Come People of the Risen King (2)

Later this morning I shall go to church. I shall go to meet friends, to be encouraged in my faith, to seek inspiration for the coming week… but most of all I shall go to refocus on God. I shall seek to see Him more clearly, understand Him better, and respond to Him in praise. Without this God-focus, church is just a social club or a self-help group…

Come, people of the risen King,
Who delight to bring Him praise.
Come, all and tune your hearts to sing
To the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice, O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Stuart Townend, singing this song that he wrote with Keith and Kristyn Getty, points to God as king, light, father… and key aspects of his character – resurrection, grace, mercy, acceptance… He calls for a joyful response from all.

Come, those whose joy is morning sun
And those weeping through the night.
Come, those who tell of battles won,
And those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change,
And His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace.

It’s an invitation to all. It’s all-inclusive. The struggling, the sad, the fearful, the failures… all ages, conditions and backgrounds come together on an equal footing, united by God’s mercy and love, assured that together they will find hope and peace. Unity, diversity and inclusion together are often in short supply today… too often when aiming at one we lose sight of the others.

Come, young and old from every land,
Men and women of the faith.
Come, those with full or empty hands,
Find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing,
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age;
‘Our God is all in all’.

As we focus is on God, we lift our eyes beyond our own needs and problems. We unite with others in discovering, discerning and demonstrating His endless mercy, His transforming joy, His timeless truth, His inclusive love. I’m praying for a joyful God-centred celebration at church this morning.