By John BJ Hall
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
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When a person truly comes in response to the Gospel, they are responding to the call of the Lord. When they do, they receive the wonderful blessing of salvation and hope that is eternal.
The Gospel calls us to benefit from the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins. We come, weak and vile, hopeless, and helpless. Yet He gives us strength and cleansing. This same Jesus, calls us to live a life of faith, hope, and love.
It is said that the first time this hymn was publicly sung a businessman, who had not been in church for over twenty years, came to faith in Christ. One cold day as he left home for work, his wife heard him singing the chorus, “I am coming, Lord! Coming now to Thee!” Moments later he fell on the icy streets, striking his head, and died.
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Father, I love to hear your welcome voice. Cleanse me and make me wholly thine. Help me to obey Your voice no matter what the circumstances. Amen.
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This is an excerpt from the soon-to-be-published Hymns of Praise Vol 4: A Devotional Guide to the Hymns of Our Faith © Copyright 2024 by Passages Ministries Publishing.