Because the bus companies have rescheduled timings, it’s more awkward for me to get to Goldthorpe in a morning to go swimming. I decided to use this time to walk instead, and not only is this giving me more exercise (about 3 miles there and back: there’s got to be some virtue in that, surely?!), it’s giving me a lot of time to pray and worship. I set off with my MP4 player each morning, able to get my ‘daily doses of realisation of the constant covenant love and good intentions of God’ (Charlie Cleverly) as I walk.
Songs that focus on God help me to start the day in the right frame of mind; there’s nothing quite like singing truth (at that time there’s no one around; I am free to sing without getting strange looks!) to get you thinking right thoughts. Today I was struck by two songs in particular, both of which really focus on the name of Jesus. Someone once said that you can tell a lot about a person from their Christology (what they believe about Jesus) and since Jesus said, ‘I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’ (John 12:32 TNIV), it’s obviously important that Jesus is given the place of honour in our lives and in our churches.
“Who has the power to raise the dead?
Who can save us from our sin?
He is our hope, our righteousness
Jesus, only Jesus.
You will command the highest praise
Yours is the name above all names
You stand alone, I stand amazed
Jesus, only Jesus.” (‘Jesus, Only Jesus’, Matt Redman)
‘Jesus, Only Jesus’ (Matt Redman)
“We believe our God is Jesus,
We believe that He is Lord.
We believe that He has saved us
From sin and death once and for all.
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light,
You are our salvation.
Jesus, Jesus, God from God, Light from Light,
Your kingdom is forever.” (‘Once and For All’, Chris Tomlin)
‘Once and For All’ (Chris Tomlin)