Hymn Devotions Day 33 – All Hail The Power of Jesus Name

November 5, 2012 / taethne

DAY 33 – ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME

What a magnificent tribute to our great King Jesus! Everything should praise His incomparable majesty, from angelic beings to repentant sinners. I love how we are swept away to the throne of God to see Jesus receive the honor and glory due Him.

Edward Perronet leaves out no one in this great hymn. From the seraphim to human martyrs, to the chosen nation of Israel and the redeemed of every nationality, all have reason to praise and glorify Jesus Christ.

As I reflect on this song, I must ask myself – do I praise Him as He deserves to be praised? Do I truly follow Him as a servant should his Master, his Lord? Do I truly magnify His name with my life, my witness?

Oh, that we would always lift up high the name of Jesus. Our wonderful Savior, Redeemer and Friend. The Lord of all lords. The King of all kings. The One who left His throne in heaven to save a wretch like me. What a wonderful day it will be to stand before Him, and watch as He sits enthroned, ruling over the universe. May we never forget the suffering our Lord endured for us, the wormwood and the gall, as the hymn reads. Let us spread out before Him our lives, the good works we have done in His name so that others could see His saving and transforming power. Let us shout to all with ears that Jesus is Lord of all.

What a scene in heaven, as those from Earth join those in Heaven and together we lift up the name of Jesus in praise and adulation. Let us start now and keep the song rolling through eternity.

All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain. Thank You, Lord Jesus – may all who draw breath seek to praise Your name. Draw us to Yourself so that we may praise You forever.

ALL HAIL THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME – Edward Perronet

All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall

Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre and as they tune it, fall

Before His face who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light who fixed this floating ball

Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call

Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Ye ransomed from the fall

Hail Him who saves you by His grace and crown Him Lord of all

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call

The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall

Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall

And shout in universal song the crowned Lord of all

Oh, that with yonder sacred throng, We at His feet may fall

We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all

(John Rippon added final verse in 1787)

Hymn Devotions Day 32 – Master, The Tempest Is Raging

November 4, 2012 / taethne

DAY 32 – MASTER, THE TEMPEST IS RAGING

Straight out of the gospels comes this stirring hymn. One can feel the terror of the disciples on their boat at night, being swamped by a massive storm that threatened their lives. They are incredulous that Jesus is sleeping through it all and in fright accuse Him of not caring. How they quaked with fear when He commanded the storm to cease. They were far more afraid of Him than the storm at the conclusion of the story.

The writer then moves us from physical storms to emotional storms in verse two. There are times when grief threatens to overwhelm our life like waves over a boat. We feel helpless to stop the pain. We have no answers. We spiral downward, into despair, disillusionment and depression. How we even accuse God of not caring for us in those moments. Like Job’s wife, we sometimes want to curse God and die to escape the pain. How wonderful that Jesus can still those storms too. How marvelous that He can bring peace even in the middle of horrible circumstances.

Then, when the storm passes, as they always do, we see just how awesome He is. We realize what we have learned of Him, that He does care. We learn that we need Him always, that He is mighty to save. It doesn’t matter whether the threat is natural or supernatural. It doesn’t matter if we are battling the elements or ourselves, God is in control and powerful to save. All we need to do is cry out in faith to Him, trusting in His inherent goodness.

Lord, thank You for being a good God. A God who cares. A God who can and does save. Help us to trust in You no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in. You alone are powerful and mighty to save.

MASTER, THE TEMPEST IS RAGING – Mary Baker

Master, the tempest is raging, the billows are tossing high

The sky is overshadowed with blackness

No shelter of haven is nigh

Carest Thou not that we perish?

How canst Thou lie asleep

When each moment so madly is threatening

A grave in the angry deep?

Master, with anguish of spirit, I bow in my grief today

The depths of my sad heart are troubled

O waken and save, I pray!

Torrents of sin and of anguish

Sweep o’er my sinking soul

And I perish! I perish dear Master

O hasten and take control

Master, the terror is over, the elements sweetly rest

Earth’s sun in the calm lake is mirrored

And heaven’s within my breast

Linger, O blessed Redeemer

Leave me alone no more

And with joy I shall make the blest harbor

And rest on the blissful shore

REFRAIN:

The winds and the waves shall obey Thy will, Peace be still!

Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea

Or demons or men, or whatever it be

No water can swallow the ship where lies

The Master of ocean and earth and skies

They all shall sweetly obey Thy will

Peace be still! Peace be still!

They all shall sweetly obey Thy will

Peace, peace be still!

Hymn Devotions Day 31 – Kneel At The Cross

November 3, 2012November 3, 2012 / taethne

DAY 31 – KNEEL AT THE CROSS

What a joy to know that when we come in repentance to Him, Jesus is faithful to meet us. How great it is, to know that He is there when we need Him. How marvelous to know that He offers us a new life, in exchange for our old one. Do you hear Him calling to you, telling you that His yoke is easy and His burden is light? Do you hear Him calling upon you to repent of your sins and to turn your life over to Him?

It doesn’t matter who you are, where you are from, your race, creed, color or economic status, there is only one way to eternal life – through Jesus Christ. There is room for all who believe. The ground is equal at the foot of the cross, all must enter the same way, through the only Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ.

Amazingly, He offers to share His glory with us. To all who believe on Him, God offers not only new life, but to make us co-heirs with Jesus. This is unbelievable. Not only are we pardoned, cleansed and offered a new life forever, but also we are made to share in the blessings and the glory of His Son. What a great God!

What has this life to offer that could possibly compare to sharing in the inheritance of Jesus? Look not to things of this world, look to Jesus alone and find joy unspeakable and full of glory. Find Jesus and find everything.

Lord, help us look only to You. We pray, also, for our friends and family who do not yet know You. Call to them, show them Your glory, draw them to You so they may kneel at the cross in repentance and find remission for their sin.

KNEEL AT THE CROSS – Charles Moody

Kneel at the cross

Christ will meet you there

Come while He waits for you

List to His voice

Leave with Him your care

And begin life anew

Kneel at the cross

There is room for all

Who would His glory share?

Bliss there awaits

Harm can ne’er befall

Those who are anchored there

Kneel at the cross

Give your idols up

Look unto realms above

Turn not away

To life’s sparkling cup

Trust only in His love

REFRAIN

Kneel at the cross

Leave every care

Kneel at the cross

Jesus will meet you there

Hymn Devotions Day 30 – Take My Hand Precious Lord

November 1, 2012 / taethne

DAY 30 – TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD

Many hymns were written out of tragedies, and this one was no exception. Thomas Dorsey was a fantastic musician and song writer who was devastated when his wife died giving birth to their child, who also later died. Filled with despair, he lost faith in God being a good and caring God. Deep in his grief, God reached out to him one as he sat at a friend’s house, overshadowing him with peace and filling his heart with love. Immediately he started playing a melody and these words welled up from inside him.

We can all empathize with him at times in our life. Few us there are who have not been touched with death or tragedy. Few of us there are who have not known despair at the circumstances we find ourselves in. Like the disciples on the boat in the storm, we have a feeling that any moment life is going to drown us. Thankfully, God is in control. He does have a plan, and it is a good one because He is good.

We can, like Peter found out, grab hold of His hand when we are in danger of drowning and He can lift us up to walk above the storms of life. He is all we need. When He is all there is we find Him to be more than sufficient, more than enough. He is God. All-knowing. All-caring. All-powerful. All-wise. All-good. He is God.

When we are overwhelmed we need to simply cry out to Him, “Lord, take my hand.” He will. He will lead us to Himself, where we will find rest for our burdened souls. “Come to Me” is His invitation. He will never turn us away.

Lord, take my hand today. Lead me to You. I do not know what today entails for my life, but You do. I can easily lose sight of You, lose perspective, lose hope. Keep me in Your hand, so that I am not overwhelmed by life, but so I can rest in You. Amen.

TAKE MY HAND, PRECIOUS LORD – Thomas Dorsey

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand

I am tired

I am weak

I am worn

Through the storm

Through the night

Lead me on to the light

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

When my way grows drear

Precious Lord, linger near

When my life is almost gone

Hear my cry

Hear my call

Hold my hand

Lest I fall

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

When the darkness appears

And the night draws near

And the day is past and gone

At the river I stand

Guide my feet

Hold my hand

Take my hand, precious Lord

Lead me home

Hymn Devotions Day 29 – Nothing But The Blood

October 29, 2012 / taethne

DAY 29 – NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

Hebrews 9:22 tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. Other parts of the Bible tell us that only the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus, suffices to pay sin’s penalty. This song is a tribute to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.

Only Jesus can provide forgiveness of sin. Only Jesus can restore our true humanity. Only Jesus can pardon our crimes and atone for our trespasses against God’s laws. Only Jesus can bring healing, peace and comfort.

Our religion is a bloody one. Life is found in the blood and so only a blood sacrifice suffices as payment. Jesus is the only one able to be a perfect sacrifice, as He is the only one to never sin. Let us never be ashamed to sing of His shed blood. Those outside of God’s kingdom may be offended, thinking we are brutal, uncivilized barbarians for focusing on blood, sacrifice, crucifixion and the like. We know why they are important. We know the true history of mankind. We know the story of God’s redemption. We know why it was necessary for Jesus to die in our place.

Let us confidently proclaim our belief, our truth, our Savior. Let us sing out praises to Him who shed His blood on our behalf. Let us glory in our King, who was crucified and who rose again, conquering death. How precious is the blood of Jesus, that purifies me of my sin.

Thank You, Lord, for shedding Your blood for me. There is no other who can save. There is none who compares with You. You paid the price for me. Help me to become worthy of Your sacrifice by making me, molding me, into Your image.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD – Robert Lowry

What can wash away my sin?