“He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 N.I.V.

 

One of the greatest hymns still sung in churches in America, usually during the time of the service pastors are giving us opportunity to respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit is Just As I Am. Its words alone are words to sway us toward turning to our Heavenly Father.

“Just as I am, without one plea,

But that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God,

I come!

I come!”

The words, penned by Charlotte Elliott in 1834 are tenderly moving and they linger in my heart when I hear them. I am comforted, now, by the assurance that I am enough, as I am, for Christ. That is such a sweet knowledge to hold to my heart for so often in life I’ve felt as if I was just not “enough” for people I’ve loved.

What hit me yesterday in church (and we didn’t sing this song) was that if I believe, as I’ve come to see recently, God isn’t finished with me yet; was gratitude Jesus takes me as I am but also a new revelation of sorts; “don’t leave me this way Lord”! If I am to be part of the Great Commission, if “He is to become greater so I must become less” then I have to surrender myself so He can prune me. I must be willing to be refined in the fire. I must be willing to give up my prideful will, my selfish desires and my defeated attitude so Jesus can be the Lord of my life.

I’m just not sure what God has in store for the next twenty-four hours of my life or the next year or any years beyond that He sees fit to leave me here but I do know this:

Just as I am, without one plea,

But change me Lord to glorify thee

Remove my thorns and set me free

O Lamb of God,

Change me!

Change me!

 

My flaws, my sins, my selfishness,

I surrender them for Your best

Don’t leave me Lord without the tests

O Lamb of God,

Change me!

Change me!

 

Replace the milk as babe I drink

And help me on thy Word to think

From child to adult Lord I plea

O Lamb of God,

Change me!

Change me!

 

Prune from my heart the weeds of sin

Refine in fire the filth within

Create in me the daughter You see

O Lamb of God,

Change me!

Change me!

d.f.a.v. 8/26/2013

 

Being improved!

-Faye