Morning Devotionals

by Don Emmitte

 

April 30th, 2008

 

"A Flowing River"

As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.  Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. (Luke 23:26-32 NIV).

Mary and I were able to get away for a weekend recently and we traveled to the Smoky Mountains. If you have known me for very long, you also know that this setting is my favorite of all the places we have traveled through the years. I am especially fond of the “quiet walkways” that lead you down the mountain trails beside the rivers. The picture to the left is one of those scenes. The sounds of the river rushing over the rocks and the slight breeze blowing through the trees reminded me of a wonderful hymn by Isaac Watts.

You may or may not recognize his name, but his hymns are the most widely known throughout the Christian world.  Born in 1674 in Southampton, England, he was the oldest of nine children and raised in a Nonconformist home Nonconformists were a type of Puritan in England who felt that the Anglican Church did not change enough from Catholicism and desired a more radical reformation. At that time in England there was a great desire to rely only on the Scriptures, and so they tended to take the approach of only singing Psalms and not allowing any other hymns in the church. They also believed that musical instruments were “of the devil” and so they sang without accompaniment of any kind. Watts constantly complained about this to his father, so he was challenged to try to do better. He did so with amazing speed and ability, and now we have over 700 hymns! One of those hymns is below.

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 e’er 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, my life, my all.

I would challenge you to read the Scripture today and then the words of the hymn to meditate on the wonderful gift God bestowed on us when he gave us His only Son, atonement for all of our sin!