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What’s Your View of the Cross? Despised or Cherished

Despised by the World

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

The Old Rugged Cross (1913)
By: George Bennard 1873 – 1958

Listen to this simple piano version as you read. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We begin our journey toward Easter this week as we ponder the cross.  In the first half of this stanza, we will bring our hearts up the hill of Calvary and down to the foot of the cross.  This torture device represents something to cherish for those who see it for what it truly is.   Let’s tune our hearts.

Despised by the Perishing

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,

It is hard for us to imagine why the world would despise the cross. What did Jesus do to deserve this rejection? Nothing. Quite the contrary. What He did should have made Him esteemed and adored.  So what’s deal?

Without a willingness to embrace what the Holy Spirit reveals about Jesus, the carnal mind can not see the beauty of the cross.  It simply sees a misunderstood teacher, a mad man, a would be prophet.  Oh, how wrong is that estimation.  Yet it is exactly what Isaiah prophesied would happen centuries before the Messiah came.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3 ESV

The cross is despised by association. Jesus was despised as the Scripture clearly shows, and because the cross is the symbol of Christ’s sacrifice, the cross is despised.  Man of sorrows indeed.

Another hymn writer spoke of His sorrows like this.

“Man of Sorrows!” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

And so we lend our voices to the glorious refrain, “Hallelujah!  What a Savior!” It is that saving work that empowers our praise. Beefore we explore that though, take a few moments and ponder the rejection Jesus endured for you.

Consider how well-acquainted with grief He was.  How He should have been esteemed but instead was despised.  After you have thought about that for a few moments, thank Jesus for embracing the sorrow for you.

Wondrous Attraction

Cherished by the Saved

Though the world, those who are perishing my view the cross with disdain, nothing could be further from the truth for those are being saved.  The cross is beautiful to us.  It has an incredible allure.

Has a wondrous attraction for me;

The difference in these two perspectives is not only a matter of life and death, but is driven by that very reality.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

To the world, the cross is a symbol of death, and so that is all the more is can be to them. To them the cross is death, and even foolishness for they see the One who claimed to be the Son of God die there, and it make no sense to them.

To those who are being saved, the cross is a symbol of life, and so it changes everything to them. To them the cross is life, for it demonstrates the very power of God to satisfy His wrath in the sacrifice of His Son, and it fills their hearts with worship.

So what does the cross symbolize to you? Death or life? Draw near by His grace and bless the name of Jesus, the One who bids you to come and die and find that you may truly live.  Then give Him praise for His Wonderful Cross.

Jesus, thank You for enduring the sorrow of the cross and transforming a symbol of death into one of life.  Thank You for going me eyes of faith to see it as such.  Empower me to help others see it that way too.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Wondrous Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 15.2 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

The Romans used crucifixion not only for capital punishment but as a torture and humiliation device.  It was certainly despised then. But because it serves as a symbol of self denial and sacrifice it continues to be despised today by some. How do you view the cross?

Though the world despises the cross, those who have found redemption and reconciliation at the foot of it are attracted to it and it’s wondrous demonstration of love.  Ask God to speak that wondrous attraction into your soul right now.

So far did Jesus condescend not only to become one of us, but to become sin for us on the cross, it certainly defies comprehension apart from the work of the Spirit in our lives.  Thank the Lamb of God right now for leaving His glory above to do the will of His Father.

Jesus cried out from the cross because He felt the Father turn his face away from Him as He took the sin of the world upon His shoulders. Calvary was dark because Jesus bore the weight of the cross and all our sin that we may be welcomed into the light. Praise His name!

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post What’s Your View of the Cross? Despised or Cherished appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Despised by the World –  https://pixabay.com/photos/cemetery-black-death-halloween-1215012/
Wondrous Attraction – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/cross-faith-was-christian-4885491/

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Loving and Living Under the Cross

Dearest and Best

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

The Old Rugged Cross (1913)
By: George Bennard 1873 – 1958

Listen to this simple piano version as you read. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library? Click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We began our journey toward Easter this week as we ponder the cross. In the first half of this stanza, we remembered the suffering and shame Jesus endured on the cross and our response.  In this second half, we remember what Jesus accomplished on that cross and for whom.  Let’s think about this.

We Love the Cross

We left off Tuesday with the words that remind us of the suffering and shame the cross is designed to induce. And induce it does.  It is a very effective means of capital punishment, inflicting excruciating pain on the subject until their breathing becomes gradually more labored until they can breath no more.

But we love the cross. What’s up with that!?!

For those of who realize what Jesus did for us there, the cross becomes a symbol not of suffering and shame, but of sacrifice and obedience. Jesus, the Dearest and Best, willingly went to that cross to fulfill the wrath of God according to the will of God.

And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best

The Darling of Heaven, as another songwriter described Him, left the glory of God where He had existed eternally to suffer the humiliating death of the cross.

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 ESV

RESONATE!
Take a few moments to ponder who He is, who He has been eternally.  Set that next to what He endured, and the reality that He was the only one ever born who did not deserve to endure the penalty of sin.  Allow your heart to soak in the wonder of these two truths.

For a World of Lost Sinners

But So Should the World

Of course, we love the cross because we know who it represents. But much of the world does not. This is sad.

Think about that. People see the cross. Many wear it. But most truly do not realize what really happened there.

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

This is why Jesus commissioned us to make disciples.  We need to let the world know that though our sin has separated us from God, the cross has reunited to Him all who believe.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

I have a friend who sends me a message most every morning reminding me to spread God’s love with at least one person that day.  It is a simple reminder of a practice that should be a part of my life every day, but sadly isn’t always. But how do we change that.

I think the answer is in how we feel about the cross.  If we truly cherish it, clinging to it because it is so precious to us, we will be more likely to tell others about it.  This thought gives new meaning to Jesus’ teaching to “take up our cross daily”.

Imagine carrying a cross even the size of a book around with you all day, every day.  People would likely ask you about it, even if you did not lead with it, unless of course every Christian carried one around. How remarkable would that be?  And how long would it take for the the world to have heard from many of us why it means so much to us?

RESONATE!
How can you take up your cross today?  What practical things could you do to allow the cross to mark your life?  It might not even be the physical symbol or shape of the cross, but hopefully the expression will be just a meaningful.  Think about it, then do it.

 Jesus, thank You for going to the cross to die for the world, lost sinners though we were. I love Your cross.  Help me to live my life finding practical ways to take it up so that I can share it’s value with others.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Clinging Thinking!

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Podcast 15.1 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

And he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. John 19:17 ESV

Up the long dusty road to Calvary we trace the footsteps of Jesus.  It was years before any of us were here, but we read the accounts and we imagine the hill and the cross and we stand amazed.  Thank Jesus for that old rugged cross where He went bearing the weight of our sins.

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 ESV

We see the cross and recognize it as a symbol of suffering and shame, but it also represents so much more to us.  What it symbolizes gives us joy for Jesus endured this emblem with a joy of His own, despising the shame. Ponder what it portrays for you.

And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:8 ESV

The Dearest and Best.  What a simple yet beautiful way to describe our Savior!  We love Him for His obedience to His Father, to the point of death.  Existing eternally in sublime glory He humbled Himself for God’s glory and our good.  Tell Him how you love the cross.

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

The cross of Jesus Christ makes it possible for sinners, separated from God by our sin, to be made right with Him. So we cherish it and cling to it, for it represents to us life eternal.  Commit to live your life to bring Him praise and purpose to offer it all to Him one day.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the Refrain.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Loving and Living Under the Cross appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Dearest and Best – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-jesus-wood-church-christ-78000/
For a World of Lost Sinners – https://pixabay.com/photos/christ-cross-faith-jesus-passion-3484141/

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Worshipping the One Who Washed Our Sin-stains White

Wednesday Wanderings is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey with our Holy Jesus.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering with Dr. Sherri, we considered our response to God’s mercy and might. This week we will about the impact of the expression of His mercy on the cross. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive, and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

Wool

PROMISE:

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 ESV
How kind of God to make that remarkable promise to us, then fulfill it on the cross where Jesus was slain for a world of lost sinners!

 

PSALM: The Old Rugged Cross was originally written by George Bennard in 1913.

Old Rugged Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

How do we respond to this extravagant and undeserved expression of grace? Worship! Worship is our sincere response to God’s self-revelation.  We enter in now, even as Scripture reveals we will do so with those from every tribe and nation before he throne.

PARABLE:

Scarlet

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.   Revelation 7:9-14 ESV

As we spend time wandering into the Presence of God, He will reveal His unmerited kindness to us. We will learn of His redemption and we will respond in worship. We will come to know the cleaning work of the blood of the Lamb which He freely shed for us on that hill far away.

Though our sins were scarlet and red like crimson, Jesus somehow washes them white, in His blood.  The imagery there is powerful.  Our sin-stained lives are put under the power of His blood, and they come out white.  White like the snow and the wool represented above.  Amazing! Thank you Lord.

How will you respond today?  The multitude above came ready.  Standing in God’s presence and dressed for the occasion. They waved palm branches like the crowds during His triumphal entry on Passion week.  They cried out not Hosanna which means “you will save us”, but Salvation belongs to our God because He has!

Whether we choose to stand, lift out hands, cry out, or all these and more, worship is our response to our Savior’s mercy demonstrated with the shedding of His blood.

PONDER and WANDER:  If you choose, Ponder the question: What is my worship response to being “washed…white in the blood of the Lamb”?

More than a particular action or set of actions, God calls us to a life of worship.  We can never repay what He has done for us, and so we should never try; however, we should live our lives with a debt of gratitude for His mercy which informs every word, thought and deed.  So, will you spend a few minutes thinking about that?

Soul care training exercise: It takes intentionality to develop a life of worship. If we want worship to be our continual response to God, we have to begin to train our soul to respond in worship. 

If you choose, complete this week’s soul training exercise by setting aside time to worship God in the way you choose. Take time to still your mind and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

  • When you are ready, clear your mind and focus on the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
  • Determine how you will remember His sacrifice and respond today.
  • Maybe every time you go through a doorway, or set a timer for every hour.  You could enlist the help of a friend to text back and forth through the day to spur each other on, or think about it every time you take a drink of something all day.
  • Then, consider how you might make a habit of it.

If you would like to listen to a song to set your heart on worship and your mind on living it our before God, you may listen to The Heart of Worship.

PRAYER:  God, you are worthy of all the worship I could ever bring. Help me to bring my songs, but more than just songs, my life in response to your washing me white in Your blood.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen. 

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank our Self-Sacrificing and Merciful God. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the love of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Worshipping the One Who Washed Our Sin-stains White appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
Wool – https://pixabay.com/photos/fleece-hide-wool-sheep-fluffy-1524448/
Old Rugged Cross – https://pixabay.com/photos/wooden-cross-wood-good-friday-3262919/
Washed White in the Blood – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/blood-a-drop-of-red-blob-297828/

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Some Things are Worth the Climb

Hill Far Away

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

The Old Rugged Cross (1913)
By: George Bennard 1873 – 1958

Listen to this simple piano version as you read. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Below is content always available to Subscribers, often to Free Members, and sometimes to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Everyone enjoy this video, and the transcript below.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We begin our journey toward Easter this week as we ponder the cross.  In the first half of this stanza, we will bring our hearts up the hill of Calvary and down to the foot of the cross.  This torture device represents something to cherish for those who see it for what it truly is.   Let’s tune our hearts.

Seeing the Cross

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,

Most people can not remember the first time they saw a cross.  It is such basic symbol.  Two lines intersecting at a perpendicular point, stood on one of the four ends.  And it is very prevalent in our culture.  You see it everywhere, which is part of why it is so easy to overlook and even dismiss.  But not to those who see it and remember the story of their Savior.

To them, the cross is impossible to forget.  Not only do they remember the story of Jesus, but many see themselves in that story.  They imagine Jesus trodding that long, dusty road to Calvary, sometimes carrying his cross alone, sometimes being helped, but ever obeying the will of the Father.  Can you see it in your mind’s eye?

And he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. John 19:17 ESV

Come to the Cross, Again

Years have passed since Jesus bore the cross.  Centuries since His hands and feet were nailed to it.  Millenia since He was suspended above the jeering crowd, and graciously sacrificed His life for them…and us.  It may be rugged, through years of serving as the symbol not of death but life, but it still has the power to amaze the heart who will linger there and ponder what they see.

Will you come to the foot of the cross again with me?  Will you look up at this symbol and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the true meaning of it?  Will you go deeper into the rich, eternal meaning it wrought?  Spend a few moments in your heart pondering what Jesus did there, and in particular, what that means for you.

Feeling the Weight

The emblem of suff’ring and shame;

Jesus felt the weight of the cross.  He was a man, so He felt the ridicule that was being hurled at him, even as He climbed that hill and certainly once He hung on that cursed tree.  But of course, He did not let that deter Him from the path the Father had marked out for Him.  That path led Him to become the author and perfecter of our faith.

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 ESV

Suffering and Shame, But Joy

There was a weight to the cross that was far greater than the scorn He endured from the crowd. Jesus was taking the weight not only of a log of rough hewn wood, but of the sin of the world.  That weight is simply unfathomable to us.

But that is not all that is unfathomable.  Jesus endured the cross and despised its shame because of joy.  Joy?!?  There was joy set before Him.  The Father’s joy that the debt of sin was paid.  Our joy that we have a Savior.  And His joy that He could accomplish all that.

When you consider the cross, are you able to feel the joy?  It requires a heart of faith, but not only in the initial understanding but well beyond it, for His cross points to our own.  The cross brings suffering and shame into our lives at times as we walk a long, difficult, and often misunderstood road of obedience to God.  

It is worth the joy set before you to endure your cross.  Jesus gave us an example to follow.  It is not easy.  But you are not alone.  Bear your cross.  Despise the shame.  Look to Jesus!

The disciples did not understand what Jesus’ cross meant until after the resurrection.  You may not understand yours.  What cross have you borne or might be bearing now that had or has a similar delayed reaction attached to it?  Maybe it is yet to come, but this perspective may help you to pick it up and bear it.  Jesus will be with you as you do.

Jesus, thank You for bearing the cross and pouring such profound meaning into such a simple symbol.  Help me to see it with fresh eyes over the next few weeks that this new perspective may deepen my celebration of Your resurrection.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Weighty Tuning!

Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Like what you’re finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Video 15.1 Transcript

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

Calvary.  The place of the skull.  Historical truth. Spiritual crossroads.  A real hill, a real cross, a real Savior. Rough hewn wood, splinters and all, stood on that rise and became the vehicle of our redemption.  Just imagine for a moment the long, dusty road Jesus climbed.

Many people wear crosses, and I often wonder what those crosses mean to them.  The Romans who crucified Jesus meant it to be the cruelest of torture devices, and it was, indeed, that.  Consider what the experience of the cross must have been like for Jesus.

And what by design was meant to illicit suffering and shame has become for us a symbol of love. Why?  Because Jesus, the Dearest and Best of everyone and everything, went there to willingly lay down His life as a ransom for my sins.  Give Him praise for redefining the cross.

And not just for my sins.   Because He was perfect, He could be a perfect sacrifice, for all sin, across time and space.  We were lost in sin and separated from God, then the cross. Our response must be to cherish it and cling to it, until the day we exchange it for a crown.  Hallelujah!

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Some Things are Worth the Climb appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Time to Praise – https://pixabay.com/photos/night-stars-rotation-starry-sky-1846734/
Earth, Sky, and Sea – https://pixabay.com/photos/milky-way-human-lake-dreams-4500469/
Perspective – https://pixabay.com/photos/architecture-perspective-modern-828596/

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Motivation for Making Him Known

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy
By: Reginald Heber 1783–1826

Listen to this simple piano version as you read. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available to Subscribers, sometimes to Free Members, and occasionally to everyone.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library? Click here.  Or check out some other samples at our Free Member Content Library.  We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today!!

Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below!  It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.

Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.

We conclude our journey through another great hymn this week.  In the first half of this stanza, we considered how all creation will praise and the impact our entering in can have on us.  In this second half, we contemplate the holiness of God and the implications on our needing to share it.  Let’s think about this.

None Like Him

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

As we close out our reflections on this hymn, you might be thinking you hear an echo.  These last two lines are an exact repeat of the last two lines from the first stanza.  I think that repetition is useful because it reinforces how important these truths are.

Think about it this way.  God is holy.  Very holy.  Completely holy.  Holy, holy, holy.  If He were to act only out of His holiness and might, it would be justified and simple for Him to deal with our sin by vaporizing us.  But His mercy leads Him to deal with us in an entirely different way.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Psalm 145:8 ESV

He is merciful, indeed.  Gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.  And what is the greatest expression of that love?  The gift of His Son to satisfy the wrath of a holy God against sin.  Merciful and Mighty.

RESONATE!
His ability to keep His anger toward all our sins in check when He is completely without sin is a remarkable expression of both His mercy and His might.  Take a few moments right now and thank Him again for His marvelous mercy, which spares you from getting what you deserve.  Then follow it up with some praise for His matchless might, which purchased your redemption.

Great Commission

Make It Known

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity

There is no one like our God.  Perfect in holiness, yet also making a way back for those separated from Him by their sin. So we are commanded, even commissioned, to get this news to the ends of the earth.  “God invites you to follow Him and makes the way plain.”

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 ESV

We must not keep the reality of God to ourselves.  We must receive it AND resonate with it, so that all who have ears to hear can join us as His disciples.  

I have often thought of that opening word in this way, “as you are going”.  I think it is easy for us all to think that these words apply to missionaries, international workers, pastors, evangelists, etc.  The “called” are those in vocational ministry, especially those who have left familiar surroundings to make this good news known.  But the “called” are also represented in every vocation and avocation, and so we each must find some way to let the wonder of Who God is be expressed in our lives, to the point that others decide to follow Him with us. 

RESONATE!
How are you making His holiness known to the world, His perfect blending of mercy and might?  Maybe you are building a relationship with someone who does not know Jesus.  Maybe you have family that have not yet surrendered to His call.  Ask Him to give you an opportunity today to tell someone about Him.

Jesus, thank You for blending mercy and might so marvelously.  Give me an opportunity today to tell someone Who You are.  While You are at it, help me even to remind someone else who already knows.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Intentional Thinking!

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Podcast 14.4 Transcript

Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he! Psalm 99:3 ESV

We finish up our reflections on this great old hymn with this entry.  Our hope is that doing so has helped remove some hindrances from resonance for you, and given you new reasons to resonate.  Give God praise! For great and awesome is His name! Holy is He!

All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Psalm 96:11-12 ESV

Everything will one day give Him praise.  The heavens declare it constantly, and there is no language where He is not heard, but what about you?  Other than in a church service, are you quick to offer praise to the One who is worthy? Join all creation in giving Him praise today.

Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  Psalm 145:8 ESV

Merciful indeed.  And His ability to keep His anger for all our sins in check when He is completely without sin is a remarkable expression of His might.  Thank Him again for His boundless mercy, and follow it up with some praise for His matchless might.

God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 ESV

We must not keep the reality of God to ourselves.  We must receive it AND resonate with it, so that all who have ears to hear can join us as His disciples.  How are you making His holiness known to the world? Ask Him to give you an opportunity today to tell someone about Him.

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Motivation for Making Him Known appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
Holy, Holy, Holy – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/holy-trinity-triangle-circle-gold-893202/
Great Commission – https://www.sermoncentral.com/church-media-preaching-sermons/sermon-video-illustrations/the-great-commission-11099-detail?ref=MediaSerps

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