Friday, January 12, 2024

For when we were still without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

Poet and composer Isaac Watts was the oldest of nine children. Had Watts been given an intelligence test, he would have blown it off the map. Reportedly, he mastered Latin by four, Greek at nine, French at ten, and Hebrew by thirteen. Watts had a doctorate in divinity and worked as a pastor. When, as a boy, he criticized his church’s passionless, rote Psalm tunes, his father challenged him. “Young man,” he said, “Why don’t you give us something better to sing?” He took the challenge and rose above it. Referred to as the Father of Hymnody, he wrote 600 hymns, including “Alas and Did My Savior Bleed?”

MEDITATION: Lord, I thank you for the cross and for the blood you shed for me.

Alas, and did my Savior bleed and did my sovereign dieWould He devote that sacred head for such a worm as IAt the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the LightAnd the burden of my heart rolled away, rolled awayIt was there by Faith, I received my sightAnd now I am happy all the dayWas it for crimes that I have done, He crawled up on the treeAmazing pity, grace unknown and love beyond degreeAt the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the LightAnd the burden of my heart rolled away, rolled awayIt was there by Faith, I received my sightAnd now, and now, and now I am happy all the day

In the name of Jesus, I praise you. AMEN.

The Inspiring Message of “Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed” (ibelieve.com)