Archives for November 15, 2014

Devotion

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy riven side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.

Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring;
simply to thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyelids close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

This is the hymn to sing when we've had enough of going it alone. Sure, we may be doing alright during the week—managing all the things on our plate—but it can all catch up with us on those non-routine days. We can drop some of the weight of responsibility, let down our guard of perfection and wear sweat pants. "Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling."

When our attempts of righteousness are feeble, our passion for discipleship fading and the burdens of our sin multiplying, not only is Christ able to save us, but we find him willing to do so. Thanks be to God!