On My Mind...
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
It is easy to sing those words without giving thought. They are familiar, comfortable and thus we wear them like a favorite shirt. But stop and think about it. Think about what we are saying. It is a dangerous thing to get comfortable with the holy. These words ought to cause us to tremble. They ought to bring a lump to our throat and cause tears to flow. We ought to be overwhelmed by such love. The Lord Jesus left the glory and splendor of heaven on a mission to redeem sinful, fallen, corrupt folks like you and me. The reason for his coming was to suffer and die in our place. To be our propitiation (a payment made to appease the wrath of God). Because of our sin, we are deserving of the full wrath of a holy God. But God made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God. He died so that we could live. Think of how that truth impacts how we sing these lyrics. “See, from his head, his hand, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?”
If you consider what he has done, no sacrifice is too great. No act of devotion is enough. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” This is Passion Week. A week for reflection and careful thought. I encourage you to take time this week and read through the Gospel accounts of that last week. Behold the joy of Palm Sunday with his entrance into the Holy City. Note the power and authority of his voice as he taught in the temple, rebuked the religious establishment and pronounced judgement. Witness the betrayal of that black-hearted disciple; the tender, compassion of the Savior in the upper room at the Passover meal and the loneliness of the Garden of Gethsemane. Follow along through the trial and the terror of the cross. See his lifeless body placed in that borrowed tomb. Drink it in. Contemplate it. But don’t end there. Walk along that garden path on that early Sunday morning and hear those triumphant words, “He is not here. He has risen, as He said!”
Every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection, but this week is special. I hope that you join us Friday evening at 7:00 pm for our Good Friday Service and then again on Sunday morning for our Resurrection Celebration.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Rod
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.
See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
It is easy to sing those words without giving thought. They are familiar, comfortable and thus we wear them like a favorite shirt. But stop and think about it. Think about what we are saying. It is a dangerous thing to get comfortable with the holy. These words ought to cause us to tremble. They ought to bring a lump to our throat and cause tears to flow. We ought to be overwhelmed by such love. The Lord Jesus left the glory and splendor of heaven on a mission to redeem sinful, fallen, corrupt folks like you and me. The reason for his coming was to suffer and die in our place. To be our propitiation (a payment made to appease the wrath of God). Because of our sin, we are deserving of the full wrath of a holy God. But God made him, who knew no sin, to be sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God. He died so that we could live. Think of how that truth impacts how we sing these lyrics. “See, from his head, his hand, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?”
If you consider what he has done, no sacrifice is too great. No act of devotion is enough. “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” This is Passion Week. A week for reflection and careful thought. I encourage you to take time this week and read through the Gospel accounts of that last week. Behold the joy of Palm Sunday with his entrance into the Holy City. Note the power and authority of his voice as he taught in the temple, rebuked the religious establishment and pronounced judgement. Witness the betrayal of that black-hearted disciple; the tender, compassion of the Savior in the upper room at the Passover meal and the loneliness of the Garden of Gethsemane. Follow along through the trial and the terror of the cross. See his lifeless body placed in that borrowed tomb. Drink it in. Contemplate it. But don’t end there. Walk along that garden path on that early Sunday morning and hear those triumphant words, “He is not here. He has risen, as He said!”
Every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection, but this week is special. I hope that you join us Friday evening at 7:00 pm for our Good Friday Service and then again on Sunday morning for our Resurrection Celebration.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Rod