Exchanging Worthless For Worthy

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.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
By: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

Listen as you read. This is a nice instrumental version.

Boasting seems to be a more emotional response while sacrificing is much more deliberate and thoughtful. We did some adjusting with regard to boasting in the last Tunings. So for these Thoughts we will press into the latter portion of this stanza.

Worthless

Ultimately this final section on the second stanza is a continued response to what Christ has done. We began by surveying the cross and making choices about our gains and pride, before moving on to other things we might boast about other than Christ. Now we conclude these considerations with a look at the vanity of things that sometimes attract our affections.

So many things that we can invest our time, energy and resources into are useless, meaningless, worthless. Watts here qualifies these things as vain. One way to think of these things, things that are vain, is that they produce no result. Think, “My efforts to find my lost keys were in vain.” They produced no results. Make a mental note of that for we shall return to it.

Useful, But At Times Used for the Useless

The interesting thing about these vain things is that they still charm us, giving us pleasure or enjoyment, even though they are useless. Can you think of some things in your life you could describe that like? Maybe there is a struggle you are having with a sin that seems charming, but is vain. It promises pleasure, but just leaves you feeling guilty. Maybe there are addictions which promise enjoyment but just leave you unfulfilled, convicted, or both. Maybe they are more innocuous, like something that just innocently eats away at your discretionary time or energy, with little or no benefit.

Like our mobile phones at times. Now before you think this is a tirade on the device you may be using to read this spiritual tool, let me be clear, it is not. I only wish to use them as an example of something that is very useful, which can be used for very useless purposes. I thought about sharing a title of one of several games I have downloaded and played on my phone, but I did not want to add to your list of vain things, so I refrained.

Worthless. We are all guilty of engaging in pursuits that are vain. Instead we should consider laying them down, or sacrificing them in exchange for something that is worthy, and useful. What is more worthy or useful than the blood of Christ?

Worthy

The contrast of the vain things I pursue and the effective blood of Jesus is very ingenious. First because it is simply a great illustration of two extremes. Second because it causes us to see each of those things and make a decision about them.

We do not need to offer any sacrifices. Christ did this once for all.

Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. Hebrews 7:27

I can make the deliberate choice to sacrifice things that produce no results to the most productive thing in human history. This is a remarkable thought, a beautiful invitation, a powerful declaration. But it is also a choice.

The only way we can effectively do that is if we also make it an honest prayer. Start by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any vain things that are charming you. Then ask Him to help you give them up, sacrificing them to, or in response to His sacrifice, His blood.

Then do it again tomorrow.

Holy Spirit, hear my prayer. Reveal to me any and all vain things in my life that are charming me and drawing off energy and resources I could use for Christ and His glory. Help me to lay them down, that I may grow in my appreciation for the sacrifice of my Savior. Teach me how to identify vanity in my daily living. In Jesus name. Amen.

Joyful Thinking!

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Podcast 4.2 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.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

And yet there are too many times when we do, boast that is. I know this verse is speaking specifically of taking any credit for our salvation, but we must be careful to maintain a humble view of ourselves which makes grace all the more needful and valuable in our minds. Ask God to help you maintain that.

Save in the death of Christ my God!

Galatians 6:14 ESV

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Watts was asking for the empowering to boast in Christ, to the exclusion of all other things. He phrased this exclusivity as being forbidden to boast in anything but Christ. Ask the Spirit to help you practice that discipline.

All the vain things that charm me most,

Psalm 119:37 ESV

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Vain is an uncommon word today, but the prospect of being allured by worthless things is not. The Psalmist is asking for help in turning his eyes from worthless things, like the hymn writer asked for help in refraining from boasting. Echo that prayer.

I sacrifice them to His blood.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

His blood covers our vain pursuits, our ridiculous boasts. Those useless things are covered by His efficacious, useful blood. No sacrifice from us is needful to accomplish salvation, but in response to His, ask Him to help you lay down these empty things.

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