My mouth is filled with Your praise and with Your glory all day long. Psalm 71:8
What a wonderful closing verse for such a thoughtful and reflective hymn. Oh, that we would spend all our days in praise of Him! May we, with the Psalmist, declare His righteousness and His praise all day long. (Psalm 35:28)
Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Psalm 145:2
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.
Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
In Life, No House, No Home
I don't think that many of us ever stop to consider what Jesus' life was like when He lived here on earth. We have the accounts in the gospels, but the day-to-day details are not what you would expect for the King of the Universe. Of course, He was born in a stable to start things off! It's not clear where He lived and He Himself even said He had nowhere to lay His head.
Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
Matthew 8:20
But Jesus wasn't concerned with material things, like we are today. In fact, He made the statement above when He was trying to explain what it would take to follow Him. Even back in that day, people were reluctant to give up what they had. So Jesus is born in a stable, had nowhere to lay His head, then hung on a cross to pay for our sins and was buried in a borrowed tomb!
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38-42
We know the rest of the story. Death could not hold Him and He rose again to life! Heaven was His home, and He returned there to His Father.
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." Acts 9:1-11
I love the contemplation in this hymn. As you read these verses from the prophet Isaiah, meditate on this beautiful line: "What may I say? Heav’n was His home; But mine the tomb wherein He lay."
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.
By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. Isaiah 53:2-10
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will haveMy dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.
Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
Matthew 8:20
But Jesus wasn't concerned with material things, like we are today. In fact, He made the statement above when He was trying to explain what it would take to follow Him. Even back in that day, people were reluctant to give up what they had. So Jesus is born in a stable, had nowhere to lay His head, then hung on a cross to pay for our sins and was buried in a borrowed tomb!
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body. Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38-42
We know the rest of the story. Death could not hold Him and He rose again to life! Heaven was His home, and He returned there to His Father.
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." Acts 9:1-11
I love the contemplation in this hymn. As you read these verses from the prophet Isaiah, meditate on this beautiful line: "What may I say? Heav’n was His home; But mine the tomb wherein He lay."
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.
By oppression and judgment He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. Isaiah 53:2-10
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will haveMy dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.
Friday, April 16, 2010
They Rise and Needs Will Have
I am so thankful that Jesus went cheerfully into His suffering; He obediently went to the cross to pay for my sins. Jesus knew what His death would mean for us - that we would be set free from our lives of sin. And He knew what was before Him and how He would suffer. He prayed to the Father, asking that He would be delivered, but praying according to God's will.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39
God's will was for Jesus to go to the cross to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus humbled Himself in obedience.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8
Our freedom was bought through His death. We were Christ's foes, as this hymn says. Paul tells the church of Ephesus the same thing -
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
Even so, while we were His enemies, Christ went to the cross to free us from our life of sin and death.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Hebrews 2:14-15
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your humble obedience! Thank You that even though I was your enemy, You went to the cross and paid the price for my salvation and freedom.
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." Matthew 26:39
God's will was for Jesus to go to the cross to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus humbled Himself in obedience.
Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8
Our freedom was bought through His death. We were Christ's foes, as this hymn says. Paul tells the church of Ephesus the same thing -
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
Even so, while we were His enemies, Christ went to the cross to free us from our life of sin and death.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2
Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Hebrews 2:14-15
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your humble obedience! Thank You that even though I was your enemy, You went to the cross and paid the price for my salvation and freedom.
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Why, What Hath My Lord Done?
What did cause these people who shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday to turn against the King? What did He do that caused them to react so? We know from the Gospel accounts what His earthly ministry was like; in a word, miraculous! The sick became well and the blind could see. The deaf were made to hear and sins were forgiven!
And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31
They glorified the God of Israel - they praised God who sent Jesus to earth when they saw His miraculous work in their midst!
It reminds me of what was prophesied in Isaiah:
On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, and the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 29:18-19
People will be healed, and they will glorify God. Maybe you haven't been healed from a physical ailment like blindness or deafness, but if you have made the decision to follow Jesus Christ and have asked for His forgiveness, you have been healed from sin!
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. I Peter 2:24
Let's glorify God today for His healing power in our lives. Let's be like the blind man and all the crowd in giving glory to God for His power and might.
As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"
And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."
Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. Luke 18:35-43
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet; and He healed them. So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31
They glorified the God of Israel - they praised God who sent Jesus to earth when they saw His miraculous work in their midst!
It reminds me of what was prophesied in Isaiah:
On that day the deaf will hear words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see. The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the LORD, and the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 29:18-19
People will be healed, and they will glorify God. Maybe you haven't been healed from a physical ailment like blindness or deafness, but if you have made the decision to follow Jesus Christ and have asked for His forgiveness, you have been healed from sin!
He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. I Peter 2:24
Let's glorify God today for His healing power in our lives. Let's be like the blind man and all the crowd in giving glory to God for His power and might.
As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And he said, "Lord, I want to regain my sight!"
And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."
Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God. Luke 18:35-43
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Sometimes they Strew His Way
When we think about the week leading up to Easter, the change in the people of Jerusalem is so stunning. On Sunday, they were singing "Hosanna!", and by Friday they were shouting "Crucify!"
Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna!BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 11:9-10
And a few short days later:
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify Him!" But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!" Mark 14:11-14
The same people who had welcomed Jesus as their King now called for Him to be hung on a cross and crucified.
Are we guilty of the same thing? Do we praise God when the crowd does, and go along with the same crowd when they sin and act in ways that are contrary to His will and command for us? Do we take for granted what Jesus did to purchase salvation for us?
It was my sin that sent Jesus to the cross. I don't ever want to forget that, and I want to live a life that reflects His love and God's powerful resurrection.
Today, I want to shout my praise and adoration to my King, the One who saved me by His death. I want to live in the freedom that He bought for me. I am not enslaved by sin and I choose to live righteously!
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: "Hosanna!BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!" Mark 11:9-10
And a few short days later:
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. Answering again, Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?" They shouted back, "Crucify Him!" But Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify Him!" Mark 14:11-14
The same people who had welcomed Jesus as their King now called for Him to be hung on a cross and crucified.
Are we guilty of the same thing? Do we praise God when the crowd does, and go along with the same crowd when they sin and act in ways that are contrary to His will and command for us? Do we take for granted what Jesus did to purchase salvation for us?
It was my sin that sent Jesus to the cross. I don't ever want to forget that, and I want to live a life that reflects His love and God's powerful resurrection.
Today, I want to shout my praise and adoration to my King, the One who saved me by His death. I want to live in the freedom that He bought for me. I am not enslaved by sin and I choose to live righteously!
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
He Came from His Blest Throne
Have you ever thought about God's redemptive plan in terms of His choice to live among us? God, the creator of the Universe, wants to be with His people. In the time of Moses, He met them in the tabernacle and He was a cloud by day and a fire by night. All throughout the Old Testament we see God calling His people to be holy as He is holy and to live according to the plan He has for them. And all throughout these stories, we see sinful people who might get it right for a short time and then continue to turn away from God and His plan.
I've just finished reading through Jeremiah and I know why he is called the weeping prophet. It's truly heartbreaking to see how God's people forsook Him and chose their own way, and the consequences that resulted. And I think of our nation today.
How we need Him! How we need His presence in our every day lives, guiding our decisions and attitudes and thoughts. He desires to be among us, to make His home in our hearts. He sent His Son to live among the people of the Earth, and then sent Him to the cross to die for our sins. Jesus' death was the ultimate bridge to God; the only way to save us from His wrath and reconcile us to our Heavenly Father.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.
Colossians 1:21-22
He left His Father's throne above in order to die a criminal's death on the cross. Because of MY need, He spent His life. He is my friend indeed.
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
I've just finished reading through Jeremiah and I know why he is called the weeping prophet. It's truly heartbreaking to see how God's people forsook Him and chose their own way, and the consequences that resulted. And I think of our nation today.
How we need Him! How we need His presence in our every day lives, guiding our decisions and attitudes and thoughts. He desires to be among us, to make His home in our hearts. He sent His Son to live among the people of the Earth, and then sent Him to the cross to die for our sins. Jesus' death was the ultimate bridge to God; the only way to save us from His wrath and reconcile us to our Heavenly Father.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.
Colossians 1:21-22
He left His Father's throne above in order to die a criminal's death on the cross. Because of MY need, He spent His life. He is my friend indeed.
My Song is Love Unknown
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Monday, April 12, 2010
My Song is Love Unknown
This is a beautiful hymn for meditating on after Easter week. Truly, God's love for us is like nothing we've ever experienced, or will experience here on this Earth. Over the next many days, we'll look at each verse of this hymn as we contemplate our Father's love for us.
There is no love like the Savior's love to us, shown to us in His death on the cross.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
He showed love to the loveless.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Even when we didn't love Him, He loved us.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10
He loved us and saved us that we might become lovely, having the beauty of a clean heart.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:6-9
Who am I?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
Who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. I Peter 3:18
Jesus, we thank You that You humbled Yourself and obediently went to the cross. Father, I thank You for Your love that sent Your Son to die on my behalf that I might be free from sin and reconciled to You. The love that You show me is truly unknown and I give You all the glory today for Your redemption plan that has saved a sinner like me. Amen.
My Song is Love Unknown
Words by Samuel Crossman
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.
Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
There is no love like the Savior's love to us, shown to us in His death on the cross.
Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
He showed love to the loveless.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Even when we didn't love Him, He loved us.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10
He loved us and saved us that we might become lovely, having the beauty of a clean heart.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:6-9
Who am I?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
Who am I that for my sake my Lord should take frail flesh and die?
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. I Peter 3:18
Jesus, we thank You that You humbled Yourself and obediently went to the cross. Father, I thank You for Your love that sent Your Son to die on my behalf that I might be free from sin and reconciled to You. The love that You show me is truly unknown and I give You all the glory today for Your redemption plan that has saved a sinner like me. Amen.
My Song is Love Unknown
Words by Samuel Crossman
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
In life, no house, no home
My Lord on earth might have;
In death no friendly tomb
But what a stranger gave.
What may I say? Heav’n was His home;
But mine the tomb wherein He lay.
Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Conqueror
"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:55-57
Happy Easter! I love celebrating Christ's triumphant day of victory over the tomb! Of course, for Christians, every day is Easter for us as Jesus is alive and His Holy Spirit dwells in us. But there's something special about Easter Sunday and rejoicing with other believers that Christ is our Conqueror!
But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2:24
The wards of death who guarded the grave where Jesus lay were powerless to keep Him in, and the angel of the Lord would roll away the stone to prove that Jesus was not there anymore!
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. Matthew 28:1-4
When the Marys came to anoint Jesus' body, they were greeted by the angel. Can you imagine? Mourning the loss of your friend and Savior, and then arriving at His burial place to find out He's not there?
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
Matthew 18:5-8
Great joy! Jesus, their King, had conquered death and triumphed over His crucifixion on Calvary. Truly, this is the Son of God. Truly, He is worthy of our worship and praise.
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Matthew 18:9
Jesus the Risen King is now alive forevermore!
I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17-18
The Conqueror
Words by Salathial C. Kirk
O Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Thy triumphant day is come!
Day of glorious victory,
Over the boasting tomb!
All the shame and agony
Of the cruel cross He bore;
Died the Man of Galilee,
But rose the Conqueror!
Refrain
O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, thy victory?
The risen Lord, the Savior-King,
Has conquered death for me.
All in vain the wards of death
Guard the stony tenement;
But a whisper, yea, a breath,
Lo! its bars are rent!
Where is now the taunting reed,
And the crown of thorns He wore?
Ye have made a King, indeed,
And crowned a Conqueror!
O the glorious victory!
Jesus slain awakes again,
Triumphs over Calvary,
And the wiles of men!
Jesus now the risen King
Is alive forevermore!
Earth and Heaven tribute sing—
And hail Him Conqueror!
Happy Easter! I love celebrating Christ's triumphant day of victory over the tomb! Of course, for Christians, every day is Easter for us as Jesus is alive and His Holy Spirit dwells in us. But there's something special about Easter Sunday and rejoicing with other believers that Christ is our Conqueror!
But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2:24
The wards of death who guarded the grave where Jesus lay were powerless to keep Him in, and the angel of the Lord would roll away the stone to prove that Jesus was not there anymore!
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. Matthew 28:1-4
When the Marys came to anoint Jesus' body, they were greeted by the angel. Can you imagine? Mourning the loss of your friend and Savior, and then arriving at His burial place to find out He's not there?
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
Matthew 18:5-8
Great joy! Jesus, their King, had conquered death and triumphed over His crucifixion on Calvary. Truly, this is the Son of God. Truly, He is worthy of our worship and praise.
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Matthew 18:9
Jesus the Risen King is now alive forevermore!
I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Revelation 1:17-18
The Conqueror
Words by Salathial C. Kirk
O Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Thy triumphant day is come!
Day of glorious victory,
Over the boasting tomb!
All the shame and agony
Of the cruel cross He bore;
Died the Man of Galilee,
But rose the Conqueror!
Refrain
O death, where is thy sting?
O grave, thy victory?
The risen Lord, the Savior-King,
Has conquered death for me.
All in vain the wards of death
Guard the stony tenement;
But a whisper, yea, a breath,
Lo! its bars are rent!
Where is now the taunting reed,
And the crown of thorns He wore?
Ye have made a King, indeed,
And crowned a Conqueror!
O the glorious victory!
Jesus slain awakes again,
Triumphs over Calvary,
And the wiles of men!
Jesus now the risen King
Is alive forevermore!
Earth and Heaven tribute sing—
And hail Him Conqueror!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 40
Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.' Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how." And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. Matthew 27:62-66
Dear Lord,
I have to admit I suppress a chuckle when I read these verses, because those of us who know Your story know what was going to happen next. A grave and a stone could not contain You! God, I give You all the praise and glory for in Your resurrection power, You brought Jesus to life again! As we look forward to our celebration tomorrow, I thank You that You, our glorious King lives again, that death could not contain You and that You were triumphant over the bonds of death. I thank You that because of Your death and resurrection, Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King!
In Your Powerful Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord,
I have to admit I suppress a chuckle when I read these verses, because those of us who know Your story know what was going to happen next. A grave and a stone could not contain You! God, I give You all the praise and glory for in Your resurrection power, You brought Jesus to life again! As we look forward to our celebration tomorrow, I thank You that You, our glorious King lives again, that death could not contain You and that You were triumphant over the bonds of death. I thank You that because of Your death and resurrection, Satan is vanquished and Jesus is King!
In Your Powerful Name,
Amen.
Friday, April 2, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 39
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, "This man is calling for Elijah." Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, "Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him." And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" Matthew 27:45-54
Dear God,
As I think about the events of this day, I am so thankful. It was a day of pain, agony, and confusion. But it was a day of victory, as Jesus accomplished what You put Him on earth to do. I thank You for sending Him here to die for my sins and I give You praise, Jesus, for humbly obeying Your Father even to death on a cross.
I can't imagine what it would have been like to be there that day; to feel the earth shake and see the rocks split, and to see dead people come to life again! But I know that I am blessed that Jesus' work on the cross reconciled me to You, God; the veil of the temple was torn in two and now I can go directly to You.
Help me to never take for granted the events of this day. And may every day that I live bring glory to You for what You have done for me.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear God,
As I think about the events of this day, I am so thankful. It was a day of pain, agony, and confusion. But it was a day of victory, as Jesus accomplished what You put Him on earth to do. I thank You for sending Him here to die for my sins and I give You praise, Jesus, for humbly obeying Your Father even to death on a cross.
I can't imagine what it would have been like to be there that day; to feel the earth shake and see the rocks split, and to see dead people come to life again! But I know that I am blessed that Jesus' work on the cross reconciled me to You, God; the veil of the temple was torn in two and now I can go directly to You.
Help me to never take for granted the events of this day. And may every day that I live bring glory to You for what You have done for me.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
40 Days of Prayer: Day 38
So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." John 13:12-17
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank You for Your example of service. I pray that I would be humble and selfless in my attitudes and actions toward others, just as You were, and just as You instruct us by Your example and through Your words. Even though I do not literally wash the feet of those around me, I pray that I would act in a like way, serving others and thinking of the interests of others before my own. Lord, give me the strength and grace to minister to others that Your love may be shown through me.
In Your Name,
Amen.
Dear Lord Jesus,
I thank You for Your example of service. I pray that I would be humble and selfless in my attitudes and actions toward others, just as You were, and just as You instruct us by Your example and through Your words. Even though I do not literally wash the feet of those around me, I pray that I would act in a like way, serving others and thinking of the interests of others before my own. Lord, give me the strength and grace to minister to others that Your love may be shown through me.
In Your Name,
Amen.
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