Reader Writes - April 2021

The Divine Rescue

Shame on shame is the Devil’s work. He trips us up and takes us down

The gliding serpent took our wills and turned us from our Lord and Maker

Sent from paradise, condemned to pain, no longer Eden’s kings and queens

Pontius Pilate traded us, but our God had an endless plan to rescue us

Even on Babel’s blackened plain confusion was sent to restrain us

God’s dark tide raised the ancient ark, life pattern, saved seeds, for our future

The Red Sea shuddered dry, and gulped and sighed, swallowed the enslaving foe

All this, but still destined for trouble, man addicted to his tyrant will

Painfully divided from our Maker and Lord, insatiable greed and disregard

But God had this plan, his love for his creature made him come to us

He came as a man, flesh and blood, wisps of straw, sudden flight, refugee

His Father had a mission, and the Son knew its progress, foretold by the prophets

Baptised by John, dove descending, Holy Spirit dwelling, “This is my Son!” the Christ

He, Judas, took the hands that healed the blind, and kissed the man of peace

He, Peter, bravado fled hiding his head, protested him and denied him thrice

The cock crowed for the end of the world, the die was cast and the weeping begun

The elders conspired, they knew their work; save the temple, Pilate will know

The Son of God, on a Roman cross impaled, in darkness “It is finished” he cried

The priceless ransom was paid in blood, the redeemer of mankind had come

The temple came down, the priesthood was gone, dividing curtain rent in two

“Surely that was the Son of God” said the soldier standing beneath the cross

Taken down, dead and buried, sealed, he rose again, alive after death

The angels told Mary in the cool empty tomb, “He is risen, He is not here.”

Go out into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation

God in Christ reconciled the world to himself; he repaired the deep divide

He no longer counted our wrongs against him, for the terrible debt was paid

We come with no sacrifice but a believing heart, and receive life in his name

Sola scriptura, Sola fide, Solus Christus

Scripture is sufficient for us to receive you; Thank you Lord

Faith with an open hand is the only gift we bring you; Thank you Lord

Christ alone, our Rock and our Redeemer; Thank you Lord, Amen

Robert MacCurrach