These posts focus our hearts and minds on the One who is worthy

Chorus:
Wonderful, wonderful Jesus,
In the heart He implanteth a song:
A song of deliv’rance, of courage, of strength;
In the heart He implanteth a song.

There is never a day so dreary,
There is never a night so long,
But the soul that is trusting Jesus
Will somewhere find a song.

There is never a cross so heavy,
There is never a weight of woe,
But that Jesus will help to carry
Because He loveth so. [Chorus]

There is never a care or burden,
There is never a grief or loss,
But that Jesus in love will lighten
When carried to the cross. [Chorus]

There is never a guilty sinner,
There is never a wand’ring one,
But that God can in mercy pardon
Through Jesus Christ, His Son. [Chorus]

Anna B. Russell, 1921
Read Psalm 96:1-6

“Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus” reminds us of the key ways Jesus comes alongside us and the peace that results. He shoulders our burdens when our strength fails. He offers forgiveness and restoration when we stray. He offers comfort when we are grieved. It is an affirmation that salvation is not just an event but the beginning of a relationship. May we treasure it!

How beauteous were the marks divine
That in Thy meekness used to shine
That lit Thy lonely pathway, trod
In wondrous love, O Son of God.

O who like Thee, so calm, so bright,
Thou Son of man, Thou Light of Light;
O who like Thee did ever go
So patient through a world of woe?

O who like Thee so humbly bore
The scorn, the scoffs of men before?
So meek, forgiving, Godlike, high,
So glorious in humility!

And all Thy life’s unchanging years,
A man of sorrows and of tears,
The cross, where all our sins were laid,
Upon Thy bending shoulders weighed.

And death, that sets the prisoner free,
Was pang and scoff and scorn to Thee;
Yet love through all Thy torture glowed,
And mercy with Thy life-blood flowed.

O in Thy light be mine to go,
Illuming all this way of woe;
And give me ever on the road
To trace Thy footsteps, Son of God!

A. Cleveland Coxe, 1840
Read 1 Peter 2:20-25

At first glance, the word “beauteous” would seem to be the last adjective we’d think of when describing nail prints Christ suffered at His crucifixion. But if you look at them as marks of redemption, marks that are the evidence of Christ’s great love for us, then it proves much more fitting. Beyond that, the marks attest to the grace that transforms and heals all who come to Jesus. Use this hymn as an opportunity to consider Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf. How can we respond with less than love, faith, and devotion to our Savior?

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power, and Thine alone
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.[Chorus]

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim;
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.[Chorus]

And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat.[Chorus]

Chorus:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Elvina M. Hall, 1865
Read Hebrews 9:11-15

“Jesus Paid It All” is sometimes used as an invitation hymn. For those of us who have already trusted in Christ, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on what Christ has done for us. It’s straightforward and compact, but don’t be deceived. It is theologically profound. Take a few moments now and reflect on its truths, especially as we approach Easter.

There’s a Stranger at the door, Let Him in;
He has been there oft before, Let Him in;
Let Him in, ere He is gone,
Let Him in the Holy One,
Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, Let Him in;

Open now to Him your heart, Let Him in;
If you wait He will depart, Let Him in;
Let Him in, He is your friend,
He your soul will sure defend,
He will keep you to the end, Let Him in.

Hear you now His loving voice? Let Him in;
Now, oh, now make Him your choice, Let Him in;
he is standing at your door,
Joy to you He will restore,
And His name you will adore, Let Him in.

Now admit the heav’nly Guest, Let Him in;
He will make for you a feast, Let Him in;
He will speak your sins forgiv’n,
And when earth ties all are riv’n
He will take you home to heav’n, Let Him in.

J. B. Atchinson, 1885
Read Revelation 3:14-22

Our culture has much in common with the culture of the Laodiceans. But Jesus is still savings those who will surrender to Him. For believers, we can’t be discouraged by the hostility and opposition we face. The gospel still needs to go out. There are still souls to be saved. Let’s do all we can to encourage people to open the door and “Let Him In.”

One thing I of the Lord desire,
For all my path hath miry been,
Be it by water or by fire,
O make me clean, O make me clean.

If clearer vision Thou impart,
Grateful and glad my soul shall be;
But yet to have a purer heart
Is more to me, Is more to me. [Refrain]

Yea, only as this heart is clean
May larger vision yet be mine,
For mirrored in its depths are seen
The things divine, the things divine. [Refrain]

I watch to shun the miry way,
And stanch the springs of guilty thought;
But, watch and struggle as I may,
Pure I am not, Pure I am not. [Refrain]

Refrain:
So wash me, Thou, without, within,
Or purge with fire, if that must be,
No matter how, if only sin
Die out in me, die out in me.

Walter C. Smith, 1878
Read James 4:7-12

The pursuit of a clean heart is not a passive undertaking. We are called to action. The active pursuit of holiness is difficult, especially in a culture where we don’t want to make waves or seem intolerant or unloving. But we cannot be obedient to Christ and follow Him genuinely without committing to a different standard. May we adopt the prayer of this hymn, that our lives reflect the purity and humility that come from walking in obedience to our Lord.

Cast thy burden on the Lord,
Only lean upon his word;
Thou wilt soon have cause to bless
His eternal faithfulness.

He sustains thee by his hand,
He enables thee to stand;
Those whom Jesus once hath loved
From his grace are never moved.

Human counsels come to naught;
That shall stand which God hath wrought;
His compassion love, and pow’r
Are the same for evermore.

Heav’n and earth may pass away,
God’s free grace shall not decay;
He hath promised to fulfil
All the pleasure of his will.

Jesus, Guardian of thy flock,
Be thyself our constant rock;
Make us, by thy pow’rful hand,
Strong as Zion’s mountain stand.

John Cennick, 1743
Read Psalm 4:1-8

How we need to be reminded to cast our burdens on the Lord. We tend to carry and keep them, living with the anxiety and unrest. That’s unfortunate. Do we think we can carry them more effectively? I think it’s more likely we are prideful and would rather buckle under the load than admit it is too much. He has promised to sustain us, and He never goes back on His promises.