My Jesus, Fair

Do you ever despise yourself? I mean, complete & utter disgust with something that you did or didn't do. A regret that seems to haunt your waking & sleeping moments? For me, these moments of despicable agony are often centered around spiritual failure. How could I fail my God again? Have you ever been there?

This weekend I found myself disgusted with the way I had responded to my parents & I punished myself by stepping away from God's Word. Not a brilliant idea, to say the least. I muddled through my weekend, pretending that life was honky-dory. Who was I kidding?

It's in these moments that God sends a soft rebuke that leaves my face stinging as though I'd received a much deserved slap. As He often does, God used His still small voice to remind me who He is & who I am (a princess of the heavenly kingdom) by His grace.

My Jesus, Fair

Chris Anderson & Greg Habegger

My Jesus, fair, was pierced by thorns

By thorns grown from the fall.

Thus He who gave the curse was torn

To end that cuse for all.

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O love divine, O matchless grace--

That God should die for men!

With joyful grief I lift my praise,

Abhoring all my sin, adoring only Him.

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My Jesus, meek, was scorned by men,

By men in blasphemy.

"Father, forgive their senseless sin!"

He prayed, for them, for me.

My Jesus, king, was torn by nails,

By nails of cruel men.

And to His cross, as grace prevailed,

God pinned my wretched sin.

My Jesus, pure, was crushed by God

By God, in judgment just.

The Father grieved, yet turned His rod

On Christ, made sin for us.

My Jesus strong, shall come to reign,

To reign in majesty--

The Lamb arose, and death is slain.

Lord, come in victory!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I need to be reminded that my Savior died a horrifying death, was scorned by those he came to save, & was rejected by His Father so He could reign eternally in victory. But even those glorious thoughts aren't everything. The message of the song is wrapped in the chorus--"O love divine, O matchless grace--That God should die for men!" Who am I that the holy God of heaven--the Creator of everything--chose to leave His throne & die so I could be adopted into is family? Should I not, "With joyful grief . . . lift my praise"?

It's time to wake up! Time to stop living in despair & wallowing in regret. Run to Christ. Fall at His feet, begging for His unfailing forgiveness. Then sing, with tears falling from your face, "With joyful grief I lift my praise, Abhoring all my sin, adoring only Him."