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In Christ Alone

I was listening to Avalon’s album “Faith: A Hymns Collection” today, and the song “In Christ Alone” really got thinking about the lyrics.

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when striving ceased
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

(This part really played out in my mind.)

In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless Babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

Think about those words. What really got me was the line “scorned by the ones He came to save.” I just imagine how His heart must have stung, thinking of all He came to do for them, only to have them despise Him. I imagine a scene where He is walking away from a crowd He just spoken to and healed a lame man, hearing people snicker and mock Him. I feel the sinking of His heart in the feeling of rejection. Christ felt that. We feel that. Where we walk away from a crowd feeling unwanted and, even if we are offering so much to them, we feel outcast. That is one of the beautiful things about Jesus. He lived 33 years on earth. He lost loved ones, was rejected by many, faced temptation, lived in poverty. He was judged by men, looked down on by powerful men. He was innocent and put to death. All for us. All to save us from an eternity in hell, so we could spend it in Heaven with Him. All because He loves us. Because, no matter what we do or have done, He laid down His life so we wouldn’t have to pay for our sins. All we have to do is acknowledge Him as Lord, ask for forgiveness for our sins, and ask Him into our hearts and lives.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I stand

Avalon - In Christ Alone 

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