Hand In Hand With Jesus

"Once from my poor sin sick soul, Christ did every burden roll.."  "Hand in Hand with Jesus" was composed by Leonard D. Huffstutler. Born in 1887, at Liberty, Alabama, he was raised on a farm in Texas where as a boy he learned to sing gospel songs from his mother.  What is unique about this particular song, is that it uses a phrase that we do not often hear today, "sin sick."  Good people, especially people who have faith don't often think of ourselves like this. We are struggling, needy, addicted, whatever phraseology we can find that will do anything in its power to try to convince someone that everything is somehow ok.  We don't like to think of ourselves as wretched, miserable, spiritually naked, blind like a person covered in sores, or on the doorstep of death. Because when we realize that this is indeed our condition, there is only one source from which the healing will come - God! But we say "YES! That's the point!" If it is, then why don't we speak truthfully about the fact that our souls are like the poor beggar on the street hoping someone will have pity? Why don't we speak about ourselves as "sin sick," a state of one who has a terminal disease who may die at any moment?

We...and we alone are responsible for the condition of our souls. When we are physically as sick as we have described above we spend so much time in doctors offices that we know them on a first name basis. We know their staff and nurses. Yet, how intimately do we know God? How intimately do we know the people of HIS House? Why isn't it a priority to try,  not just to save myself, but all those around me that are in the same sad state that I am? It is because the evil one has deceived me into thinking I'm "ok." I don't have to talk to God or get to know God deeply because I've obeyed the gospel and I'm forgiven. I don't have to be around God's people or God's house as much because in the words of the Pharisee, "I'm not like that publican."  What he didn't understand, was that he was in a more wretched condition than even the publican.

Rom.12 - Paul reminds us that the main thing that we give God is ourselves.  The person as we are, and what we allow God to guide us to become. In the same vein, what we offer God's house is not the "duties" we can perform, it is the person we become through God.  God's house is the gathering of His people and His kingdom is not a building - it is our hearts! Do you want to "spread the borders of God's Kingdom?" Then quit thinking geographically and start opening your heart. When you do, you will find a lot of sin sick souls just like yourself, trying to get to know their doctor by His name and who want to help the ones in the waiting room hurt a little less.

Jim