Day 2: Gospel clarity

Billy Graham said once that America has just enough of Jesus to be inoculated to Him. We live in a religious but mostly lost culture that fools itself into thinking it is right with God simply because we are Americans who may occasionally attend church. My prayer is that we as a Tribe understand the Gospel well, and live out the implications of the Gospel with grace and grit.

Here's an old puritan poem from a book called The Valley of Vision. The language is a bit antiquated, but the words are powerful.

THE GOSPEL WAY

Blessed Lord Jesus,

No human mind could conceive or invent the gospel.

Acting in eternal grace, thou art both its messenger and message,

lived out on earth through infinite compassion,

applying thy life to insult, injury, death,

that I might I be redeemed, ransomed, freed.

Blessed be thou, O Father, for contriving this way,

Eternal thanks to thee, O Lamb of God,

for opening this way,

Praise everlasting to thee, O Holy Spirit,

for applying this way to my heart.

Glorious Trinity, impress the gospel on my soul,

until its virtue diffuses every faculty;

Let it be heard, acknowledged, professed, felt.

Teach me to secure this mighty blessing;

Help me to give up every darling lust,

to submit heart life and life to its command,

to have it in my will,

controlling my affections,

moulding my understanding;

to adhere strictly to the rules of true religion,

not departing from them in any instance,

nor for any advantage in order to escape evil,

inconvenience or danger.

Take me to the cross to seek glory from its infamy;

Strip me of every pleasing pretence of righteousness

by my own doings.

O gracious Redeemer,

I have neglected thee too long,

often crucified thee,

crucified thee afresh by my impenitence,

put thee to open shame.

I thank thee for the patience that has borne with me

so long,

and for the grace that now makes me willing to be

thine.

O unite me to thyself with inseparable bonds,

that nothing may ever draw me back from thee,

my Lord, my Savior.