In pity angels beheld Him
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night

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.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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 wonder-filled hymn take an assessment of the level of wonder and amazement which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

Angel Comfort

Did Jesus, Son of Man, feel acutely the weight of this moment in His body? Did Jesus, the Son of God, need physical and emotional comfort? Did He ask for it? Did He receive it?

Yes. No. No. And yes.

The passage that inspires this portion of the hymn is very interesting. Certainly Jesus felt the crushing weight of what was approaching. Being God, He was able to bear it, so He did not ask for support, though He did ask for it to pass. He yielded to the Father’s will, and whatever that support felt like from the angel in the garden.

Note it was one angel. A few verses later during His arrest involving a handful of Roman soldiers and Temple Guard (see image below) Jesus makes clear He could have asked for legions of angels to deliver Him. He received the strengthening of one angel but refused the deliverance of thousands.

His humanity and deity acknowledged in beautiful symmetry. All driven by love. And obedience to the Father’s will. How marvelous!

To comfort Him in the sorrows

And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. Luke 22:43 ESV

Though they likely wanted to deliver Jesus from the battle being waged over sin, instead one angel strengthened Him. How do you imagine that happened? Probably not words or anything physical, even though His struggle had a physical dimension. It was a spiritual strengthening.

They came to comfort Him. Exactly how they did that is a mystery. Was it simply their presence? Were they shielding Him from the encroaching darkness which was anxious to consume Him? We can not know for certain how, but we can be certain they came strengthen Him.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about the comfort of angels. t sounds like Jesus received what He may not have even needed. We do need such care a points on our journey. How gracious of God to send His messengers. Make this your simple prayer “God, thank You for your comforting angels.” 

He Bore It Alone

Though the Scripture tells us He was strengthened in the garden by an angel there was no help for Him when it came to bearing the weight of sin. Only He could do that. Only the perfect Son of God could become that substitutionary sacrifice.

What wonderful love!

He bore for my soul that night

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 ESV

Griefs and sorrows, sins and sickness. Jesus bore it all for our souls that night. Aren’t you glad? You could not have born your own, yet He willingly bore them for the whole world. What a marvelous, wonderful love our Savior displayed! Be certain to make it your song forever.

Jesus received comfort because He was preparing to take the sin of the world on His shoulders. He was in agony already and the moment had not yet arrived. When did you last thank Him for bearing your sin-enduced sorrows? Take a moment and thank Him now.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and thank Jesus for bearing your sin and sorrows. He could have asked for angelic deliverance, but obeyed instead. Simply thank Him saying “Jesus, thank You for bearing my sorrows.“

Jesus, thank You for bearing my sorrows. You received strength and then suffered alone. Help me to see, feel and know just how marvelous and wonderful is Your love for me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
To comfort Him in the sorrows – https://www.learnreligions.com/angel-helps-jesus-christ-124059
He bore for my soul that night – https://kdmanestreet.com/tag/jesus-in-the-garden-of-gethsemane-prayed-not-as-i-will-but-as-you-will/

For me it was in the garden
He prayed not My will but Thine
He had no tears for His own griefs
But sweat drops of blood for mine

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.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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 which characterizes your relationship with Jesus. We all have room to grow in response to His love for us. Let’s think about this.

No Tears

Jesus was about to take the sin of the world upon His shoulders. He knew that moment was coming. No surprise that the sorrow that consumed Him seemed like death approaching.

His soul felt it. Yet he did not shed tears for the weight He felt, but the weight that was ours to bear without any capacity to do so. The look on His face portrayed in the image above seem to fall woefully short it trying to capture that anguish. He bore it all for the glory of God and for our good.

He had no tears for His own griefs

And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” Matthew 26:37-38 ESV

Though He was filled with sorrow, even to the point of death, He shed no tears for his griefs. Instead He asked His disciples to stay with Him and pray. He would need divine strength as He prepared to carry the weight of humanity’s sin to the cross. Marvelous love!

It seems very reasonable that Jesus would not only have cried out in prayer from the sheer pressure of this event, but would have shed tears in the process. Even so, He was not feeling sorry for Himself, but being crushed under the incredible weight of becoming sin for us.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about this sorrow. Recall the deepest sorrow you have ever known and then try to imagine shedding no tears over it because you are consumed with the sadness of others. Thankfully, you did not have to bear it.  Make this your simple prayer “Jesus, thank You for bearing my grief.” 

Drops of Blood

This anguish is simply unfathomable. We lack the capacity to even begin to imagine what Jesus felt in the garden. Even His closest friends could not stay awake while the pressure on Him was so great He was sweating blood.

Seem far-fetched? It is not.

But sweat drops of blood for mine

And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 ESV

So great was His grief that it produced a strain in His body forcing blood into His drops of sweat. He literally was sweating blood. This is a real physical condition and one certainly the humanity of God endured as He took on the sins of the world: our sin, His grief.

I can not fathom this. Was He mentally processing the events unfolding? Was He emotionally anticipating the separation from the Father that eternally had never occurred? Was He spiritually grappling with salvation’s cost? Yes, and all the while physically sweating blood.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments and imagine you are there in the garden. Jesus returns from a period of prayer so intense He is sweating blood to find you asleep. Though He rebukes you He is not angry. Simply thank Him saying “Lord, be glorified for Your marvelous love.“

Jesus, thank You for bearing my sin. The weight of it was more than I could handle. Knowing that you made a way to lift that burden, and you did so willingly. Thank You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
He had no tears for His own griefs – https://www.bible.com/videos/25232-matthew-26-36-56?collection=6
But sweat drops of blood for mine – https://www.bible.com/videos/25200-luke-22-39-71?collection=6

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.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

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/

Pardon for sin
And a peace that endureth
Thy own dear presence
To cheer and to guide
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)

Listen to this version in a gospel style as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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.

We continue our journey through this popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s think about this.

All You Need, No Matter the Day

God’s faithfulness is the same every day.

What are you facing today for which you need God’s strength? He is faithful. What challenge awaits you tomorrow which will require the hope that is only found in God? He is faithful. Whether today or tomorrow you can count on God to provide everything you need.

Today never really becomes tomorrow, and yet God has made a promise and provision for each in its own way.  Tomorrow is always a day away, as Annie sang in the musical bearing her name. The difference is illustrated in the two phrases, “I am” and “I will”.

“I am” is present tense. Today.

“I will” is future tense. Tomorrow.

Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV

He is with us. He is our God. Strength for today.

He will strengthen. He will help. He will uphold. Bright hope for tomorrow.

Just the strength for the day we are facing is a gift we sometimes fail to open, but He also gives us hope beyond it. How gracious that two-fold gift is, and how unfortunate we fail to receive it on some days when we need it most. Ask the Spirit for the humility to accept them.

Spirit, help me to humbly receive Your strength and hope.

RESONATE!
All you need for whatever you are facing today, and hope that the same will be true tomorrow when it comes can be yours in Christ. What has you troubled? Look to God for the strength and hope you need to overcome it.

All You Need, Along with Everyone Else

God’s faithfulness is the same for every person. Not only every day, but also every one.

Blessings all mine
With ten thousand beside

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV

Love Him and keep His commandments. Easier said than done. But He is faithful and if we will surrender we will know the blessing of standing side by side with countless others who have made that same choice and trusted God to help them fulfill it as well.

This is such a great line. All the blessings of this final stanza are fully mine, even though there are “ten thousand” others around me with the same access to each of them. How faithful is our God and how boundless His kindness to us. Thank the Lord for His faithfulness once more.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments to think about that incredible truth. You have a unique access to the blessings of God, but so do countless others who will trust Him. How can you love Him better today? Ask Him and trust that He will help you.

Father, thank You for the blessings that are mine, and everyone else’s who will love You and keep Your commandments. Help me do that. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attribution
Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/light-tunnel-silhouette-woman-3920898/
Blessings All Mine with Ten Thousand Beside – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/people-crowd-group-abstract-5710630/

I have no merit
to woo or delight Thee,
I have no wisdom
or pow’rs to employ;
Yet in thy mercy,
how pleasing thou find’st me,
This is Thy pleasure:
 that Thou art my joy. 

Great Is Thy Faithfulness (1923)
By: Thomas Chisholm (1866–1960)

Listen to this version in a gospel style as you prepare to ponder this hymn. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.

Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.

Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant!  Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!

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.

We continue our journey through this popular hymn which declares the faithfulness of our God, true in every season, experienced by hearts of faith. Let’s think about this.

God Took Initiative

The first half of this stanza appears to be a real downer, until the second half redeems it and with it any hope we have at experiencing the faithfulness of God. It starts by outlining our utter depravity before restoring the possibility of something else. The first part of the thought from Jeremiah 9:23-24 could be viewed in a similar negative light if it were not for the latter half for it tells us what not to do, before instructing us what to do instead.

Yet in thy mercy,
how pleasing thou find’st me,

…but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:24 ESV 

He practices that steadfast love, justice and righteousness on us, and even delights to do so. This must be our boast. Not anything that we are or have done, but in the unmerited favor and delight of our Lord.

Consider the image above. It makes me think of someone who has opened themselves to the bright glory of the knowledge of God and His steadfast love, justices and righteousness. Can you see yourself taking such a posture? Are you open to God’s mercy, allowing it to flow in Your life?

There is nothing in us that merits that mercy, but even still, the Lord makes a way for me to be found pleasing to Him. None of that lies with me.  It is His mercy, not getting what we deserve. It is all His work, so none can boast, other than boasting in Him. 

Spirit, help me boast in God today, and forever. Make that boast right now, then all day and forever. Make your boast in Him today, then repeat that every day, for eternity. 

RESONATE!
When was the last time you boasted in God? Told someone else of the mercy you have received? It does not have to be a long, drown-out story, but can be as simply as just expressing something He recently did for you. Keep it simple, but commit right now to look for an opportunity to boast in Him today. Then ask the Spirit to help you do it today, and repeat that every day, until it becomes a way of life. Hardly anything will please Him more than for you to make much of Him.

I Humbly Responded

But as if His unmerited mercy in our lives was not enough, these last two lines take things to an entirely different level. What is God’s pleasure? What brings Him the greatest delight? Our finding our joy in Him!

This is Thy pleasure:
that Thou art my joy.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 ESV

What is God’s pleasure? That I find my joy in Him. How amazing is that? Our greatest joy, fullness of joy, is found only in His presence, at His right hand forever, and His pleasure is our discovering and living in that. Hallelujah!

Is your life the equivalent of a hallelujah to God? Is it obvious to others you find your greatest delight in God? Do you seek out ways to bring Him praise?

To find eternal joy in God is the greatest blessing this life affords. What is more, it is difficult for us to fathom that there is nothing that gives God greater pleasure than for us to find that joy. Marvel at that incredible mystery again today and rest in it, in Him.

RESONATE!
Take a few moments to think about that incredible truth. God takes great delight in you finding delight in Him. It creates a positive feedback loop that can change your perspective and ultimately your entire life. Even if it has to start small, get your hallelujah started today.

Father, thank You for finding delight in my delight in You. Help me to boast in you today and everyday, until it becomes a way of life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness?  Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Image Attributions
Yet in thy mercy, how pleasing thou find’st me –https://pixabay.com/photos/rays-wonder-sun-light-wonderful-2464986/
This is Thy pleasure: that Thou art my joy – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-girl-freedom-happy-sun-591576/