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Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Where Multitudes Still Follow (and many turn away)



Matt.4:16-17&25
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
   From that time Jesus began to preach and to say,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven [c]is at hand.”
Great multitudes followed Him—


It's been a gloomy stretch of weather here...


The billows of snow from a little over week ago reduced
in short order to puddles!

We long for the great light of the sun after a long stretch of none,
yet, this but a mild comparison to the light of the world that has already come
and eternally pierced the darkness of sin and death!
Are you living in the joyful light/awareness of God's great love for you?

***

Multitudes followed Him where a Great Light had dawned
In the manger at Bethlehem, 
then Egypt and beyond
The One, prophets foretold of glory’s suffering
Had stepped to redemption’s threshold, 
the hope of man to bring

…calling all to ‘repent, for God’s kingdom is near’
Goodness and mercy’s covenant 
would pour in gory tear
Where faithful unto death the Lamb of God became
For the believer’s dying breath, 
life only death can claim

…and Jesus is the Name whereby mankind is saved
No minor prophet, He who came 
to conquer death’s dark grave
With a great light unfurled throughout eternity
Jesus, the Savior of the world 
can set death’s captive free

The light that cannot dim still gleams unto this day
Where multitudes still follow Him 
and many turn away
But those who trust behold what bold doubters ignore
Of signs that prophets long foretold 
when time will be no more

When the clouds will be seared, and every eye shall see
And look upon the One they pierced
 with their iniquity
And the whole world will wail at the sight of I AM
His power and glory unveiled 
as all ‘behold The Lamb’

But lo, all who repent and died to self are saved
Their names are written on the hands 
that Calvary engraved
But oh, all who refused 
love’s grace and truth to claim
Are released, by their choosing to 
Hellfire's unquenched flame 

© Janet Martin

I kept veering from the last line,
inadvertently trying to 'soften' it
but why?!!
life/death is a Heaven or hell matter!
there is no in between!

P.S. it feels fantastic to be upright without a spinning head after a day in bed with the flu.
My heart and prayers have been rekindled for those who spend day after day in bed!
My sister-in-law (Karen) is in the hospital since last Thursday 
suffering from a twisted bowel. Please join me in praying for her healing and
her and her family's encouragement!
My cousin who is an invalid due to MS, 
and his family appreciated your continued prayers as well!




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I hope you enjoyed your pause on this porch and thank-you for your visit!