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Streams of Mercy


One of my favorite hymns was written all the way back in 1757 by a pastor named Robert Robinson. The song begins this way:

 

Come, thou fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing they grace.

Streams of mercy, never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise. 

 

It is a beautiful hymn, but I also love the story behind it, as its author was once confronted by the reality of his own words. Robinson wrote the song when he was only 22 years old. At that time he was considered be an up and coming member of the Baptist denomination, and was even commissioned to write their history (a book titled History of Baptism and Baptists). Unfortunately, like the song says, he was “prone to wander,” and prone to leave the God he loved. At a low point in his life he walked away from the church.

 

To try to fill the void in his life, Robinson began to travel extensively. On one of his journeys he shared a stagecoach with a lady who was humming his song Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. She caught his gaze and asked if he was familiar with the tune. Robinson answered, “Madam, I am the poor, unhappy man who wrote that hymn many years ago. I would give a thousand worlds, if I had them, to feel what I did back then.”

 

That lady may well have been an angel that God sent to hum that song at just the right time because she replied, “Sir, the streams of mercy are still flowing.” 

 

The Lord used that lady to gently remind His wayward son of the truth, and Robinson turned his life back around. He was once again fixed upon the mount of God’s redeeming love. For the second time in his life Robinson could sing, “How His kindness yet pursues me, mortal tongue can never tell.”

 

Maybe, like Robinson on that stagecoach, you are far from God. God pursues His prodigal children because of His love and grace. He will use things like a sermon or Scripture, a lady humming a song, or even a simple post like this to get your attention and remind you of His love. 

 

Isaiah 54:10 says, “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed,

but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” You may be prone to wander from Him, but God is even better at staying near by. 

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