Simple Grace

Dusting off the Hymnal 

A love for the old Christian hymns has grabbed hold of my heart lately. It seems I get lost in the glory and richness of the eternal truths that will never become irrelevant.   All around us, and even among us, we hear the clamoring of loud personal opinions and arguments, even within the church, and it creates a culture of confusion and chaos.  Truth can become lost in the muddy waters of current thought.  

Lately, I’ve intentionally pulled away from the noise, popped in my earbuds, and given myself to listening to the simple words of well-known hymns.  These words of truth shore me up and keep me focused on the things that matter.   

Have you ever wondered what went on inside Fanny Crosby back in 1873 that caused her heart to erupt with these words: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!  O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God!  Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song! Praising my Savior, all the day long!”   I think Fanny had a clue about the gospel, don’t you?  I want to be that caught up in the stuff that matters.  I think that in spite of her blindness, she probably saw better than most of us.   

The lyrics from Jesus Paid it All have recently caught my attention in a new way – and more than my attention, I believe the Lord has brought fresh light to those words written so long ago (1865) and revealed a greater measure of His merciful love to me.  

I can hear the Savior say
Thy strength indeed is small
Child of weakness, watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all.

I sing this song, and I’m moved to tears.  These words have brought me so much hope because, hey, Jesus gets me! He knows I’m weak, but I’m still His child! He knows my strength is small, but rather than scoff in disappointment, He makes Himself available to me.  He doesn’t tell me to “buck up” or to think positive thoughts about myself and my abilities.  His hope comes from reminding me that although I am weak - I don’t have to wallow in my weakness because He’s there to give me strength.  I am able to abide in Him! When I sing these words, I do not see the Lord frowning, but rather smiling and softly stroking my cheek, quietly assuring my heart.  Ahh, He gets me.  What love!  It’s a place of true rest for a weak child like me.  And you.

My hope in the next several weeks, is to be able to share here, more about the old hymns and their amazing relevance to our lives today.  If we have ears to hear, and a heart that’s willing to respond, I believe the Holy Spirit can freshly breathe on old words written on yellowed pages of dusty hymnals and awaken our hearts to eternal truth.   I don’t know about you, but I need that – especially in a day when confusion seems to rage in our culture. 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us.