O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
  Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
  Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

How Great Thou Art
By: Carl Gustaf Boberg (1859-1940)

Listen to this awesome electric guitar version as you read.  And make sure to check out the video log below which will guide you through a worshipful reflection of this stanza.

So today we begin our five week journey through one of the greatest of all hymnody.  So much has been said about this great hymn that even pondering adding to that body of work is daunting, but I was reminded today of the purpose of Resonant 7.  It is not to be the last word on these wonderful songs of faith, but to use them to create an atmosphere to help you, our readers, cultivate and awareness of God’s presence.  We pray that happens again today.   Let’s tune our hearts.

When I Consider

Nature is a go-to for me when I want to commune with God.  It is just natural for me to sense the supernatural in the beauty of the created world around me, so this hymn has always been a favorite of mine.  For this reason, I want to take you on a little journey with me.

I had walked with Jesus a little over the year and had the opportunity to be visit the Rockies.  While at a camp high in the mountains I recommended to my friends that we awake before dawn to catch the sunrise from one of the ridges surrounding us.  We underestimated the magnitude of those ridges and so were not able to make it to the top before the sun began to peek over the peak we were climbing to west.

I remember stopping to take in the view as it slowly began to illuminate the opposite ridge to the east of us.  The four of us just soaked in that moment, fully aware of the greatness of our God.  It was a moment of awesome wonder to be sure.

I have had several others over the years, but that one certainly stands out in my mind as one of the most breathtaking.  I want to invite you to take a few moments and remember a time when your encounter with your creation and the way it pointed to your Creator simply took your breath away.

Recall those moments of inspiration.  Where were you?  Was anyone with you?  What did you see?  How did you respond?  Take a moment and express your gratitude to God for those moments of wonder.  And then ask Him for more.

The Worlds

We a blessed to live in a very beautiful world.  What is your favorite place on it?  Maybe where you grew up, or where you are loving now, or hope to visit someday.  Now consider for a moment that this is but one of countless other worlds across all of creation.

We simply lack the capacity to understand the magnitude of all that God has made.  I could spout some numbers that would try to demonstrate our smallness in the vastness of the cosmos, but they would only begin to demonstrate it.  Can you imagine the unique beauty of your favorite place replicated billions of times over and over again?  I can not.

The sense of the insignificance of my tiny being set against the expanse of all the created worlds is humbling to say the least.  My perspective of our world fills me with awesome wonder.  When I consider all the worlds His hands have made, I am overwhelmed.

Big Daddy Weave wrote a song with that title a few years ago.  Want to take a few moments and ponder another perspective of being overwhelmed by our God?  Listen to it here.

Thy Hands

We will consider later in this hymns some of the other work His hands did, namely purchasing our redemption as they were nailed to a cross, but here we are reminded that those hands that made my re-creation possible where the same ones that created everything in the first place.  He spoke it all into being, but I like image His fingers forming rivers and valleys, planets and stars.

He is the Creator God.  He made it all, so He has the power to remake it.  A friend once said, “If a man made it, a man can fix it.”  This is true.  How much more-so is that the case with our God?

We will spend time acknowledging His power to re-make things later, but for today, marvel at His creative force involved in everything He has made.  On this little ball where we exist is your minute life.  Give Him praise for all His handiwork!

Keep coming back and we will work to assist you in offering God praise with your entire life.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your praise by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

Awe-ful Tuning!

Jesus, thank You being Creator and my Lord.  I acknowledge Your creative power at work in all thy worlds Your hands have made.  I am filled with awe and pray You will help me stay so throughout this day, and every day.  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 always available to Subscribers, and sometimes to Free Members, but to everyone here.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Enjoy this video and the transcript below!

Video 10.1 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.

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
  Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
  Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

From the very first line one thing is clear, the writer esteems God with a great deal of reverence.  It is marked by awe and wonder, but it is also personal. This mingling of friendship and fear is an unusual characteristic of Christianity.  Praise God for that reality.

And what fills him with reverence, a careful consideration of all the worlds our Creator God has made with His hands.  Remember the most beautiful vista you have ever seen. Are you recalling it? Give God glory for how He puts His work on display on the earth.

Not only on the earth, but in the heavens above as well. Whether the immediate skies above  filled with thunder and lighting, or all the starry host beyond, the magnitude of His grandeur is truly awe-inspiring.  Ask Him to open your eyes today to see it afresh.

Throughout our universe, and all the multi-universes beyond, the sheer size of space is mind-boggling, let alone the power on exhibit.  All the while, we have access to speak directly to the One who has made it all. Hallelujah! Thank Him for revealing His greatness!

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.

Image Attributions
Awesome Wonder – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfUBnNez72w
The Worlds – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/background-space-sky-planets-stars-1475670/
Thy Hands – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfUBnNez72w

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
  I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.  And make sure to check out the video log below which will guide you through a worshipful reflection of this stanza.

As we close out our look into different moments when we love Jesus we consider the ones that will go on forever.  It is the last great “ever”, and like every now before it, this one will also be filled with our response of love to Jesus.  We will consider two aspects: the place, and the promise, today looking into the place and some of what we will do there.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Mansions of Glory

We simply do not have the capacity to fathom the place Jesus has in store for us.  He spoke words that make sense.  He described things that we have a context to understand.  But they pointed to reality that surpasses what even our sanctified imagining can concur.

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  John 14:2 ESV

We spend so much time thinking about the realities of this existence, and so little time setting our minds on things above.  When was the last time you just let your mind wander along the streets of gold?  It is our inheritance because of what Jesus has accomplished and is preparing for us.

There is a room for you.  Do you believe that?  Have you ever wondered what might be in that room?  What it may look like?  What is the view from your window?  It is a real place and one that is waiting for us.

Take a few moments and imagine what the mansions may look like.  Imagine what your room or rooms may look like.  Now thank Jesus for preparing that place for you.

Endless Delight

A cursory look at this line might lead one to believe that the the mansions of glory are reason for the endless delight.  But the saint knows better.  The endless delight is the supernatural consequence of the environment of heaven.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4 ESV 

That sounds like endless delight to me.  Obviously Jesus is the He described in that passage, and the One who makes all that possible through His sacrifice.  It also frames the context for our response to this atmosphere which affords endless delight even as it defines the last, great “ever” of the hymn.  Forever.

Ever

We have considered several other “ever’s” as we have walked through the hymn.

• The ever of salvation.
• The ever when Jesus took me deeper into His sacrifice.
• The ever of life and death,
• And now this final one, on the other side of death, for-“ever”.

We have made the statement poetically, “if ever I love Thee, Jesus ’tis now.”  In this final one we acknowledge the enduring response we will offer.  “I’ll ever adore Thee”, or “I will adore You forever”.

We have confessed and committed to loving Jesus at the moment of salvation, when we went deeper in our understanding of His sacrifice, in life and death.  There are two ways to look at this last statement.

1. It is an acknowledgment of what we will do.
2. It is a commitment to what we will do.

It should be both simultaneously.  The first one alone is not enough.

Have you resolved and committed to that eternal adoration?  Doing so influences your ability to look forward to it because it informs your perspective.  Commit right now to adore Him forever.  Just say it, “I will adore You forever!”

Heaven So Bright

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. Revelation 21:23 ESV

Here is another aspect of our eternal adoration that is hard for us to fathom, the enduring glory of God, in the form of eternal light.  No sun or moon, yet there is never an absence of light.  What will that be like?

In our modern minds this seems like no big deal because we have become accustomed to artificial light.  We have so much ambient light in the sky at night it effects our ability to see the stars clearly.  This makes me wonder how much more significant the truth of this Scripture may have been in the eyes of the ancients.

We have already established there will be no more pain, now we acknowledge there will be no darkness.  Indeed, the former things will have passed away and this new reality provides the scenario for and the impetus to our unending praise.   I can hardly wait.  How about you?

Keep coming back and we will work to assist you in making and practicing that commitment.   We will help you tune your heart to sing such praise by providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Eternal Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for preparing a place for me to offer my eternal adoration.  Not only the rooms themselves, but also the entire environment.  For these reasons, and so many more, I will adore You forever.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and 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 always available to Subscribers, and sometimes to Free Members, but to everyone here.  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Enjoy this video and the transcript below!

Video 9.4 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.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
  I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow,
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Of course, our loving Jesus does not end in death.  Death is the beginning of the rest of our destiny for everyone who loves Jesus.  This stanza draws from Scripture and speaks of two realities of the beyond: a place to belong, and an inheritance to enjoy.  Ask the Spirit to show the wonder of both.

Forever.  That’s the other variation of ever we have not considered.  In bright heaven we will always adore Jesus. The “ever” in each of the last lines indicates different moments when we love Jesus.  This “ever” declares we will spend the balance of eternity loving Him. Are you ready for that? 

You get a crown.  You not only get to dwell in heaven, the very presence of God, eternally, but you get to do so with honor.  You go from death-dew to a crown on your brow in a moment, because Jesus wore the thorns on His. Thank Him for purchasing that privilege for you.

And the culmination of all the “nows” when we have or will ever love Jesus, find us doing the same.  Don’t wait until you get there. Determine to praise Him in every now He gives you, no matter the circumstances for He is worthy of all your praise, adoration, and 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.

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.

Image Attributions
Mansion – https://pixabay.com/photos/castle-hluboká-heaven-south-bohemia-852714/
Ever Adore – https://pixabay.com/photos/ascension-celestial-planet-heaven-1568162/
Heaven So Bright – https://pixabay.com/photos/clouds-landscape-beyond-sky-rays-2709662/

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
  And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.  And make sure to check out the video log below which will guide you through a worshipful reflection of this stanza.

We continued our look into this timeless hymn last week considering Jesus’ demonstration of love through His death on Calvary.  You can find that post here.  This week we turn our attention to the “now” of our own death, and the living until then, determined to continue to love Jesus through them all.  Let’s tune our hearts.

A Matter of Life and Death

This third stanza gives us the opportunity to consider our response of love whether living or dying.  It is a beautiful expression of this verse.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 ESV

To rephrase this commitment and simplify the stanza we could simply say “I’ll love Thee”.  But simplifying the words does not mean that actually doing the loving becomes simple.  It definitely makes it easier on two counts though.

1. There is intentionality involved.  We can draw strength from the fact that we decided to love Jesus in response to His love, especially when doing so becomes challenging.
2. There is commitment engaged.  We have told the One who loved us first that we are going to love Him as long as we live and even as we die.

Those are both very important because there are different seasons to everything.  Think about the image above.  I love Jesus differently when I am graduating to a nursing home than when I graduated from high school.  My own perspectives and life experience influence and inform my intention and commitment to love Jesus.

When Paul says to the church ay Philippi, that should he live he will do so for the glory of Christ, and should he die that will be for his gain.  That is a mature declaration that Paul was able to arrive at after some time of living in Christ.  It is one that every senior saint can say with a confidence the baby believer simply does not possess.

Whatever season you are living in today, old or young, weary or vigorous, happy or sad, etc.  determine to love Jesus in it.  Tell Him again right now you will, and ask Him for the ability to do so.

 

I Will Praise Thee

The Scripture says it best.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 ESV

Again the succinctness of the Scripture is so satisfying.  This is the command to which the commitment of the second line responds.

• Command:  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
• Response:  Yes I will, as long as the Lord gives me breath!

So where are you with your response?  Now be careful because this one seems so easy as well.  Notice it does not say, “And praise Thee as long as…

• You give me what I want
• Things are going my way
• Life is easy
• I am not suffering
• Fill in the blank with your supposed first objection __________

It does say, “And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath.”  We are going to look into that poetic last phrase in a moment but first just consider what that implies.  As long as I am alive, I am going to praise You.  Not just obey, submit, serve, honor, etc., but praise.  All those other things are ways to praise, but can fall short if not offered with the right heart.  The heart that says to Jesus…

Worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you.  From Build My Life by Housefires

We live for you.  Maybe take a few minutes and just play that video and make that commitment.  Either way, tell him again today, “I will live for You!”

 

As Long As Thou Lendest Me Breath

 

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.  Genesis 2:7 ESV 

The idea here is that from the first of us, Adam, to the last of us, we will only live as God, the Giver of all breath allows.  Because He is the Giver, and we are His creation, we should declare that commitment with the hymn writer,  “I will praise You as long as You give me breath.”

That is a powerful declaration, but it is followed up with an even more powerful which we will consider on Thursday.  I will even sing my love song to Jesus as I prepare to take my last breath.  Hope to see you back here as we think about that.

Be careful when considering using that breath to make a powerful statement this this stanza offers.  This is serious stuff.  Literally a matter of life and death.  But I hope you will sing this commitment which us in the video below and then everyday in some way.  We will help you tune your heart to sing such praise by providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Intentional Tuning!

Jesus, thank You for loving me and lending me the breath to live, and to praise You with that life.  Help me today to use this breath and the life it affords to love You and love others.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and 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 always available to Subscribers, and sometimes to Free Members, but to everyone here .  Want to learn more about accessing all the additional material in the Subscriber Content Library, click here, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the complete Subscribers content, click here.

Enjoy this video and the transcript below!

Video 9.3 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.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
  And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In response to His love displayed on Calvary, we commit to love Him not only as long as we live, but even as we die.  He loved us this way, so loving Him in kind is the very least we can do. Ask Jesus to help you love Him, whether living or dying.

He is the source of life.  If you draw another breath, it is because He chose to lend the air to you and enable your lungs to take it in.  As you take your next breath, thank Jesus for it, and ask Him for the ability to praise Him every one you take.

I love how many hymns have no trouble addressing the reality of death.  This idea of moisture, possibly perspiration, on the forehead of someone facing death is an unusual visual, but suffice it to say, there is a resolve as to what will be on his lips even then.  Are you so resolved?

And here is our repeated refrain, growing in intensity through the stanzas, from that decision to first love, to love in response to the cross, and now even at death.  The words on the lips of the genuine worshipper at every circumstance of life, “Jesus, I love you.” Echo them now.

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.

Image Attributions
Life and Death – https://pixabay.com/vectors/adult-age-baby-child-death-human-2028245/
Praise Thee  – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-happiness-sunrise-silhouette-570883/
Breath – https://pixabay.com/vectors/lungs-human-anatomy-bronchia-296392/

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
  And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.  

We began our look into this timeless hymn last week.  You can find that first post here.   This week we examine the act which demonstrated God’s love for us and illicits our response.  In each of those “now” moments, we are given a number of different things to ponder.  Let’s tune our hearts.

I Love Thee Because…

This second stanza expands on the now of the historical event that made our redemption possible: God’s demonstration of love for us on the cross.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:8 ESV

We did not have to get our act together.  We did not even need an awareness of God or His great love for us.  While we were still in sin, the Father sent His one and only Son to die for us.

The hymn puts the emphasis where it belongs, on God’s initiating, unmerited love, not our responding, grateful love.  If God had not moved toward us, we simply would never have taken the initiative.  Even if we had, we could have never reached Him, because our sin had so separated us from Him.  Our sin had left us with a debt we could never pay.  Fortunately for us, God’s love came to pay the debt in full.

Purchased My Pardon

The Scripture says it best.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Our sin had earned us death, a debt only satisfied with a life.  It should have been ours, but instead Jesus offered His perfect life, “once for all”.  Romans 6:10

I think this is a difficult concert to grasp, even when the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to the reality of it.  Though we acknowledge our utter need for a Savior when we yield our lives to Christ, I think we will be amazed at how bad our situation was when we stand before the throne and see others do the same, only to find that dependency on Christ work alone makes all the difference.

Think of it this way.  Every time you sin you are charging things to your account.  Unfortunately, we you get to the end of the billing cycle and your statement arrives, you realize there is not only no way you can pay for your usage that month, you can not repay any portion of the the debt at all, ever.  One swipe caused your account to be in default, and yet unbeknownst to you, you kept charging.

Only the Holy Spirit can reveal this situation to you and the remedy.  Trusting Christ to redeem every bit requires faith, and even that is a gift.  But it is important to remember, Jesus did not wipe out your debt.  He paid it in full, at great cost to Himself.

 

Calvary’s Tree

And just exactly how did He purchase our pardon?

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— Galatians 3:13 ESV

Let’s change the imagery a bit here to help us reconsider just how significant this becoming a curse truly was.

This quote comes from Deuteronomy 21:22, but the even more interesting reality is the context for it.

The imagery that is evoked here is that of the Canaanite kings who were hung on tress as a part of the conquest of the Promised Land by the people of Israel.  Not just anyone was hung on a tree, but those who were significant symbols of the wrath of God pouring out.  Christ is likened to them, and that is not a pleasant association.  You can read more about this in this short article, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”. 

Recap:  God loved us first.  He demonstrated that by purchasing our pardon when He became a curse for us.  The only right response to that kind of love is love.

Though there is no simple method which provides immediate financial debt relief, there is one way to accomplish immediate, total spiritual debt forgiveness.  Respond today to the free gift Jesus offers.  Then determine to life your life loving Jesus.  We will help you remove hindrances to such a life by providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Immediate and Continual Tuning!

Jesus, in response to Your great love for me which I could have never earned, I commit to love you, right now and forever. Thank You for purchasing my pardon by becoming a curse for me.  I can never repay the debt of love owed by this grateful heart, but I will live my life to reflect that love to everyone willing to acknowledge it.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

Like what you finding here?  Fill out the form to the right to get an email with each fresh post and 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, or the Free Member Content Library with some examples of the Subscribers content, click here.

Subscribers enjoy this video! Everyone else, the transcript below.

Video 9.2 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.

I love Thee because Thou hast first loved me,
  And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree;
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Here is a key truth. Our love is always a response to the love Christ has first shown us.  He initiates, moves toward us, makes a way for us to approach, and we simply respond. Ask God to help you maintain this humble perspective and motivate your response of love.  

He revealed His love by becoming a curse for us, dying on the cross, taking the punishment for all our wrongs.  Thank Jesus for purchasing your pardon by sacrificing His perfect life for the sins of the world, including yours. 

The Eternal King willingly laid down His life, stepping into those moments of beating and mockery, to leave no doubt of His great love for us.  Think on those hours from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross of Golgotha, and give Him praise. 

When we consider the lengths to which Jesus went to demonstrate His love for us, we are compelled to love Him.  Reflect on those times when you have been overcome with sorrow for all He endured or you, and respond in these moments by renewing 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.

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.

Image Attributions
First Loved Me – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/heart-love-romance-symbol-598048/
Purchased My Pardon – https://pixabay.com/photos/credit-card-master-card-visa-card-1520400/
Calvary’s Tree – https://pixabay.com/photos/cross-religion-jesus-christ-calvary-1872550/

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
  For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

My Jesus, I Love Thee
By: William Ralph Featherston (1848–1875)

Listen to this simple piano arrangement as you read.  

Over these next four weeks we will look into this timeless hymn, written in all likelihood by a 12-16 year, which examines several different moments in the life of the believer.  In each of those “now” moments, we are encouraged to express our love to Jesus in a variety of ways.  Let’s tune our hearts.

Fire

This hymn gives voice to the words in John 21 where Jesus reinstates Peter.  As they finished their meal, Peter declares three times his love for Jesus.  Peter had only days before denied Christ as he stood around another fire.

They shared some bread and fish together shortly after sunrise.  Jesus drew Peter close and warmed his heart with the invitation  to follow, again.  How sweet those moments with the resurrected Christ must have been for them.

How often our love for Jesus has grown cold and He invites us again to follow.  Not because we deserve it or have gotten our act together, but because He knows what is best for us, and that is it.

Jesus, I love you.  Many times over these weeks we are going to examine different moments of our life.  The “now” of each of those moments presents us with unique opportunities to demonstrate our love for Jesus.  We declare in each of them with the hymn writer “if ever I loved You Jesus, it’s now.”  May that become more true in our lives as we consider and determine our responses in each of those “nows”.

Mine

The first passage that comes to mind for me with the word mine is a very personal one.  On the inside of my wedding band are the words, “I am my beloved’s”.  It is referencing Song of Solomon 6:3a, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”  I have not always lived that out well, but it has always been and will always be my intention to do so.

The same could be said of our commitment to Jesus.  We have not always lived that out well, but it has always been our intention to do so.  Why?  Because it is the only appropriate response to Jesus giving Himself so selflessly to pay the penalty our sin deserved.  He put it like this.

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  John 15:13 (ESV)

Jesus has clearly and in dramatic fashion laid down his life for us.  We know He has done this for the glory of God and for our good, both simultaneously, as an extravagant expression of love.  One unlike any other other across all time and space.  The kind of expression that demands a response.

Resign

“To Thee all the follies of sin I resign.”  That is quite a response.

We use most of those words today, some 150 years after these were first penned, with the exception of one.  Follies.  Here that is meant to imply foolishness.  So essentially we are committing to cease our involvement in the foolishness of sin.  Sounds easy.  But in practice, not so much.

We would agree with the writer and confess this is the right response to being delivered from the consequences of sin, yet we still struggle to refrain from engaging in its foolishness.  While an entire book could be written on this struggle, and indeed it has been, consider this one line from it and the wisdom of its instruction.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11 (ESV)

I think the danger is trying to be dead to sin, without actually spending the bulk of our attention on being alive to God.  It’s the old negative versus positive conundrum.  Allow me to illustrate.

When you yell to a child running down the hall, “Don’t run”, the last thing they hear is “run” and you are reinforcing the negative behavior.  If instead you say “Walking feet”, you create a positive alternative and make clear the right behavior.

Though there is no simple formula to help you love Jesus more than sin, the next time you are faced with a temptation remind yourself of this conundrum, and ask the Holy Spirit to be that positive voice in your heart.  As opposed to telling your self, “Don’t sin”, allow the Spirit to speak to your heart “Love Jesus”.  I know it seems simple, but it has helped me to keep that commitment of love countless times, and I believe it can help you too.  And we will keep providing resources like this to help you love Jesus, and become Resonant, 7 days a week.

Positive Tuning!

Jesus, I love you.  I am so thankful you gave yourself as a sacrifice for my sin, delivering me from it’s folly.  I commit to love You again today, and ask for Your help to do it.  Holy Spirit, help me to resign to sin by  focusing more on loving Jesus.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

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Video 9.1 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.

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
  For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
  If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

When you know Jesus is for you, and what He has done to demonstrate that to you, the only appropriate response is to love Him.  The One who made all things and is remaking them wants to save you. Tell Him you love Him.

Foolishness, that what follies are.  Seems like a simple thing. Give up the foolishness of sin to fully embrace the wisdom of Christ’s love.  But it is not as easy as it sounds. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any follies you have yet to resign.

The realization of the truths of the third line are what I believe empowers the worshipper to declare the other three lines.  When we confess that He is the only One who can redeem us, purchasing us back from sin, saving us from the wrath of God, our worship begins.  Declare He is your Savior and Redeemer.

The use of the word now to describe the immediacy of the worshippers love here is intriguing, especially since the hymn takes us to four distinct, different moments in our journey of love.  This initial one seems to be those moments when we first determined to love Jesus. Recall your love for Jesus in those moments to kindle it again in these.

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.

Image Attributions
Fire on the Shore – https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-water-dusk-outdoors-shore-3097772/
I Am My Beloved’s – https://pixabay.com/photos/wedding-rings-engagement-rings-3611277/
Don’t Run – https://giphy.com/gifs/ted-talk-vaJquoRYdcN0c