WEDNESDAY April 16th
One of the best hymns for communion as far as I am concerned is the one written by George Perfect, ‘Jesus was slain for me at Calvary’. In the hymn, the message of the Cross becomes personal, for we know that God so loved the world, we know that Christ Jesus came into the world, because the message of the Cross was to be for all the world, but it is also personal as the following verse in Galatians 2:20 says:
‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’
Note the words ‘who loved ME and gave himself for ME’.
In the hymn by George Perfect in verse 1 it is, ‘Jesus was slain for ME’. In verse 2 it is ‘Pardoned is all MY sin’, ‘Now robes of praise I wear, gone are MY grief and care, Christ bore MY burden there, at Calvary’, and in verse 3 it is ‘Wondrous his love for ME, ever MY tongue shall tell of Calvary’.
The amazing story of God’s love, grace and mercy has become my story, ‘this is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.’
As you read this devotion today can you truly say that it is also your story. It can only be your story if you have come to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging your sin before him, repenting of it and allowing him to come into your life. The word of God says that we need to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved, in the book of Acts as Peter preached about the death and the resurrection of Jesus, those listening asked him and the other disciples ‘What shall we do?’ and Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 2:38.
If you have never repented, if you do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ then this incredible story is not your story, but it can be, and what better time to come to know and accept Jesus than over the Easter period.
But for we who do know that this is our story, this is our song, may we join in celebration as we contemplate the wonder of the atoning death and the triumphant resurrection of Jesus.