"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 24 September 2016 “Just As I Am, Without One Plea” (ELW 592)

"The God Pause Daily Devotional" from The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Saturday, 24 September 2016 “Just As I Am, Without One Plea” (ELW 592)
-------

“Just As I Am, Without One Plea” (ELW 592)
1. Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd'st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
2. Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
3. Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come,
4. Just as I am; thy love unknown
has broken ev'ry barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
-------
This hymn reminds me of a conversation I had with a fellow pastor. He has cerebral palsy and was adopted as a baby. When he was explaining this as part of his call story he said it this way, "They looked at me and said, 'There's something wrong with this one, but we'll take him anyway.'"
This is exactly the feeling I get when I sing the lyrics to this song. Just as we are, though there is certainly something not quite perfect in all of us, God takes us in. Jesus died for us right where we are, without our having to convince him we were worthy. Because of this unfettered love that we receive from God, O lamb of God, we come, we come!
Lamb of God, you meet us right where we are in any and every season of our faith. Direct our feet toward your presence that we may always come to you. Amen.
Katie Emery, '12

Pastor, Hope American Lutheran Church, Fallon, Mont. and Community Presbyterian Church, Terry, Mont. 
-------