In loving-kindness Jesus came
My soul in mercy to reclaim,
And from the depths of sin and shame
Thro’ grace He lifted me.
He called me long before I heard,
Before my sinful heart was stirred,
But when I took Him at His word,
Forgiv’n, He lifted me.
His brow was pierced with many a thorn,
His hands by cruel nails were torn,
When from my guilt and grief forlorn,
In love He lifted me.
Now on a higher plane I dwell,
And with my soul I know ’tis well;
Yet how or why I cannot tell
He should have lifted me.
Chorus: From sinking sand He lifted me,
With tender hand He lifted me,
From shades of night to plains of light,
O praise His name, He lifted me.
Charles H. Gabriel, 1905
Read Titus 3:4-7
(He called me long before I heard. While the hymnwriter has the call to salvation in mind, I’m not so sure I’m much better at listening now. When I do finally hear, He lifts me up, yet again, and sets my feet in a broad place. Why? Loving-kindness. A deep love that shows us consideration and grace, that extends mercy, that doesn’t abandon us … O praise His name, He lifted me.)
Stay on the lifting theme: He Lifted Me