Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. Idolatry is often very close
to true worship. Nadab and Abihu were Levites,
the sons of Aaron, the great high priest. They decided to
make an offering to the Lord of their own making, which he
commanded them not, and they were destroyed with the censers
in their hands. This one who has come down and walked among
us in flesh and blood is the same one whom the seraphim cease
not to worship day and night, saying, holy, holy, holy is the
Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his
glory. He is that one who is worthy to open the sealed book.
He has come down and dwelt among us, but he has not at any time
ceased to be God, nor has he in any sense become less than
God, nor should any creature ever approach him without this
due consideration. It is impossible to have a right
observation of his true person apart from the clear knowledge
of his deity and his rightful place of glory which utterly
transcends creation. It is this contemplation that
drives the born-again sons of God to fall upon their faces
in the dust and ashes of repentance whenever they would approach
Him. Our boldness to approach Him is because of our confidence
in His authority and station as our Great High Priest, and
not because of some assumed familiarity with Him and His humanity. We
are quite convinced that He was tempted in all points as we are,
being without sin. Yet rather than this observation
causing us to embrace Him as a comrade, we are struck with
awe and made to revere Him who endured this shame for sinners
such as we are. The spotless Lamb of God, being
subjected to bear the sin and guilt of His people, does evermore
cause them to bow at His feet in adoring wonder. Having said
all of that and putting his humanity in its proper perspective, let
us state in no uncertain terms that we are rendered speechless
and struck with awe and amazement in the contemplation of his walking
in the earth as a living human being, who being in the form
of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made
himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion
as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross. Oh, how can it be that he who
created death and administers it according to his sovereign
purpose should ever subject his own self to it? The wonder of
it is beyond the scope of man's understanding. The one who is
the king of kings became a servant. He who has the very definition
of righteousness hung upon a cross of shame, which is reserved for
the unrighteous. He who knows all things learned
obedience. He who has all power became weak
for us. Above all other activities which
he was involved with, as he walked among us as the Son of Man, he
was a man of constant prayer. He personified the exaltation
of the Apostle Paul, who said, Pray without ceasing. In his
own words, men ought always to pray and not to faint. He fainted
not in the day of his trial, because he prayed and the Father
heard him, who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered
up prayers and supplications, was strong, crying in tears unto
him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in
that he feared. Such wonder cannot be told by
men, yet he has demonstrated it. If he, being the only begotten
Son of God, had need to pray, how much more do we, who are
of Adam's race, stand in such need? God's people must pray
because He has made them His sons. And because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father. Just as surely as an infant of
days will cry out for his earthly mother or father, so must the
newborn sons of God call upon Him. He has made them acquainted
with who He is. They know themselves to be without
strength. My grace is sufficient, for my strength is made perfect
in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities
that the power of Christ may rest upon me. The true sons of
God must cry out to Him continually, knowing that they have no strength
of their own, and shall fall immediately if left to their
own devices. The sons of God must pray because they hunger
and thirst for his presence. Their desire is that of the apostle
Paul who said, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his
death. Religious men are content with some knowledge about the
facts of their religion, but the true sons of God are starving
for his fellowship and long to be like him. The sons of God
must pray because they are beset on every side by those who are
their enemies. Yea, and all that will live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. It has become accepted
for churches, so-called, to adopt the ways and practices of the
world in their quest to attract more and more members. Beware,
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after
the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not
after Christ. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.