Australian Fan Encouraged by ApX Song
Fri., Mar. 17. 2017 12:30pm EDT
We got this great email from a fan in Australia on Thursday:Yesterday after I sent the email I just dropped our youngest off at work and pressed shuffle on iTunes on my phone for the trip home, and "God Knows You've Tried" on the Moose Tracks CD came on.
The Holy Spirit spoke to me through that song. Just thought I'd then read about that song in the song book. GREAT! Anytime somebody tells us that God has used one of our songs to encourage or edify them, we are deeply honored. That was song in particular that we hoped would do that, and that fan in Australia is not the first to cite that song as an encouragement. Praise the Lord!
For those of you who don't have the songbook, here's what ApologetiX lyricist J. Jackson wrote there regarding that particular song:I wrote this song for folks who fear they've failed the Father once (or many times) too often. Ever think you've pushed God's grace too far? That seems to be a common enough feeling among Christians.
Many years ago, I was struggling to overcome something and really felt like I was failing God. In despair I prayed, "God please remember all that I've tried to do for You and don't give up on me." I opened up my Bible without thinking, and my finger was on Hebrews 6:10: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." What an encouragement it was to read that!
Of course, we don't believe we're saved by our good works (Ephesians 2:8-10); however, those works are often a sign to the outside world that God has already saved us (James 2:18). Remember that "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6). Romans 7 is also very helpful at times like this, and don't forget to read the sequel, Romans 8!
Failure is not an option; it's something we all experience. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
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