Posted July 15th, 2003
This popular hymn text is a beautiful reminder that salvation has nothing to do with us and everything to do with God. We come to Christ for mercy without one plea, without anything we can offer on our behalf, and full only of rebellious and self-glorifying ways. This hymn writer certainly understood God's sovereignty in salvation - we see the doctrine of irresistible grace in the phrase "since you called I cannot flee". An original chorus was added that summarizes the theme of all of the verses - that we come with our sin and shame to the Lamb.
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Posted July 11th, 2003
"I Will Follow You" is a great song of dedication. The desire of the believer's heart is to faithfully serve his Lord all the days of this life - and then on into eternity in His heavenly kingdom. This song has an original chorus that focuses our attention on the great theme of serving God not simply because He commands it but because He is also our friend.
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Posted July 11th, 2003
This song was born out of a difficult time in the life of songwriter David Ward. Overwhelmed by responsibilities - chiefly that of teaching God's word, David felt more than ever his comprehensive, ever-present need for God's presence. This is a beautiful hymn that explains exactly why we need our Lord Jesus so much. Even though in this song we are taught that we need Him because our hearts are dead, because we are always struggling with doubt, and because we need a friend who can understand our sorrows, we will truly never know how much we really need Him!
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Posted July 11th, 2003
This song helps us remember that God's grace is unending, infinite, and free. In Christ, he richly pours out this grace on all those who believe in Him. We sing that it perflectly cleanses, gives infallible cure from guilt, and demands that we receive it just as we are - utterly sinful. This song has an original chorus, something songwriter David Ward has been doing more of lately. It needed a focal/high point that made the theme more memorable and summarized the main theological points about this "fountain of grace". Singers are also challenged to come - whether it is for initial or continued cleansing.
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Posted July 11th, 2003
While most Christians of the "reformed" persuation (theologically) do not believe that today's invitations/altar calls are a biblical way to call sinners to faith in Christ, God does, in His word, invite sinners to repent and believe. Jesus says "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). This song expresses the desire of our heart - to come to Him - both when God drew us to Himself, and now as we seek to follow Him.
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Posted July 11th, 2003
Revelation chapter 5 gives us an amazing glimpse into what heaven will be like. We will see Christ, the Lamb, adored by millions, saying "Worthy art Thou..." In this song, powerful lyrics combine with a majestic tune and careful repetition to highlight this eternal chant. As we sing, we can imagine the glory of singing in the full presence of our Lord.
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Posted July 11th, 2003
This is a powerful song about depression and is based on Psalm 13. We often feel relationally distant from God because of our sin - our hearts feel cold, we cannot remember or see blessing, we become unthankful. But God has given us a remedy in His word - to sing, even if we do not feel like it, and to remember His goodness to us. In fact, when we fully remember how good He has been we will see our gloom "shamed" away!
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Posted July 11th, 2003
"What a friend" is a powerful song about the nature of our friendship with the Lord Jesus Christ. His friendship is truly love beyond a brother's - costly yet free, lasting unconditionally forever. It is this friendship that we desire to soften our hearts - to make us more loving. How quickly we forget our status in Christ - that we, like Abraham (James 2:23), are considered friends of God!
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Posted July 11th, 2003
This is a well known hymn about suffering, grief, and trials. The original author suffered the lost of several children at sea, and penned these beautiful words that put any complaining spirit in a right perspective. What a prayer of faith that says "Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say...", even in the face of one of the most painful experiences, the loss of a child. Would that we could have even a fraction of this peaceful trust!
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Posted July 11th, 2003
God's word is clear about the condition of sinful humanity, of which we are all a member. We are described as being dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1), with a heart that is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Joseph Hart experienced this desperate condition of his heart and gave us personal, cutting hymn that helps us cry to God for Him to change our stubborn hearts. We know that it is only God, by His Spirit, that can move our hearts to worship Him as He designed and commands.
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Reformed Praise is a music ministry dedicated to providing songs for corporate worship which are rich in theology, diverse in musical style, and centered on the gospel of grace, that our praise might be informed by Biblical truth.
