That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?!
I hope you’ve been enjoying the first three of our eight Lenten/Easter weekly devotionals as much as I have!
The first, beginning the week of Ash Wednesday, was by Jay Y. Kim and is titled “The Cross is the Great Revealer”. It reflects upon the message of Isaac Watts’ 1707 hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, showing how Christ’s death on a cross teaches us what truly matters in life and sets us free from vain living (think Ecclesiastes).
- 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 to His blood.
The second devotional, “’Tis Mystery All!”, was by J. Todd Billings and reflects upon the message of Charles Wesley’s 1738 hymn “And Can It Be?” In connecting the incarnation of God the Son on Christmas to the cross on Good Friday, we are mystified at the lengths to which our God has gone to redeem us and bring us to Himself.
- 'Tis mystery all! Th' Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine! - 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
Amazing love! How can it be
That thou, my God, shouldst die for me?!
This week’s devotional, “Love Unswerving”, is by Fernando Ortega and reflects upon the message of Johann Heermann’s 1630 hymn “Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended?” The hymn helps us to take to heart that it was our sin that Jesus bore on the cross.
- Who was the guilty, who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
