Belz wrote that the Christians she met in war-torn Iraq still used music in their worship.  She shared one experience.

On a rainy evening I visited one of the Pentecostal charismatic congregations that had sprung up in out-of-the-way residential areas of Baghdad.   With the lights out and rain beating down on streets already covered with standing sewer water, a group of 120 had gathered to worship in a large, rented house, led by a thirty-year-old single pastor from Eritrea named Joseph.  They were singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” when I arrived.[2]

While under great pressure and with their lives at risk, Christians in Baghdad could still be found lifting their voices in songs of praise to God.  Elton Roth captured this spirit in a short Gospel hymn titled, “In My Heart There Rings a Melody.” The only explanation for the determination and ability of Christians to sing while suffering is the “song” that Jesus gives.

I have a song that Jesus gave me; it was sent from heaven above.
There never was a sweeter melody; ‘tis a melody of love.
In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony.
In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody of love.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible affirms the use of music in the worship of the True and Living God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the God who became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ.  An entire book of Scripture – the Psalms – is filled with songs written by King David, Asaph, the Sons of Korah, and others to be used in worship and prayer to God.  Psalm 40 is an example, written “to the choirmaster – a psalm of David,” in which he proclaims, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:3 ESV).

In the New Testament, as the apostle Paul gives instructions for daily Christian living, he writes that one outworking of the filling of the Holy Spirit is “. . . speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord . . .” (Ephesians 5:19 NKJV).  Paul and Silas were living examples of this as they “. . . were praying and singing hymns to God . . .” (Acts 16:25 NKJV) while in jail in Philippi.

I love the Christ who died on Calvary, for He washed my sins away.
He put within my heart a melody, and I know it’s there to stay.
In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony.
In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody of love.

And the glimpse into eternity that we get in the book of Revelation (Revelation 5:9-10 as one example) lets us know that singing the praises of God will be our joyous experience forever in the Kingdom of God.

Twill be my endless theme in glory; with the angels I will sing.
Twill be a song with glorious harmony when the courts of heaven ring.
In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody with heaven’s harmony.
In my heart there rings a melody; there rings a melody of love.

So why postpone the joy of heaven?  Let the peace and joy and hope you have in Christ fill your mind and heart with songs of praise, and let those songs make their way to your lips and voice.

Sing along with this audio accompaniment of “In My Heart There Rings a Melody.”

[1] Belz, Mindy.  THEY SAY WE ARE INFIDELS: On the Run from ISIS with Persecuted Christians in the Middle East.  Carol Stream, IL:  Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.

[2] Belz, p. 71.

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August 30, 2021 · 11:27 AM

Our Highest Goal

“. . . that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10 NKJV)

It is always good to get started “on the right foot.”  Whether it is a project, a job, or a relationship, it is good when things begin well.  The prospects for a successful venture seem good when they get started in the right way.  But it is also important to finish well.  No matter the way something begins in our lives, the goal is that when we reach the end, we can know that it was “well done.”

King Solomon started well.  We read in 1 Kings 3 that as Solomon began his reign as king of Israel, succeeding his father David, Solomon “. . . loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David . . . Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings . . .” (3:3-4 NKJV).  When God asked him what he desired from the Lord, he did not ask for things that would make him look good in the eyes of the kings of the surrounding nations (like wealth and riches), but rather he asked God for “. . . an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9 NKJV).  A good beginning to his reign as king.  Had he lived and reigned during the New Testament era, he might have prayed in words like those written by Thomas Chisholm in his Gospel hymn, I Want to Be Like Jesus.

I have one deep, supreme desire – that I may be like Jesus.
To this I fervently aspire – that I may be like Jesus.
I want my heart His throne to be, so that a watching world may see
His likeness shining forth in me.  I want to be like Jesus.

We don’t know a lot about Jesus’ earthly life except for the approximately thirty-six months of his ministry.  The Scriptures record just thirty-six months – a short three years – during which Jesus declared by word and example that “the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15 NKJV).

He spent His life in doing good; I want to be like Jesus.
In lowly paths of service trod; I want to be like Jesus.
He sympathized with hearts distress, He spoke the words that cheered and blessed,
He welcomed sinners to His breast.  I want to be like Jesus.

“He spent His life in doing good.”  That sounds like something I would like written on my tombstone.  Think of all that Jesus did in those three years of ministry.  He healed the sick.  He raised the dead.  As Thomas Chisholm wrote, “He sympathized with hearts distressed; He spoke the words that cheered and blessed.”  But most of all, “He welcomed sinners to His breast.”  Jesus came to “. . . seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJV).  He lived to do the will of his heavenly Father, which ultimately led Him to the cross.

A holy, harmless life He led; I want to be like Jesus.
The Father’s will – His drink and bread; I want to be like Jesus.
And when at last He comes to die, “Forgive them, Father,” was His cry
For those who taunt and crucify.  I want to be like Jesus.

What are your goals in life?  What do you want your “life message” to be?  Have you gotten off to a good start, or is your life a story of brokenness and strife?  Of sin and failure?  No matter how you have begun, you can finish well.  Solomon started strong, but over the course of his life he drifted from his love for the Lord and finished his life a broken and compromised man.  You and I do not have to finish that way. As you day by day – moment by moment – yield the control of your life to the Lord, His Spirit will fill you and empower you “. . . that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:10 NKJV)

O perfect life of Christ, my Lord!  I want to be like Jesus.
My recompense and my reward – that I may be like Jesus.
His Spirit fill my hungering soul, His power all my life control.
My deepest prayer, my highest goal – that I may be like Jesus.

Enjoy an arrangement of this hymn by David and Steven Au at this link:

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To subscribe and receive A SONG TO THE LORD in your email, just follow this link: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community   And if you are interested in other devotional writings by Rusty Rabon, click here. T. M. Moore and Rusty Rabon host THE AILBE PODCAST which you can find on The Fellowship of Ailbe website here. Rusty also hosts a Zoom book reading program called READING GREAT BOOKS five nights each week (Thursdays through Mondays).  The Zoom link and current book information are available here on The Fellowship of Ailbe website.

You can follow Rusty at his website – www.rustyrabon.com – and you can contact him at rustyrabon@gmail.com

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August 24, 2021 · 4:10 PM

Our Help for Every Need

The 17th century English poet and pastor George Herbert held the office of the pastor (or “country parson” as he called it) in high regard and held the person filling that office to a high standard of living.

“Because the two highest points of life, wherein a Christian is most seen, are patience and mortification, patience in regard of afflictions, mortification in regard of lusts and affections and the stupefying and deadening of all clamorous powers of the soul, therefore he hath thoroughly studied these that he may be an absolute master and commander of himself for all the purposes which God hath ordained him.”[1]

Patient in affliction and putting to death the lusts and temptations that are within the human heart, to be “an absolute master and commander of himself.”  A high standard to be sure, but no higher than the apostle Paul set for every follower of Christ in Romans 12:9-12:

Abhor what is evil.  Cling to what is good.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer . . .” (NKJV)

In other words, Paul says that a Christian should live like . . . a Christian.  But regardless of whether we are parson or parishioner, reading statements like Herbert’s or Scriptures like those in Romans cause us to realize how far short of the standard we fall.  We struggle with patience.  Too often, the “lusts and affections and . . . clamorous powers” within show themselves in our words and actions.  Too often people see our lack of love and striving for preference, and in trying to cling to what is good, we often find that we do not “abhor what is evil” as we should.  As followers of Christ, we take this seriously and grieve over how we fail our Lord.  But at such times we can be encouraged because we can turn to Jesus, bring to him all our sin and failure, and rest in His love and provision for us.  Horatius Bonar’s hymn “I Lay My Sins on Jesus” helps us celebrate and praise God for this.

I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God.
He bears them all and frees us from the accursed load.
I bring my guilt to Jesus, to wash my crimson stains
White in His blood most precious, till not a spot remains

The promise of forgiveness of sin and cleansing from sin is a precious truth in Scripture.  But so is the fact that we can cast “. . . all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV).

I lay my wants on Jesus; all fullness dwells in Him.
He heals all my diseases, He doth my soul redeem.
I lay my griefs on Jesus, my burdens, and my cares.
He from them all releases, He all my sorrows shares.

We can know inner rest and peace as we receive, from Jesus, freedom from the “accursed load” of our sin, cleansing from the filth of our guilt, provision of our needs, and comfort and help in our times of sorrow or struggle.

I rest my soul on Jesus, this weary soul of mine.
His right hand me embraces, I on His breast recline.
I love the name of Jesus – Immanuel, Christ the Lord.
Like fragrance on the breezes His name abroad I poured.

A sign that we are making progress in the spiritual life is when our inmost desires begin to align with the desires of the Holy Spirit – when we begin to sense a genuine desire to be more like Jesus.

I long to be like Jesus – meek, loving, lowly, mild.
I long to be like Jesus, the Father’s holy Child.
I long to be with Jesus amid the heavenly throng,
To sing with saints His praises, to learn the angel’s song.

Meek.  Lowly.  Loving.  Mild.  Living like Jesus in the power of the Spirit.  May this be a continuous and growing desire and experience in our lives.

Click on the following link to hear the hymn performed.

[1] George Herbert, A PRIEST TO THE TEMPLE, chapter 3 “The Parson’s Life.”

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