“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
3 points from yesterday morning’s sermon….
- God is in our midst – do not fear.
- God takes delight in us so know that you are precious to him.
- God sings over us so rest in him.
And a quote…
‘Many of God’s people can believe that God forgives them far easier than they can believe that he loves them……’
Really? Well, I’m not sure i’ve heard anyone say that before and, it stuck in my throat a little……because it may just be true of me! I don’t not believe God loves me but perhaps I need to ask, does it really mean as much as it should……..do i really get it? Do I know it? Really?
And anyway, could I ever hope to grasp forgiveness fully without knowing how awesome God’s love for me is?
We need to really know both right?
Here’s a poem by John Donne that Norman read during the sermon….
‘Batter my heart, three-person’d God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o’erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp’d town to another due,
Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv’d, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov’d fain,
But am betroth’d unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.’
Powerful words!
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17
