Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."¹

Recently a friend sent me an audio video of the wonderful old hymn written in 1912 by evangelist George Bennard. It made me homesickâ€"not only for heavenâ€"but also for the hymns of the faith that so many of "we oldies" grew up with and that, for many years, we sang regularly in our churches. It was "The Old Rugged Cross." What a soul-stirring message.

I can't even remember the last time I heard this hymn sung in church. Nor can I remember the last time I heard another equally grand old hymn: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" which I am playing on my computer right now. Hear the wordsâ€"what a message:

"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. 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."

Hear "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" at: http://tinyurl.com/42wfntt, or at this we address http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C_GJAnPOpw&feature=related, and hear "The Old Rugged Cross" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rylsA5_0jcM&feature=related.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the grand old hymns of the Christian faith that express your great love and sacrifice for mankind. What a joy it will be when we all get to heaven and sing these great messages together with you in person. In the meantime, please help me always to live the words that I sing for the glory and praise of your holy and eternal name. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus name, amen."

1. Colossians 3:16 (NKJV).

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