I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned unclean
My Savior’s Love 1905
By: Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932)
Listen to this modern version of this hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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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.
As we begin our journey through this wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement character your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.
Wonder-full Love
The way the writer uses wonder here is not like he is curious about God’s love, as in “I wonder how this will work out?” He is saying that considering God’s love for him fills him with a feeling of surprise mixed with admiration. This feeling is caused by something beautiful, unfamiliar, unexpected or inexplicable. God’s love is all these things.
- Beautiful – possessing qualities that please the sense or mind
- Unfamiliar – having a quality that is not known or with which one is not accustomed
- Unexpected – surprising, or at the very least regarded as unlikely to happen
- Inexplicable – unable to be explained or accounted for
Yep. God’s love is all those and more.
Is this how you feel about the Savior’s love for you?
And wonder how He could love me
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
When we see Jesus for who He is, it makes His great love for us all the more amazing. He is without fault or blemish. His love is a rich expression of mercy because we deserve wrath. Instead we receive His love which should evoke amazement and awe. Does it?
He loves you. When was the last time you meditated on that simple truth? Why not do it right now? Think of who He is. Think of who you are. Think of His great love for you. Think about it. Just quiet yourself and think about that life-altering truth. Jesus love you.
Jesus, fill me with wonder at Your love.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about wonder. There is nothing that should fill us with this feeling more than the Saviors’ love. Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, fill me with wonder at Your love.”
Unmerited Cleansing
I could never have gotten myself cleaned up enough to merit an invitation to His throne. I could not even pick up the soap, let alone build up any kind of lather. Fortunately, I did not have to. Christ did all the hard work.
Not only that, but I could never even have realized on my own how filthy I was. Even that knowledge, that awareness, is a demonstration of grace. All of it expressions of His love for me.
A sinner condemned unclean
…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
Mercy is not getting what you do not deserve. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Eternal life in exchange of eternal death, that is grace and mercy in the highest forms. That should leave us in awe and wonder singing His praise forevermore!
Sinner. That is you. You have sinned. That sin has left you condemned in the eyes of a holy God. That sin has left you unclean, hopeless of washing yourself so you can appear before Him. So He made a way for you to be acquitted and purified through the sacrifice of His Son. Amazing!
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on what it felt like in those moments you first understood the magnitude of your sin. Remember how hopeless you felt? Remember when Jesus changed that to hope in Him? Simply thank Him saying “Father, thank You for offering Jesus in my place.“
Jesus, thank You for the wonder Your love evokes in me. I was hopelessly filthy and aware and you made a way to make me aware, then make clean. In Jesus name. Amen.
Wonder-filled Thinking!
Podcast 48.1 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.
I stand amazed in the presence
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” Acts 9:5-6 ESV
Paul was on his way to persecute the church when Jesus revealed Himself and redirected Paul’s life. Jesus has been redirecting lives for millennia and He wants to do it today. How might Jesus be revealing Himself and redirecting your life today?
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. Matthew 2:23 ESV
From Paul’s vision on the road to Damascus, to the angel redirecting Joseph out of Egypt to Nazareth in Galilee, God had a plan. God has a plan for your life as well. It may not involve heavenly visions or angel visitations but it still has divine purpose. How will you respond?
And wonder how He could love me
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
When we see Jesus for who He is, it makes His great love for us all the more amazing. He is without fault or blemish. His love is a rich expression of mercy because we deserve wrath. Instead we receive His love which should evoke amazement and awe. Does it?
A sinner condemned unclean
…even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV
Mercy is not getting what you do not deserve. Grace is getting what you do not deserve. Eternal life in exchange of eternal death, that is grace and mercy in the highest forms. That should leave us in awe and wonder singing His praise forevermore!
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.
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene
And wonder how He could love me
A sinner condemned unclean
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 Can You Develop Wonder? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
And wonder how He could love me – https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-hands-heart-give-away-love-3042975/
A sinner condemned unclean – https://pixabay.com/photos/pool-soap-hands-to-wash-to-clean-778207/
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