A Sweet Sweet Sound

“Take joy my Lord, in what you hear, may it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.”

Last Sunday morning we heard some thoughts from a few people in our midst, thoughts that spoke to our hearts, stories of encouragement, confirmation and confession.

We heard confession from a young man, though he didn’t confess all to us, we certainly got the impression of it.  He had already confessed to God, confessed to his wife and to his group of friends.  Confessed to men, who no doubt knew the struggles that can take place in the hearts and minds of those who have known their own suffering, felt the consequences and shared confession.  This young father had confessed to God, to those he loved and to those in his midst.  It was a powerful message to those of us listening and watching his heart be released from the chains that held it.  A fellow prisoner, freed.  I love that!

Amazing grace how sweet the sound.

Not that long ago we did a bible study called “To Live is Christ” We talked about two prisoners, Peter and Paul.  When Paul was miraculously freed from his chains, he cried out to the others who were there, to those who were held captive with him and to those who held him captive. He told them not to be afraid and he went on to tell them how they could know the same salvation he had, the same hope, the same grace…and they listened.

When Peter was freed in the same miraculous way, he did not hang around to share any messages, either to confess or to minister.  He was simply freed from his bondage.  Peter was freed to go.

One was freed to stay and share, the other was simply freed to go.

Amazing grace.

Sometimes it is the same for us.   Sometimes we are meant to share and sometimes we are told “to go and tell no one” or “to go and sin no more”  Sometimes confessing to Him is enough.  Sometimes He says that is enough…go and sin no more…it is finished.

God knows how many times He has freed me, sometimes freed to share, to confess and sometimes, He has freed me to simply go and sin no more.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound to save a wretch like me...I love that.