And Can it Be

This morning at church before service began we heard from a family of missionaries living in Malaysia.  They talked about how they worked to reach Muslims living there.

At times we wonder how God can save someone.  We wonder how God's grace could save "them".  Not that I was wondering that this morning about Muslims, but I've seen others feel that way about them and I have in my own heart "thems" that I, at times, mistakenly wonder if God could save.

Then in worship we save the awesome hymn "And Can It Be" by Charles Wesley.  This hymn asks the better question, "how could God save me?"  It reminds us in a powerful way that Jesus' death on the cross for me doesn't make any more sense than Him dying for anyone else in the world.

Notice and think about the Gospel story of these lyrics:

"And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"

"He left His Father's throne above
So free, so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all immense and free,
For oh my God, it found out me!"

"Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee."

"No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own."
Christ made immense sacrifices to love a sinner like me.  He freed me from the slavery of sin and made me free to follow Him.  And, He didn't die to give me a second chance, He died to give me His righteousness so I can approach the throne of God boldly and claim a crown won by Christ Jesus.

Listen to the song and think about the Gospel it tells us today.