When I survey the wondrous cross
  On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
  And pour contempt on all my pride.

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

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

Before we begin, would you please take a few moments and look at the cross.  As you do, ask the Holy Spirit to give you fresh eyes to see it, and all that it represents and symbolizes to you as a follower of Christ.  Survey the cross.

Survey

One of the reasons I love the hymns so much is because the writers chose their words so carefully.  It may not have been quite so unusual in 1707 when Issac Watts used the word survey, but I believe it is an excellent choice still today.  I asked you above to look at the cross first, then to survey it.  But let us take a quick look at how much richer a word survey truly it.

Survey says…

I must admit, when I think of the word survey in this context, the idea of forming or sharing my opinion or perspective never even crosses my mind, but it is a good place to begin.  Different pronunciation, different meaning.  In a sense I suppose Watts is stating his opinion and experience of the cross, and although it is a singular survey, it is a challenging, compelling and powerful one.  So much so that it influences and shapes that of those who read and sing his text thoughtfully.  Frankly though, this is just a beginning point.

This is the image that first comes to mind for me when I see this word, survey.  In it we begin to develop a different perspective as we consider the cross.  Let’s consider the definition of this activity as found at Thought Co.

In its broadest sense, the term surveying encompasses all activities that measure and record information about the physical world and the environment. The term is often used interchangeably with geomatics which is the science of determining the position of points on, above or below the surface of the earth.

This definition intrigued me, not only because of the conciseness of the first part, but also the latter which referred to “on, above or below the surface of the earth” all three of which the cross has implications upon, not to mention the term geomatics, which was a new one to me.

And so we arrive at the term as is used in the hymn.  Survey, to look carefully and thoughtfully at the cross so as to appraise it.  And that is not easy to do, for a couple reasons.  First on which is that we have become so familiar with the cross that we think we have ascertained its full meaning.  We wear it, decorate with it, and adorn our churches with it in attempts to keep this powerful symbol before us, but in so doing may suffer the unintended consequence of diluting the true power of what it represents.  I pray as we journey through Lent and make our approach to Holy Week the Spirit will allow us to see the cross in a while new light, even as we declare again what mercy has done for us at it!

Pride

And herein lies the second reason appraising the cross is not easy, our pride.  As much as we know we desperately need the cross, we too often live as though we do not.  Jesus invites us in Luke 9:23 to “deny (ourselves) and take up (our) cross daily” but we would often rather admire His.

Contempt is the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.  It is the last part of the definition that comes closest to what Watts is saying.  This is a very strong statement, and appropriately so.  It is exceedingly so when juxtaposed with the wonder that fills our hearts when we survey the cross, and at the same time still opposes it.

What fills you with pride?  Or better yet, how does pride slowly seep into your life?  Are you aware of the gateways?  Even that which at the surface is not a bad thing, like the ability to sing, can become a hindrance if we derive our identity from it.

Imagine this image is coffee.  Now imagine it is laced with acid.  That changes it, doesn’t it?  That is effectively what pride does to everything it touches.  So Watts, filled with wonder at the sight of the cross, determines to pour scorn on his pride, and we should purpose to do the same.

Inventory

I asked above, but would encourage you to take a quick inventory of what might invite pride into your life, and be on guard against it by pouring scorn on it whenever your appraisal of it competes with your appraisal of the cross.  We will do a little more of this on Thursday, but tune your heart today with this in mind.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for giving me the ability to see Your cross for what it is,  a wonderful expression of Your love for me.  Help me to survey it rightly and nail my pride to it regularly.  Help me tune my heart today with an awareness that my pride will mar my ability to see and respond to Your cross today, and make the necessary adjustments as I go through this day.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Video 4.1 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.

When I survey the wondrous cross
  On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
  And pour contempt on all my pride.

Survey is a bit of an unusual word as it’s used here, but it’s perfect.  When we look carefully and thoroughly at the cross to appraise it, it is indeed wonderful. Thank God for the capacity to survey the cross.

Because of who He is, Jesus should never have had to die. Because of who He is, Jesus knew His was the only life that could be offered as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins. Thank Him.

Only His death could atone for sin, and in so doing it renders everything we could ever attain or possess as comparably worthless. Ask Jesus to help you see everything accordingly which you might otherwise be tempted to do to earn His grace.

Oh for the ability to view my personal achievements beneath consideration, worthless, and even deserving of scorn that I might rightly see the wonder of His love for me displayed on the cross.  Help me Lord.

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.

Glory to God, and praise and love,
Be ever, ever given;
By saints below and saints above,
The Church in earth and heaven.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

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

We are focusing in every one of these Tunings on loving God with our hearts.  Giving glory to God and praising Him seem pretty straightforward right?  I mean, the words seem to communicate pretty clearly what I need to do.  I need to give glory and praise to God, not only with my lips but with my life as well.  And I need to do this because He is worthy of said glory and praise.  But what about LOVE?

Loving God

Ok, I need to love God.  I am down with that.  But exactly how do I do that.  Pretty quickly simply telling God I love Him seems to fall way short of what my response to His love for me truly needs to be.  Instead, this kind of love implies that we are giving of ourselves.  [If you want to think more about love, here’s a great article about love at Crosswalk.com, “What Is Love? – Meaning & Biblical Understanding of the Word” by Meg Bucher]  This also brings it in line with the other two concepts, we give Him glory and praise, so to give Him love requires us to give of ourselves.

What I want to encourage you to consider is, “What would that kind of love look like in my life?”  I think a great place to begin is Jesus’ explanation, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)  This takes the nebulous concept of love and immediately makes it at least a bit clearer.

Loving My Neighbor

Allow me to give you but one example.  Jesus commanded us to love the Lord, and immediately followed it with a second commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Mark 12:31)  When you understand that your neighbor is not just the person who lives next door, but instead anyone around you that needs help, then it becomes obvious you will have no shortage of opportunities to love Jesus, as you love your neighbor.

Some are more obvious and appropriate for some than others, but consider these.

• A person with a flat tire alongside the road.
• The young couple who has just welcomed their second child into their home and is feeling overwhelmed.
• Your child when you can tell something is bothering them.
• The co-worker whose car is in the shop and needs a ride to work.
• Insert the one that has already come to your mind here__________

This is one of the ways we love God, by giving ourselves away, just like Jesus did on the cross.

Checking Off Your List

Now before you go looking for these things to do so you can check them off your list, allow me to caution you.  First, do not just dutifully love your neighbor.  Put your heart into it.  Look for ways to give yourself away, not simply obey the command.  This makes a world of difference to the person you are loving, and also to God.

Second, notice the unchecked box in the image.  It is meant to represent the opportunities around you of which you have not yet taken advantage.  And do you know what happens when you do check off that box? You realize there is another unchecked one below it, representing the never-ending opportunities to love others.

Never-Ending

And I do mean never-ending.  Did you notice the second line repetition of the word ever?  When a writer repeats a word, they are drawing special, special attention to something.  Here the emphasis is on the eternal scope of our adoration.  I am not certain what our eternal loving will look like, but I do believe there will be a communal aspect to our forever worship.  I believe this will certainly involve giving ourselves away to others as we give glory, praise and love to God.  That starts now, and continues on forever.  Thanks be to God.

We will think about that a little more in our next Thoughts.  Until then, be resonant.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for loving me and modeling for me how to give myself away.  I want to give you glory and praise, so I know I need to continue to look for ways to love others.  Help me to see those opportunities and then give me courage to walk into them.    In Jesus name.  Amen.

Finding some help here tuning?  Sign-up in the box in the sidebar to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers and Free Members.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library, click here.

Subscribers and Free Members, enjoy this video log!  Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 3.5 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.

Glory to God, and praise and love
 Be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above,
 The church in earth and heav’n.

Glory and praise appear pretty straightforward, particularly because they seem word driven. But love immediately implies action. Ask God to show you how to do all three today.

When songwriters repeat a word we should really pay attention. Here, it is putting emphasis on the scope of our adoration, ever, ever. He is worthy of us doing this now, and forever.

But not just us, all the saints on earth, joining all the saints who have already gone before us and are in His presence in heaven. Thank him for the opportunity to continue your worship when this life is over.

Your saving faith makes you His child and a part of the church. If you have one you attend, thank him and pray for it. If you do not, ask him to lead you to one, so you may experience now a taste of what is forever yours.

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.

My gracious Master and my God,
  Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the world abroad
  The honors of Thy name.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Listen as you read.  This version is features the tune that is more often used in the UK.

There is such a different energy in this version which features a tune less common in the US.  I think it really matches this stanza.  That is true whether you see this as a prayer or a statement.

Statement or Prayer

I keep re-reading this and keep coming up with the same two possibilities.  At first, I think this is a statement.  My Gracious Master and my God assist me.  To do what?  To proclaim.  Yes and Amen! God does assist us to proclaim His name.  If He did not, we could not possibly adequately spread the honors of His name to the entire earth.  It seems like a statement.

That is until you understand it with the last verse, which by the way is what each line of a hymn stanza is actually called.  “The honors of Thy name.”  Up to this point it seems like it could be statement declaring that God actually does help us.  This resonates with us because He does.  However, I believe this last line makes it a prayer.

Why is this important?  Because most of the other stanzas are actually horizontal.  They are directed from one worshipper to another, or at least another prospective worshipper.  This stanza is unusual in the context of this hymn because it is directed vertically.  It is sung directly to God, making an appeal for His assistance.  The vertical direction is important because in it we may learn a valuable lesson.

Help Me, Jesus!

If we are going to have any  real hope of proclaiming the glory of our God, we are going to need His help!  This represents the key tuning element for this installment.  Seems simple and straightforward, but let me ask you what at first may seem like a simple question.  When was the last time you prayed and asked God to assist you in telling the world about Him?  Of course this is not limited to praising Him in song, but I also do not believe it excludes help with that.

Directions for Singing

And Charles Wesley’s brother John offered some help from His perspective which he intended would illicit better signing.  His seven principles were written for a particular volume of hymns, but many can be applied in a broader context.  That is certainly true of this one.

4. Sing Lustily – and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half-dead or half-asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sang the songs of Satan.

Ouch!  That is a strong indictment to lift up energetic voices in praises.  If we sang the songs of Satan without shame, certainly we should sing the songs of Jesus entirely free of shame.

So how are you doing with that?  Do you sing lustily?  If not, why not?  When was the last time you asked God specifically to help you sing?  Have you ever asked Him?

Tune your heart to sing His praise, by asking Him to assist You spread through all the earth abroad the honors of His name.  And then, make haste to find a group of worshippers to which to lend Your newly loosed tongue.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for Your willingness to assist me in proclaiming You name.  Forgive me for not asking sooner or more often.  I confess I need Your help to do this and so I am asking.   Help me, Jesus, to proclaim Your name, when I am singing, and when I am not.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.

Subscribers, enjoy this video log!

Video 3.4 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.

My gracious Master and my God,
  Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the world abroad
  The honors of Thy name.

We may be quick to acknowledge him as God, but what about Master? Maybe because it implies there are things He has for us to do?  May His grace compel us to serve. Ask him what he wants you to do today.

Whatever He asks you to do will almost undoubtedly serve this purpose, to proclaim who He is. Ask Him for His assistance to do that.

We are commanded to make an impact beyond our local proclamation’s. Giving, praying, going, and sending, as we advance His Kingdom to the ends of the earth.  Are you involved in these pursuits?

There is no other name worthy of the honor due the name of Jesus. Thank Him that you get to be one of those who make that known.

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.

He breaks the power of cancell’d sin,
  He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
  His blood avail’d for me.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Listen as you read.  This version is by Kaleb Brasse.

If there was ever anything worth singing about, and there certainly is, this would rank right at the top.  Though I was guilty in sin, Jesus, the BEST defense attorney EVER, earned my acquittal.  O, to sing of the triumphs of His grace, of which I certainly am one.  How about you?

Sin

I realize I may have influenced your answer with that heading, but I would still like you to do something.  Take a moment to do a little reflective self-assessment.  How were you doing before you surrendered your life to Jesus?  Can you remember what that felt like?  What are some words you would use to describe that state?

I am serious.  Take at least a few seconds and try to recall what was going on in your heart.

Finished yet?

Now, do you have those words in mind?  Were they words like these: hopeless, lost, dead, frustrated, afraid, alone, guilty?  Many who come to Christ lack an understanding of just how bad off they were, so they struggle through much of their Christian life trying to just do better, as if their new standing relied upon them.

The underlying problem is that most of the time most of don’t think we’re that bad.

But we are.  Or at least we were.

Not Guilty

The gavel has fallen and the final verdict on our sin has been passed.  Based solely on the merit of Christ’s finished work on the cross, on the day you stand before the Great Throne of Judgement our Father, the Judge, will be able to day, “I find the defendant NOT GUILTY.”  Not certain about the legal imagery here?  Consider how the writer of Hebrews puts it in 9:26b-28.

²⁶now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

I imagine it this way.  So there I am at my sentencing.  Having heard the record of my sin read back to me, the Judge asks for my response. Fully aware that I have no reasonable defense, I take a deep breath and am about to throw myself on the mercy of the court, when Jesus reaches over and stops me.

My Accuser, Satan, having laid out an airtight case against me, sits back in his chair and waits to see what Jesus will say.  To my chagrin, He acknowledges the accuracy of every charge, but then offers the rebuttal to end all rebuttals by asking that my punishment be placed upon Him.  Justice is accomplished in my case because Jesus’ sacrificing Himself for me covers all my sin and sets me free.

Free

Fully and simultaneously aware of my sin and Jesus’ grace, I revel in the unmerited favor afforded to me.  I can still see the imprints of the long-worn shackles on my wrists and feet as I exit the proceedings.  It is not hard to imagine the weight of the sin I had long carried, nor the possibilities that exist now that I am free of it.  I run from its’ darkness and to the Lord’s light, thankful for my freedom.

Resonate

Does that rendering resonate within your heart?  It should.  It is the story of each of us who have placed our faith in the finished work of Christ, His blood shed on our behalf, to satisfy the righteousness of God.

We will take some time in the next blog, Foulest to Faultless, to consider the efficacy of Christ’s blood on our behalf, but for now will you just thank Him?  Thank Him for cancelling the power of sin.  Thank Him for setting you free, no longer sin’s prisoner.  Thank Him you get to sing His praise, until and then beyond the day when you will stand faultless before the Throne.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, thank You cancelling the power of sin in my life.  Thank you for setting me free, by taking my punishment on Yourself.  I could never have earned my freedom, but You gave it to me anyway.  I want that realization to continue to transform my daily living and my praising. In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Video 3.3 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 breaks the power of cancell’d sin,
  He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
  His blood avail’d for me.

Now we recount some of the reasons we want a thousand tongues to sing.  He breaks the power of sin, cancelled by His work on the cross, and our faith in it.  Thank Him.

He sets the prisoners free.  Take a moment and recall what your prison looked like, and felt like.  Give Him praise for setting you free.

It is imperative we acknowledge our wretchedness so we can revel in being made new.  Tell Him you were filthy with no way to get clean, nor even the desire to.

Availed here means to help or benefit.  Thank Jesus for helping you by applying the benefit of His blood to your sins and so enabling you to stand pure before our Holy God.

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.

Jesus! the Name that charms our fears,
  That bids our sorrows cease;
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears,
  ‘Tis life, and health, and peace.

O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
By: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788

Listen as you read.  This version is from Tyler Andrews.

Not long after beginning my journey with Jesus, a dear friend introduced me to this stanza.  We injected it into another song we were writing and I personalized it as I sang, “‘Tis music in this sinner’s ears”, and as much as that was true back then, it is even moreso now.

Music to One’s Ears

You are probably familiar with that saying which essentially describes something that is pleasant or gratifying to hear or discover.  A quick search reveals this concept dates back at least as far as Shakespeare, but regardless of the origin, I believe it is safe to say that nothing across all of history is so pleasant or gratifying to hear or discover as the name of Jesus, when rightly understood.  Musicians, or music lovers in general, can appreciate this phrase because of the way their souls have been moved while making or enjoying music.

• Can you remember a time when your soul was stirred by a piece of music?  Whether there were words or just an instrumental line, you were moved deeply within your being.  Something happened as you heard the combination of notes that resonated deeply within you.  For me, as a tenor, one such piece is “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, especially the last note.
• Can you remember a time when your soul was stirred by the name of Jesus?  Whether in a piece of music, as you read Scripture, or heard a teaching, you were moved deeply within your being.  Something happened as you heard the sound of His name and it resonated deeply within you.  Think of one of those times,

But this phrase is not lost on non-musicians either.  Many are familiar not only with this expression but the feeling of hearing something that brings delight to the soul.  All that said, it is a masterful use of a familiar turn of words, especially as it applies to the music of the unparalleled name of Jesus.

Saying it is unparalleled is not just a powerful statement to make a point here.  I am simply reiterating what the  Scripture clearly declares.  This is maybe nowhere more clear than in Philippians 2:9-11.

⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)

There is coming a day when every creature and all creation will bow before Jesus.  For those who have come to the incredible knowledge the Jesus is Lord, and have surrendered to that knowledge, His name is “music to their ears”.

But this is not only because it has stirred us deeply…

Life and Health and Peace

Interesting sequence of words in this last line.  It seems like the opposite of the natural order, but after some consideration really make sense.  Jesus’ name is actually the source of Life. Health and Peace flow from it.

First, He said this in John 14:6.   “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Pretty bold and exclusive statement, but when you are God you can get away with such declarations, especially because it is the truth.  Notice Jesus did not say He was a life, or simply life, but THE life.

Out of that reality flows the next paradoxical proclamation.  His name is health, and it was His death that creates the paradox.  There are a number of different Scriptures that speak specifically to this character of God in general and Jesus in particular.  But allow me to draw attention to Isaiah 53:5.

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Speaking here of the Suffering Servant that was to come, Isaiah says his wounds will heal us.   Jesus is that Suffering Servant and His sacrificial death accomplished our healing.  But did you notice the other of our words Isaiah mentioned?

Peace.  The punishment that He suffered brought us peace.  What He was about to endure, that which Isaiah had prophesied  centuries before, validated these words from John 14:27.

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

So my question to help you tune today is, “Are you inviting the power of His name into your life regularly?”  Whether lifting it in a song, or simply in prayer or conversation, are you allowing it to voice in your life?  We will think about those first two lines in the next post on Thursday, but until then give the name of Jesus some expression in your life.  Subscribers, you can just play the vlog below for one such opportunity.

Happy Tuning!

Jesus, Your name is music to my ears!  Help me to speak it more often so that I create some opportunity for you to usher Your life and health and peace into my living.  Forgive me for not giving you more access to my lips and ears.  Help me to help others know You today.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Finding some help here tuning?  Subscribe to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.

Please comment below and share if you have found this helpful in your journey of being more resonant.

Below is content available only to Subscribers.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here.

Subscribers, enjoy this video log!