Wisdom from the Word

Wisdom from the Word #2 - 5/1/2023

Have you ever heard “the Story behind the Hymns” we sing? Some stories are so fascinating, and some are filled with grief and sorrow due to the life story behind the words. As an example, It is Well was written by Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. The hymn is Spafford’s prayer for healing and strength after suffering the loss of his children at sea. By the grace and strength of God he found the words deep within to say, “It is well with my soul.”

Another great hymn of faith was written by Fanny J. Crosby. After suffering an eye infection that left her eyes red and swollen, her doctor used hot poultices on her eyes causing scarring and making Fanny blind for life. Her grandmother took on the task of educating Fanny using the most descriptive language possible in ever course of study providing Fanny with a vivid imagination and peaked interest in God and Creation.

One of her most well-known hymns, Blessed Assurance, was written after hearing a piano tune played by a friend. The words just flowed from her pen with exuberance and power: Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine, Oh What a Foretaste of Glory Divine. Fanny had a vision embedded in her mind of what heaven looked like from eyes that had never seen. Heir of Salvation ~ Purchase of God ~ Born of His Spirit and Washed in His Blood. This is My Story ~ This is My Song ~ Praising My Savior All the Day Long! Can you hear the joy in her heart, and the longing in her words to know she was a daughter of the King, and the splendor and beauty of heaven awaited her!

Paul is making that same connection to the Thessalonians and to us today. Paul writes in 1Th 5:23, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” It is God Himself who sanctifies us in our whole spirit, soul, and body. Why? So that we will be found blameless when Christ Raptures us to Glory! What blessed assurance we have that we will never be left orphaned because God will never, no never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

That phrase, “kept blameless” is vitally important. It means that God keeps his eye upon us, and in Christ Jesus he will find no fault. We are washed in Hid blood. Sealed for all eternity. What a mighty God we serve!

Can you say those words: Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine because you have called upon His name to save you? You can do that today simply by confessing to Him that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and He is the Only One who can save you. Trust Christ today. He loves you. He died for you. Find that Blessed Assurance in Him today. Contact us and let us know if you made that decision today. 843-546-5187 or email keith@fbcgeorgetown.org.

Join us Wednesday, May 3 at 6:00 PM for our Concert of Prayer at the church. 219 Cleland Street – Georgetown, SC