Echoes From the Campfire

Men who live always in cities rarely notice the sky.”
–Louis L’Amour (Catlow)

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.”
–Psalm 19:1 (NLT)
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Two days in a row, yep, that’s right, I’m going to look at another hymn. My aunt, Bern, made it a habit, especially in the later years of her life to use the hymns for her devotions. Sometimes it was a hymn for a day, and she would sing it all through the day. Sometimes it would be a hymn for the week. I have often wakened up in the night with the words of one of the hymns in my mind; that’s the way I want to sleep.
I wrote on this hymn back in 2016, but to start the year of 2018 I want to make it more of a goal and habit. This is not the time to become shallow in the Word of the Lord nor relaxed in our walk with Him. The days are in front of us that we better make sure of our foundation. I recall the words of Jesus to John on the Isle of Patmos when He warned the church at Ephesus.

“But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”
–Revelation 2:4-5 (HCSB)

Let this song become our prayer as we enter 2018.

“Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.”
–C.P Jones

Notice this is a daily request. We are exhorted to “study to show ourselves approved.” Could there be a better way than to be schooled by the Master Himself? Growing in grace is an everyday occurrence and part of the work is done by us with the Holy Spirit’s help and direction.

“Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.”

Now, I believe that this is where many Christians fall short today. There is not that deep seeking of the Lord. Oh, for sure, there is the remonstrances on a Sunday morning, but to become a true disciple is more than a service in church. The problem is the other phrase. We want to be a Christian and for sure make it to heaven, but to have our will wholly lost in His will, well that’s a different story. Let me be a Christian, but let me remain autonomous; folks it doesn’t work that way.
Remember the words of the hymns yesterday? We need to be holding on to the hand of Jesus. Are you really sold out in trust for the Lord? Are you ready to face the day, the year?

“Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.”

Notice the exclamation marks! The author this song, C.P. Jones, was insistent. He wanted to know the Lord; know Him in His fullness. No matter the cost, he wanted to know Him. Let me also note that in the days ahead it might be that to survive, spiritually, we will need to be fully rooted in Him.

“Deeper, higher, ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

O deeper yet, I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.”

One day the struggle will be over, but until then we must bear the image of Christ. I have heard the postmodern Christians say that they are no longer “Christians.” Part of the purpose of postmodernists is to deconstruct language, but here they completely miss the truth. In this instance they do not want sound doctrine for to be a Christian meand to be “Christ-like,” stamped in His own image.