With Reverent Awesome Wonder

With reverent awesome wonder I look upon God’s world
And see resplendent glory everywhere.
The Lord could not contain Himself or veil His Excellence,
His beauty and His worth beyond compare.

I see Him in a gentle rain and in a hurricane
As both reveal His might and majesty.
I see Him in the gentle breeze and in tornadic winds
Which clearly show His robust sovereignty.

The eagle and the butterfly both lead me to marvel
At the way that He displays His great renown,
The creatures of the sea all magnify His fame
As they dwell beneath the water covered shroud.

But through the incarnation His glory was revealed
In ways in which it had not been before.
The Son of God stepped into time to walk upon the earth
To show that God’s love could not be ignored.

With grace and truth, with joy and love with mercy and compassion.
He came to seek and save that which was the lost.
By taking on our sin with a wild display of love
He manifest God’s glory at the cross.

It was upon that rugged cross God’s wrath was satisfied.
And salvation was secured once and for all
When Jesus claimed “tetelestai” all heaven did rejoice
Because He finished what was started at the Fall.

With reverent awesome wonder I think about that cross
And how my Savior gave His life for me.
His glory was ablaze with divine illumination
On the darkest day in human history.

God died upon that cross and believers ran to hide
While they tried to hope though feeling such despair.
They felt like they were trapped with no place that they could turn
It seemed like they were left without a prayer.

But then, O happy day, Jesus rose up from the dead
And everything He’d said made perfect sense.
Doubt turned into hope and confusion into joy
When they understood exactly what He’d meant.

So now the Church triumphant marches on in victory
Using nothing for a weapon but His Word.
Valiantly we dare to penetrate the darkness
Pressing onward as the army of the Lord.

πολλῷ μᾶλλον

Many years ago when I was in seminary I had to do a paper on this Greek phrase. It is found several times in the New Testament. Here is one example:

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” (Romans 5:8-9)

The phrase is pronounced “pollo mallon” and is  transliterated “much more.” It is a favorite expression of Paul’s when he argues that if one thing is true how much more must something else be true. I mentioned in my “Defining Moments” post that I had done a 10 day fast. As I was thinking on what Christ had done for me during this time, this phrase  – “how much more” – got stuck in my head and I expressed my gratefulness to God in a poem that I appropriately entitled… How Much More.

How Much More

How much more could Christ have done
Than what He did so long ago;
And yet today he fills my heart
With  joy that overflows.

How much more could He have done
Than when He set this captive free;
And yet today I taste the fruit
Of His awesome victory.

How much more could He have done
Than when he rescued me from sin;
And yet today he gives me hope
And helps me find my strength in Him.

How much more could He have done
Than save my soul eternally;
And yet I find that in this world
I live with joy and power and peace.

How much more could He have done
Than break the chains of doubt and fear;
And yet today when I despair
I know that He is always near.

How much more could He have done
Than to create new life in me;
And yet He fills my soul with songs
And I sing joy-filled melodies.

How much more could He have done
Than make things right with God again;
And yet today He walks with me
As if I am His greatest friend.

How much more could He have done
Than prove His love at Calvary;
And yet today I am reminded
Of His faithful love for me.

My prayer is that you and I would comprehend and experience each day just how much more Christ has done for us than we can even begin to imagine.

Without Faith

One of the great chapters in Scripture is Hebrews 11. It gives example after example of men who walked the walked and talked the talk – of men who genuinely lived by faith. Verse 6 says:  “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” What does it mean to live by faith day in and day out? I was pondering this a few years ago and wrote a song that helped me to think about the practical implications of living by faith. (I know, I know – you didn’t know that I was a song writer. You probably also don’t know that I am a poet) What would it be like if believers lived by faith in everything they do? How would it change us? How would it change the church? How would it change the world? I’m gonna try ( by the power of the Spirit) to intentionally live by faith – I’m gonna need your help. Feel free to ask me about anything you see me doing – is it faith generated and how so. Here’s the song, enjoy!

WITHOUT FAITH

Faith is the assurance of the things you’re hoping for;

Faith is when you act upon the facts you can’t ignore;

Faith is when you wait upon the future that’s in store;

Faith is when you pray because you’re in a holy war.

Refrain:

And without faith it is impossible

To please our God who set us free

And those who say that they love Jesus

Must live and follow faithfully

Faith is when you stand against the fears that are within;

Faith is when you’ve fallen down but rise to stand again;

Faith is when you boldly stand beside a fallen friend;

Faith is when you stand alone while others choose to sin. (Refrain)

Faith is when you’re watching for the coming of the King;

Faith is when you lose your grip on all your worldly things;

Faith is when you’re not afraid of what tomorrow brings;

Faith is when you feel depressed but still you choose to sing. (Refrain)