Just as I am without one plea

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ⁶“Speak to the children of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit in unfaithfulness against the Lord, and that person is guilty, ⁷then he shall confess the sin which he has committed. He shall make restitution for his trespass in full, plus one-fifth of it, and give it to the one he has wronged. ⁸But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest, in addition to the ram of the atonement with which atonement is made for him. ⁹Every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. ¹⁰And every man’s holy things shall be his; whatever any man gives the priest shall be his.’ ”” Numbers 5:5-10 NKJV

Father and Lord of all,

There is an old Scottish saying that confession is good for the soul. I suspect it came from reading scripture. Here at the beginning of their journey the children of Israel are told to confess. God, Yu know that living as a community in tents, travelling together and learning to trust and obey You would cause all sorts of unfaithfulness.

So many rules and laws. So You tell Your people at the outset, if You slip up come and confess and make restitution. That way the heart is cleansed from guilt, well being can be restored along with peace. Seems simple enough.

Why then do I sometimes hope no one finds out and it can go unnoticed. As a child I would often hope I would get away with things. Why is it so difficult sometimes and confess it was me. I said I would do that and forgot. I broke that, I didn’t mean to I am sorry. James suggests we confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). Sometimes it is good to be accountable to another person if we are struggling but how careful we need to be with whom we trust and still bring it all to You!

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). And sometimes we too can make restitution in some way. But it is You that takes away the guilt and restores peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 11th February 2026
The first time I heard this a young lady sung it unaccompanied in a meeting. And it brought silence a holy silence which I have never forgotten. Intimate and yet active.

Unsure of her relationship with Christ, Charlotte penned words of assurance about Jesus loving her “just as I am” and never looked back. William B Bradbury composed music for her lyrics and published the song in 1849. The hymn was translated into many languages, with tens of thousands of people committing their lives to Christ during the playing of it. Many at Billy Graham’s evangelistic rallies.

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.

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

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.

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.

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliott

“Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. ⁴Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. ⁵“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. ⁶For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” ⁷King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. ⁸Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring – for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” Esther 8:3-8 NIV

Lord God Almighty,

The king was in a hard place. His document sent by Haman and sealed with his royal ring could not be revoked. Yet he desperately needed to stop his wife and the man that had saved his life being put to death at his command! So he gave them permission to gather and to defend themselves. We may think it a terrible loss of life but we do not live in their kingdoms.

But even if we find the ending a little bloodthirsty for our liking. It does speak about making oaths and promises at another’s request without checking their motivation and consequences. Perhaps the king should not have been so rash in the first place to put a people to death? Perhaps we should be careful not to be motivated unknowingly by someone else’s selfish motivation. Give us eyes and ears to see what is really going on. Stand for the right. Revoke bad decisions when we are wrong and humbly change our behaviour. Can I admit it when I am wrong? Lord with Your help I pray so.

In Jess name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 3rd October 2025
No other way to come . . . even after many years of growing and knowing Jesus . . .

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

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!

Just as I am, (Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down);
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliot