But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe
Here Lord I give myself away
‘Tis all that I can do
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.
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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 continue our journey through this penitent text and hymn, make each stanza your own by praying through it. Let’s think about this.
Present Your Gift
When you give something away it is called a gift. Another word for gift is present. One way of conveying a present to someone is to present it to them.
Truly the only thing you can give or present to someone that they can get nowhere else is yourself. When the writer talks about giving himself away, he has gotten to the core of what it means to give, taking something special or unique and presenting it to someone.
As we think of Jesus sacrifice this is the only appropriate gift or present. Our very selves. Are you ready to present the gift of your life to God?
Here Lord I give myself away
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV
Our response is expressed by giving our lives in worship to God, loving Him and loving others. In view of His mercies, and even by them, to give ourselves over to the purposes of God as modeled by Christ Himself. Will you give yourself entirely over to the Lord? What are you holding back?
Here is our response. We give ourselves away to God, to use our lives as extensions and expressions of the very love of Christ that has changed our eternities and is transforming our days. What will giving yourself away look like today? Ask the Father that question routinely.
RESONATE!
Lord help me to give myself to you. Father, please show me how to give myself away today. And remind me to ask you some question like that again tomorrow and every day.
Love Earnestly
What does giving yourself away look like? Love. And what does love look like? There are countless expressions of this most important action and God will help you find yours. The crucial thing is to understand that loving by giving yourself away to God and others should really characterize every word and deed. It is really all you can do, because it should be the motivation of everything you do.
‘Tis all that I can do
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 ESV
Christ’s work on the cross paid the penalty for all our sins, yet there is some way that our response of love to His great act of love also covers sins. All we can do is love one another seriously. It is easier said than done, but may Christ’s example inspire and empower us today.
Giving ourselves away is the only right response to Christ doing that first. The hymn writer says it is all that we can do, so in a thousand ways this singular truth will be lived today. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy as you find your unique expressions of God’s love today.
RESONATE!
Ask the Spirit to reveal to you the intrinsic nature of loving by practicing giving myself away. Even when I struggle to keep something back, teach me to give my all. Help me to do so gladly. Spirit, fill me with joy as I love.
Loving Savior, thank You for showing me how to love by enduring the cross for the Father’s glory and my good. Give me eyes to see the cross this season and find my surrender in it I want to experience the joy of giving myself away. Amen.
Responsive Thinking!
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Podcast 26.5 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.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18 ESV
When we look at the cross and realize it was necessary because of our sin, it causes grief. That grief is the result of the awareness of our Savior’s sacrifice to take the burden of sin. In this penitent season, look to the cross again, and feel that grief.
The debt of love I owe
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 ESV
Our grief in the cross should not leave us wallowing in sadness, but responding with gratitude in the resurrection life of Christ. That gratitude is characterized by love for the One who laid down His life and took it up again so we too might live. Acknowledge your debt of love to Jesus.
Here Lord I give myself away
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 ESV
Our response is expressed by giving our lives in worship to God, loving Him and loving others. In view of His mercies, and even by them, to give ourselves over to the purposes of God as modeled by Christ Himself. Will you give yourself entirely over to the Lord? What are you holding back?
‘Tis all that I can do
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 ESV
Christ’s work on the cross paid the penalty for all our sins, yet there is some way that our response of love to His great act of love also covers sins. All we can do is love one another seriously. It is easier said than done, but may Christ’s example inspire and empower us today.
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.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe
Here Lord I give myself away
‘Tis all that I can do
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 Presenting the Gift of Love appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
Here Lord I give myself away – https://pixabay.com/photos/gift-packaging-loop-christmas-402199/
‘Tis all that I can do – https://pixabay.com/photos/people-friends-group-hands-signs-2608145/
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