Devotional: December 2008

What’s the Big Deal?

Recently we sang at a camp-meeting held at a local high school in West Virginia.  We were on stage prepared for when they would call us on and the song leader hit the opening line of “Heaven’s Jubilee”.  Now, I’ll be honest with you about something: I have never been terribly fond of that song.  I have nothing against it; it just wasn’t at the top of my list of favorite hymns.  But as I began to look out over that group of people, something hit me.  Shouts of praise were going up everywhere; there was a look of pure joy on many people’s faces; and I felt that kinship that comes from being a part of God’s family, even though I had never met these people before.  It occurred to me that a stranger, someone who had never truly experienced God or been in church would walk into a meeting like that and think how odd it was.  They wouldn’t know why in the world people were shouting and clapping their hands and singing, “Oh, what singing!  Oh, what shouting!  On that happy morning when we all shall rise….”

That’s when it hit me: as a child of God I know what all the commotion is about!  I began to cry and shout to the Lord, because I’ve been redeemed, I know what a great God I serve, that He’s alive and well and sovereign!  I know He’s got a great plan for my life and at the end of that life, I know I’m headed for my perfect home! 

I felt like I needed to share this that night, but I didn’t.  I didn’t really know how I would explain it (it’s difficult to portray what God showed me even now) and I didn’t think anyone would benefit from this testimony.  I wish I simply been obedient to what the Holy Spirit was trying to have me do.  A young man walked out of the service a few minutes before it was over.  I had the feeling that perhaps he was lost and the man that brought him confirmed that fact after church.  He said he worked with this young Muslim and had consistently witnessed to him.  I asked if he enjoyed the service and he said he had but he had one comment before he left.  He said how strange it was that people would sing like we did about our religion.  You see, I am convinced that that word that God gave me was just for that young man who had never experienced the love and mercy and grace of God. 

I can’t go back and change what happened that night, but because I missed my opportunity that night, I am sharing this with you.  Is it a mystery to you why people raise their hands to a holy God; why the tears begin to flow when we sing about how His blood washed away our sins; why we shout “hallelujah” and “blessed be the name of the Lord”?  If it is, then I would like to share with you that it doesn’t have to be!  If you’ve never accepted Christ or if you have but the things of God have become routine and unexciting to you, I offer you a walk to Calvary’s Mountain, to the foot of the cross where Jesus died for you.  When you leave, you’ll never be the same and you too can have a “new song in your mouth, even praise unto our God” (Psalm 40:3). 

In His Service,

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, simply confess to him that you are a sinner and that you want him to come into your heart and save you.  Then you need to tell someone about it.  Feel free to email us at browdergospel@hotmail.com.