Do You See What I See?

There are so many hymns about the cross of Jesus that I just can’t skip over too many of them…the topic is too important. The hymn I’d like you to think about today is When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. The first thought I have is the combination of the words “wondrous” and “cross”. No one would ever have paired these two words together before the resurrection of Jesus. The cross was an instrument of death and yet after the resurrection it is associated with life, wonderful life. Each stanza of this hymn is amazing. I’ll focus on the last stanza which reads: “Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Wow! When you survey the wondrous cross I hope you see something…or better yet, Someone, who is worth everything you have and everything you are. This last stanza states that even if you had the entire realm of nature at your disposal, with all the wealth and beauty, and if you were to offer that to Jesus it wouldn’t be enough. Rather, when we see the cross it calls us to offer our very lives, not just our resources, but everything that we are and all that we would ever become. When you “see” the cross of Jesus I hope you see the sacrifice that has been given for you and I hope you “see” how what Jesus has done can lead to a desire on your part to offer everything you are to Him.   You don’t have to die on the cross. You just have to die to your goals and ambitions apart from those that Christ has for you.

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