And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
How Great Thou Art
By: Carl Gustaf Boberg (1859-1940)
Listen to this interesting violin arrangement as you read. And EVERYONE please be sure to experience the worship-cultivating podcast below.
We continue our gaze at the cross where God put His greatness on display through the willing sacrifice of His Son. We saved the first half of the stanza for today because it expressly talks about thinking about the cross. We want to help you love God with all your mind. That’s part of why Resonant 7 exists. May God enable you to ponder His cross in a way that inspires your praise today. Let’s think about this.
When I Think
We are thinking about the cross. Now let us be careful not to make the cross itself the object of our worship. For it but is a symbol of God’s love for us and must not become the focal point of our adoration. That place belongs to Jesus alone, because of what He did for us.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV
But we should think about this. This is such a foundational truth that we can be guilty of taking it for granted. Instead we should reflect on Jesus’ work routinely and let it shape and reshape our love and our life.
Maybe you have a cross somewhere nearby, or an image saved on your phone that is meaningful to you. Do not worship it, but look at it and allow God to fill your heart with gratitude for what Jesus did for you on the cross. Take a few moments now and do that. You can use the image below if you do not have another one handy.
God, His Son Not Sparing
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 ESV
I am a father of four boys. It is hard for me to imagine sending my son to pay the penalty of someone else’s wrong. Even if that person was remarkable and their life was otherwise an incredible influence on others it just seems like there is no way I would do that. Let alone if the person was a trouble maker, liar, thief, rebellious, foul, wretched and mean. But that is exactly what our Father did.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Think of that moment in history when Jesus climbed that hill to Calvary carrying His cross. In that moment you and I were still sinners. We had not sinned yet, but we were doomed to do so as children of Adam. Even still the Father did not spare Jesus the pain of the cross, but sent Him there to die for us.
Though He was God, Jesus was also man. He endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, but it was still agonizing. He was not spared that misery. Think on that for a moment, and then thank Him for His obedience and sacrifice.
Almost Unfathomable
I know it is true because I have felt the effects of it in my own life, and seen it in the lives of others. I have witnessed transformation of countenance and character. I have watched as sorrow over sin was turned into joy for justification. I have beheld miraculous healing and been overwhelmed by grace.
Still, I scarce can it in.
I can barely fathom the greatness of grace displayed in Jesus and His cross. Barely, but I do believe. And even that gift is but another expression of His greatness, to bridge the chasm that my waywardness and yours had created, and reinforced.
We really should think about this more often.
So how about you? Can you “take it in”? Is it easy? If so, maybe you need to step back a bit and look at the cross again. The humility to say “I can barely wrap my mind around this” is an experience of grace in and of itself. Ask the Holy Spirit to take you to the brink and your understanding and reveal anew the marvel of the cross which puts God’s greatness on display.
Spirit, thank You for enabling me to take in the wonder of the cross. Without such capacity, I would never have yielded my life to Jesus, for I would not have understood my need of Him without it. Keep that wonder fresh through the seasons, and start by making it fresh today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Marvelous Thinking!
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and everyone the transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures shared.
Podcast 10.3 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
John 3:16 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
And here is maybe the most well-known, often-quoted single verse in all of Scripture. But I wonder how many really know this truth well among the many that hear it. If you do, give Him praise because knowing this, and believing it, changes everything.
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
Romans 8:32 ESV
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
The Father gave up His only Son for all of us. That fact alone is difficult to grasp. When coupled with the truth of this verse which speaks of what Christ has then graciously made available, it truly defies imagination. Give thanks to our Father for His gracious gifts to you.
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus became the founder and perfecter of our faith when He endured the cross, despising the shame, but gladly bearing our burden of sin. Look nowhere else but to Jesus! The One who became our sacrifice and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
He bled and died to take away my sin.
1 Peter 2:24 ESV
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed
Jesus bore our sins for a purpose. So that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. We have been healed by His wounds. Are you making the most of this new opportunity to live rightly, or are you still injuring yourself with sin? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you die to sin and live to 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.
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
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
And When I Think – https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-mood-cross-windows-reflect-1245788/
Sent Him to Die – https://pixabay.com/photos/jesus-cross-faith-crucifixion-3476251/
Scarce Can Take It In – https://pixabay.com/photos/thinking-thinking-work-man-face-272677/
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