A FRAGRANT BALM NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD (Lenten 30)
There are two old hymns that have come into my mind in the last 24 hours, I would not have sung them for 6o years or more, but I feel the Holy Spirit has brought them to my remembrance at this sad time in the world.
The first hymn is taken from Jer. 8:22 NKJV Is there no balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then is there no recovery
For the health of the daughter of my people?
NLT Is there no medicine in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why is there no healing
for the wounds of my people?
MESSAGE Are there no healing ointments in Gilead?
Isn’t there a doctor in the house?
So why can’t something be done
to heal and save my dear, dear people?
The word balm my dictionary tells me it means a a soothing fragrant healing ointment, and of course the answer for us is that especially under the New Covenant it is YES YES YES some of my readers may be feeling the stress that is flooding our world because of the Covid-19 virus, or you have loved ones that you care for very much are being effected by everything, may you let the healing balm of Jesus’s presence fill and flood your heart as the Holy Spirit reminds us OUR GOD IS IN CONTROL, He is not surprised by anything that has happened, and He wants His people to lean back into the EVERLASTING ARMS OF JESUS AND LET HIM WRAP HIS ARMS AROUND YOU AMEN.
The other hymn is THERE IS A PLACE OF QUIET REST NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD
There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Savior meet,
Near to the heart of God.
There is a place of full release,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace,
Near to the heart of God.
James encourages us in James 4:8 NKJV Draw near to God and He will draw near to you, The NLT says Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Now that we are born again, there is nothing that can stop us running into God’s presence, Heb. 4:16 NLT tells us So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
During this Lenten Journey we have been learning to Reflect and wait before the Lord, there may have never been a Lenten period like this before in History, but our Church Fathers, knew there would be times when we would need that FRAGRANT BALM POURED UPON US, and we would find it NEAR TO THE HEART OF GOD.
Once again under the New Covenant included in our inheritance purchased for us by Jesus through His death and resurrection, there is a Sabbath Rest available to us 24/7 As we draw near to the heart of God, let us claim our inheritance Hebrews 4:9-10 NKJV tells us There remains therefore a REST for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
I trust these simple comments from these two old hums have blest you, May you have a fantastic weekend, even though we can’t go to a church building, we can be in the Father’s presence and simply ENJOY HIS GOODNESS AND BLESSINGS UPON US AMEN.
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