Proving His Truth and Grace

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

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Please 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 carol in which we call the world to sing with joy, how will you find your place in the song? Let’s tune our hearts.

Grace and Truth

One without the other is awful, or a complete mess. These two pillars create a balanced structure from which Jesus rules the world. We read it from the very first words John uses to describe the Messiah, the anointed One of God.

He rules the world with truth and grace

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:14, 17 ESV

Effectively grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. He is full of grace and truth and so He rules the world from that position. He came and dwelt among us and will return to complete the work of redemption that His work on the cross accomplished. Hallelujah!

How is His rule evident in Your life? How are you allowing grace and truth to be seen in your actions? If someone took a close look at your life would they see a balance of these two virtues, or an imbalance with one overshadowing the other?

If Jesus ruled with only one of these pillars His rule may be imbalanced. Truth might make Him too harsh because of all our failings. Grace might require Him to compromise His holiness and accept without dealing with our sin. Instead these two realities balance His infinite authority.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about how Jesus life and ministry demonstrated a balance of grace and truth. IF you have surrendered your life to Him to rule, these virtues should be evident in you. Make this your simple prayer “God, rule my life with grace and truth.” 

Vindication

The nations of the world have profaned the great name of God. The individuals of those nations have not rightly dealt with His name, showing it and Him the honor it/He deserves. Because of this, God has promised to vindicate the holiness of His name. To make them prove it. Now that is authority.

And makes the nations prove

…I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Ezekiel 36:23 ESV

Vindication is proving that something is right. This verse inspires this line by taking the words of the Lord and declaring what He will in fact do just that. He is holy and great. His rule will establish and prove those things among all the nations of the world.

This balance not only gives me confidence that He will deal with me with equity, but it informs how He will deal with all the nations of the world. He will vindicate the holiness of His great name which has been profaned among them. He has promised and He will do it.

RESONATE
Take a few moments and consider the holiness of His name. We do not always treat it with the honor it deserves. Ask Him for His help in proving it by praying a simple prayer like this one, “Lord, vindicate Your holy name.“  

Jesus, thank You ruling with truth and grace. The rule has established the holiness of Your great name, Help me work to vindicate it by the way I live. In Jesus’ name. 

Vindicated Tuning!

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Video 47.4 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.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

If He ruled with only one of these pillars His rule may be imbalanced. Truth might make Him too harsh because of all our failings. Grace might require Him to compromise His holiness and accept without dealing with our sin. Instead these two realities balance His infinite authority.

God, rule my life with grace and truth.

This balance not only gives me confidence that He will deal with me with equity, but it informs how He will deal with all the nations of the world. He will vindicate the holiness of His great name which has been profaned among them. He has promised and He will do it.

Lord, vindicate Your holy name.

There is a glory to His righteousness. We do not think about this much but we are dealing with One who eternally is without fault or blemish. He only does right. Though we know this is true it is difficult for our minds to comprehend, living in a world where wrong is so common.

Father, show us the glories of Your righteousness.

And His rightness required that He make a way to deal with our wrongness. His doing so through the sending of our Savior reveals the wonder of His love. While we were separated from Him He made a way for us to come back to Him through His sacrifice. What joy!

Jesus, show us the wonders of Your love.

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.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

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 Proving His Truth and Grace appeared first on Resonant 7.

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He rules the world with truth and grace – https://pixabay.com/photos/portal-columns-architecture-3254433/
And makes the nations prove – https://pixabay.com/photos/social-media-icon-people-2537391/