This morning in church we had some incredible singing! Song after song just blew me away! Of course I knew almost all of them and had read the lyrics and sung the tunes before. But this morning was AWEsome. I was truly in a state of awe because of how great and wonderful our God is. The song we finished with was “Nothing But the Blood”. It was a mix of the old hymn and some newer lyrics. I want to share the first two newer verses with you:
“Your blood speaks a better word, than all the empty claims
I’ve hear upon this earth, speaks righteoushness for me,
And stands in my defense, Jesus it’s Your blood.
Your cross testifies in grace, tells of the Father’s heart
To make a way for us, now boldly we approach
Not by earthly confidence, it’s only by Your blood.”
There is so much wrapped up in these words. The very fact that God loved us so much that he sent Jesus, his son, to die is incredible. Think about it. Imagine you have a son. You love him more than words can even begin to describe. He is like a part of you. Would you be able to willingly offer that child up to be killed? Is there anyone or anything you love enough to do such a thing? A lot of times I think we gloss over the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God gave his son, not for just the people who “deserved it” or for Joe Christian who thinks he’s got it going on. God gave his son for WHOEVER believed. It is hard for us to give up anything at all, let alone a child, just for whoever is out there. How great is God’s love! It has opened up to us the throne room of heaven.
I am reminded of another one of my favorite hymns – And Can It Be. The fifth verse reads as follows,
“No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
Alive in him, my living head,
And dressed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown through Christ my own.”
I would encourage you to dwell on God’s never-ending love! Not only will it blow you away, but it will also challenge you. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” We have a lot to live up to. And how better to learn how to love than from him whose love is the greatest?