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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Bring, Cling, and Sing

"...by clinging to Him" (Deut. 30:20).

The dryer sheets I recently bought promised on the box to control static cling.  Because when it comes to your clothes, cling is not a good thing.  But when it comes to your heart and God, it is!

"Cling" is an Old Testament word for love, obedience, and trust in God.  It means "to stick to."  See Psalm 22:15 and Proverbs 18:24.  "Cling" was a favorite word of Martin Luther.  And Katie, his wife, is believed to have said, "I will cling to Christ as a burr clings to a coat."

No better spiritual advice can be given than to:

Bring - Bring your sins to God.  Leave none of them behind.  Confess them.  They are what God wants from you most.

Cling - Cling to Christ and His word of forgiveness: "Take heart, child, your sins are forgiven" (Matt. 9:2).  Cling to Christ as a burr clings to a coat.

Sing - Sing for joy that God loves and forgives you!  Keep a joyful heart, thankful, and loving toward all.

I shared this message with my congregation on Sunday.  After service, a young lady put on the finishing touch.  "We should call this good kind of cling," she said, "'ecstatic cling.'"  Right on, Rachel!  You got it!