At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day
Alas And Did My Savior Bleed 1707
By: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
ref. by Ralph E. Hudson, 1885
Listen to this modern version of this penitent hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we conclude our journey through this penitent text and hymn, make each stanza your own by praying through it. Let’s tune our hearts.
Seeing the Light
I remember the moment. I remember the pew. It’s gone now. I remember the cross. It’s still there.
I had wrestled with the cross and Jesus work there for some time. I had ignored it even longer. When I finally saw the light I was humbled by the realization of all that Jesus had done for me, how much I needed it, and how long I had spurned His generous offer of forgiveness.
But it is really more than that. Being forgiven, cleansed, and healed makes the entire exchange breathtakingly remarkable. Being invited into a new way of living is even moreso.
You see, our standing changed because of the cross, and that is amazing. But not only that, our experience was transformed. We die to sin. Hallelujah! And we live to righteousness! Thanks be to God! We were stuck in sin. Now we are free to move about in grace. Good thing we can see.
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 ESV
Jesus bled and died at the cross so that we could die to sin and live to righteousness. At the cross He opened our eyes and delivered us from the dominion of darkness. Can you remember those moments you first saw the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Those moments when His work on the cross for your sins was first revealed to you?
RESONATE!
Give Him praise for opening your eyes at the cross. Ask Him to help you see the cross as if with new eyes of faith. “Jesus, help me see the cross with eyes of faith.” Take a few moments right now and simply talk to Jesus.
Burdens Rolled Away
I sat there in tears, in that pew that is no longer there. The wonder of that moment often comes back to me even still when my Lord reminds me of that transaction. When I realized the burden my living in sin had created for me before a holy God, I was undone.
What really brought the tears, the remorse, the repentance was His willingness to take that burden for me. Even as I write now I am overwhelmed with gratitude and my eyes are filled with tears once more. Thank You Jesus!
Have you humbled yourself before God? Have you confessed your sin and your need of a Savior? Would you like to have your burden roll away?
And the burden of my heart rolled away
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
Can you recall the feeling forgiveness first afforded, when the burden of sin lifted for you? If you have placed your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross, you know what it feels like to have the weight of your sin lifted. Thank Him. If you do not know, humble yourself before Him, confess your sin and need of a Savior, and feel the burden roll away today.
RESONATE!
Ask the Spirit to remind you of the weight of your sin so you can marvel again at the gift of salvation Jesus made available to you at the cross. Spirit, remind me of my burden and the lifting of it. As we make our final approach to Easter, humble yourself before your King.
Jesus, thank You for the cross and opening my eyes to see the light. Overwhelm me routinely with the extravagance of Your sacrifice there. Help me to live a life responding to that love. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Humble Tuning!
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Video 49.6 Transcript, 26.6 Reframed
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.
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day
Can you remember those moments you first saw the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? Those moments when His work on the cross for your sins was first revealed to you? I can. Ask Him to help you see the cross as if with new eyes of faith.
Jesus, help me see the cross with eyes of faith.
Can you recall the feeling forgiveness first afforded, when the burden of sin lifted for you? Ask the Spirit to remind you of the weight of your sin so you can marvel again at the gift of salvation Jesus made available to you at the cross.
Spirit, remind me of my burden and the lifting of it.
What a gift to see the cross with eyes of faith! Many who look upon it never truly realize the significance of what Jesus did there. If you do, give Him praise. If you do not, ask Him to give you faith-enabled sight right now.
Lord, give me sight by faith.
The writer is not saying we never have anything but happiness. Instead, he is affirming that because of the cross, even when we deal with unhappy things we are able to maintain a level of happiness in spite of it. Thank the Father for making you happy.
Father, thank You for making me happy.
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
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 Can You See the Burden-Blasting Light? Reframed appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
At the cross at the cross where I first saw the light – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-hands-god-jesus-religion-4033437/
And the burden of my heart rolled away – https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-love-wave-water-association-3367962/
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