Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

POSSESSED

April 7, 2010

 To say the word "possessed" assumes something bad. At least a nasty emotional, medical condition, at worst, a scenario in a Hollywood horror picture.

Let me not be so callous to his merit as not to love him, so indifferent to his blood as not to desire cleansing.
Lord Jesus, Master, Redeemer, Saviour, come and take entire possession of me; this is thy right of purchase.
-The Valley of Vision Prayerbook

The last several days you may have attended a Good Friday service or Easter worship. There the news was re-announced of Christ's redemption of you and me, his purchase. What part of you did he forgive, what part did he redeem, what part of you did he rescue?

I turn again to the Puritan prayerbook. I trust we desire his cleansing, and this prayer rightfully reminds us that therefore, "it is thy right of purchase" to take possession of the whole, not the part. The old hymn, "It is well with my soul" confirms this reality: "My sin oh the glorious thought, my sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more..." And so...we long to be possessed by Christ. It is our prayer.
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson