PCCMI Morning Worship: 2024/01/21: Love Lifted Me

Plainfield Christian Church, Comstock Park, MI

The Morning Worship Service at Plainfield Christian Church in Comstock Park, MI

Preacher: Bruce Wilson

Youth Minister: Josh Antonopulos

Children’s Minister: Wade Harrier

Worship Leader: Katie Winstanley.

Learn more at https://www.pccmi.org/

Songs: CCLI #2228009

That’s the title of an old song whose lyrics go like this: “I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more, But the master of the sea, Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I” I was reminded of that song as I was reading from the Book of Job – chapters 23-24. Take the time to read through these two chapters—they're magnificent! Job's first theme seems to be, "I am unable to locate the presence of God, but I trust You, Lord." I find that coming through loud and clear in the first twelve verses of chapter 23. It seems that Job has a courtroom in mind. "I wish I knew the bench on which Almighty God sits. I wish I knew where I could locate Him. Some place—anyplace—on this earth that I could get to Him." There is a wonderful truth in these words, that reveal a truly remarkable thing about our God. When we stop running and rebelling. When we finally surrender our will to His. When we turn around and come to Him just as we are, we never hear Him shout, "Shame on you!" God hears our pleading, our feelings of need, and He is quick to respond, "I forgive you. I love you. I understand you. I'm here; I commend you for facing the truth." Notice how Job refers to the Lord's response: “Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power? No, surely He would pay attention to me. There the upright would reason with Him; And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.” (Job 23:6–7) All of God's people need to learn this valuable truth from our God. When people come, open and vulnerable with their confession, there is one appropriate three-word response: “I forgive you.” They don't need to be put on the spot or shamed because they failed. They need the assurance of forgiveness. Job asks, "Would He contend with me?" Then he answers himself, "He would not contend with me, even though He's much more powerful. He would pay attention to me. I could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge." How wonderful is that? If someone confesses wrong, there’s one appropriate response: I forgive you