The Cross and Crown

Two years ago, at an incredible Sisters Retreat, in a little Bed & Breakfast in West Pointe, GA, we sisters gathered in a log cabin and sang sweet hymns, read several favorite passages of scripture and prayed together.  The song that became the theme for the entire weekend was “The Wondrous Cross”. Still it comes to my mind.  Especially at this time of year and I find I can’t stop singing it. I can’t get it out of my mind. It has burned a tattoo on my heart.  When the first words come from my lips, I have an instant vision of my Lord hanging on the cross….for me. Nothing in this world can ever compare to His sacrifice….His Life.

In the words, “See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love, flow mingled down, Did ere such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown”, I picture in my mind the crown of thorns embedded into His skin, pushed deep into the very bone of His skull with blood dripping onto the ground as rubies falling from a jewelers hand.

From that very crown, as the song says, sorrow and love merged and composed a crown so rich, it could never be purchased with money.

It can never be bought with deeds. It is sought by many, but so few truly find it’s great wealth.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

 by Isaac Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it Lord that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God,
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ere such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul
Demands my soul
Love demands my soul
My life my all….

He deserves nothing less than everything I have to give. My soul, my life, my all.

Many times we look for the “pretty” in life. The appealing. The “crown of roses” as it were.

What have we sacrificed? What have we given?

I deserved hell. I deserved damnation. But I repented, and I was given life. Everlasting. In an eternal heaven. For Him, I should always be willing to give my all. My everything —- for Him who gave His everything.

Galatians 6:14 “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Father, when I close my eyes, I see the grace extended to me through the cross on that long ago hillside.  The grace extended through time—seeing me in my sinful state, yet loving me.  I thank you Father–for the love that You have for each one of us…and that You willingly gave Your only Son for our sakes.  Burn that sacrifice ever on our hearts and minds.  That we might know You more.  That we might serve You more.  That we might seek You more.  In the holy name of Your only Son, Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.

Passionately His,

Angie

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