Wednesday, January 17, 2018

One Step from God 1/15-17/18

15-17 January 2018 - One Step from God – Manna by Dorothy Callies

I was flipping through the old song book, Melodies of Praise of 1957 and came to the song that impressed me.  The word, ‘step’ caused me to do the research from the technology Bible and I found this. Psalm 73:2 “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh (near) slipped.” NCV: “But I had almost stopped believing, I had almost lost my faith.” Ever felt like that sometimes?

The song itself seems to be fitting if anyone felt like they were drifting away from God by losing ambitious to continue with God in faith. To grow in faith it often takes step by step to keep growing in Christ. Step by step is every day with Jesus and His God’s Word.  Psalm 37:23-24 NCV: “When a person’s steps follow the Lord, God is pleased with his ways. If he stumbles, he will not fall, because the Lord hold his hand.”  

Song: When You’re One Step from God
Written by Herbert Buffum, Melodies of Praise
Chorus:
You’re a million miles from the gates of Peace
When you’re one little step from God;
It seemed easy to drift from the track,
But you find it so hard to get back;
Tho the door of Hope may be opened wide
To your feet as you sadly plod (walk),
You’re a million miles from the gates of Peace
When you’re one little step from God.

1. Have you ever wandered away from your home
In a strange and a far – off place?
Do you know what it is to be sad and lone,
And to long for a friendly face?
Then you feel you are out of the world, and sigh
For the sights you have left behind;
And you look and you long for the “By and By”
When again friends and home you find.

2. Have you ever tasted the love of the Lord,
And have found it beyond compare?
Did you one time rejoice in His precious Word
And you found help and comfort there?
But the clouds long ago hid your Savior’s face,
And you quailed (lose courage) ‘neath the chast’ning rod,
And you find no enjoyment in any place
When you’re one little step from God.

3. Just a step—yet far enough off to be lost;
Just a step—yet you’re still outside;
Just a step—yet you shrink from the final cost;
Just a step—and so hard you’ve tried!
Then the song you sang come to haunt your dreams,
And you sigh for the paths you trod;
Tho you’re just one short step from the fold, it seems
You are millions of miles from God.

After reading several different verses about the step, 1 Peter 2:21-24 impressed me.  This focus on Christ and His character that I had not thought of it before. After I read this song and then reading 1 Peter 2:21-24, it made me realized that if a person was “one step from God,” he or she might want to get back into Christ’s step and be closer to Him once again.

1 Peter 2:21-24 “. . . Christ leaving us an example that we should follow His steps.  v. 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth,  v. 23 who, when He was revile, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to him that judge righteously,  v. 24 who his own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (KJV).

NCV: “ . . . Christ suffered for you and gave you an example to follow. So you should do as He did. He had never sinned, and He had never lied. People insulted Christ, but He did not insult them in return.  Christ suffered, but He did not threaten.  He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him.  Christ carried our sins in His body on the cross so we should stop living for sin and start living what is right.  And you are healed because of His wounds. Verse 25: You were like sheep that wandered away, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your souls.”

Dorothy: What this means to me? It was awesome and it touched my heart because I have never thought of this before. This song is good for altar call when someone felt like he or she might felt far from God and hearing this song might make them realized they are “million miles away from God” and would want to come back to Him.  It never hurt to come to the altar of God and make sure we stay close to Him. Amen!

May the Lord bless you real good!

Dorothy

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