01/.10/2024
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"10,000 Charms?"
A few Sundays ago, the echoes of "Come Ye Sinners" lingered in our hearts, carrying the assurance, "I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms; In the arms of my dear Savior, O there are ten thousand charms."
After the service, a thoughtful question arose: "What are these 10,000 charms of Jesus?" A question worth exploring.
Consider another melody we often sing, expressing "10,000 reasons for my heart to sing." It's a sentiment we embrace, celebrating countless reasons for gratitude and joy.
While "ten thousand charms" may not directly appear in the Bible, the Oxford English Dictionary defines "charm" as "any quality, attribute, trait, feature, etc., which exerts a fascinating or attractive influence, exciting love or admiration."
In the arms of Jesus, we discover an abundance of captivating qualities—love, grace, mercy, and unending compassion. Psalm 103:8 assures us, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."
During that same service, Pastor Joe, drawing from 2 Thessalonians 3:5, lovingly reminded us of some of these charms of Jesus—forgiveness, justification, sanctification, glorification, and reconciliation. As we explore these tangible expressions of the love Jesus extends to us, each represents a thread in the intricate tapestry of His arms.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:38-39, paints a vivid picture of the charms within the arms of our Savior: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
As we ponder the 10,000 charms of Jesus, may we find assurance and inspiration, inviting us to arise and find refuge in His embrace. And in 2 Thessalonians 3:5, we find encouragement: "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ."
