This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.
My God Came Down The Stairs
It is not our earnestness that brings us into touch with God, nor our devotedness, nor our times of prayer, but our Lord Jesus Christ’s vitalizing death; and our times of prayer are evidences of reaction on the reality of Redemption, so we have confidence and boldness of access into the holiest. What an unspeakable joy it is to know that we each have the right of approach to God in confidence, that the place of the Ark is our place, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness.” What an awe and what a wonder of privilege, “to enter into the holiest,” in the perfectness of the Atonement, “by the blood of Jesus.”
Oh, long and dark the stairs I trod, With stumbling feet to find my God: Gaining a foothold bit by bit, Then slipping back and losing it: Never progressing, striving still, With weakening gasp and fainting will, Bleeding to climb a God: while He Serenely smiled, unnoting me. Then came a certain time when I Loosened my hold and tell thereby. Down to the lowest step my fall, As if I had not climbed at all. And while I lay despairing thereby. I heard a footfall on the stair, In the same path where I, dismayed, Faltered and fell and lay afraid. And lo! when hope had ceased to be, My God came down the stairs to me.From Christian Disciplines
I am so grateful my God came down the stairs to me!
I am so awed that I now can come into His presence with confidence!
I am so humbled that God would save a sinner such as me!
Craig T. Owens 