Jesus Only, Be My Portion

Michael E. Wood

February 20, 2014

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was brutish and ignorant;
I was like a beast toward you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Psalm 73:23-26

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.   Ezekiel 11:19-20

Thankfully God does not save us through the sacrifice of Christ and then leave us to our own devices. He has given to us a new heart by the work of His Spirit and leads us into all truth as revealed through the scriptures. A part of the truth that He teaches us is that though our objective position before Him is secure in Christ, the struggle with remaining sin is a reality we must take responsibility for. We are freely given all things that pertain to life and godliness both for our own personal sanctification and for the furtherance of His kingdom.

Not the heart that You have given

But the flesh that yet remains

Gives me fits and blinds my vision

To the truth that Jesus reigns.

Help me walk then circumspectly

With discernment knowing then

You uphold me by the power

Of Your loving own right hand.

Jesus only, be my portion

Who sustains with confidence

To draw near You, God our Father

And to rest in His defense.

For all judgment You committed

Unto Him, who is my peace

And gives guidance by the Spirit

That Your kingdom may increase.

So with joy we sing Your praises

As we sojourn in the way

Which is best and to You pleasing

Till with You at end of day.

Eye to Eye

Michael E. Wood

January 21, 2014

  For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.  Romans 2:28-29

As the great apostle Paul was carried along by the Spirit to pen these words, a number of principles were set forth. It is not enough to say a prayer, profess Christianity and live according to the dictates of scripture in an outward display for the praise of men: i.e., baptism, church membership, attendance, etc. There must be the work of the Spirit, translating us out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s dear Son. Not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy, He has saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, to the praise of His glory!

Because of the redemption that is found through the sacrifice of Christ alone we are made to be the children of God, and though it does not yet appear what we shall be, we know that when we see Him; that is Jesus, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Thus we give up ourselves in total dependence upon God’s free grace to empower us to continue in the work of sanctification that we might hear from Him, “Well done, though good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!”

Oh to hear, “Well done” from You

That day you bring all things to view,

As by Your Spirit, made anew

We bow in awe and reverence to

The One through whom You did supply

The energy to thus rely

On all He is to draw us nigh,

Till then we see Him, eye to eye.