“And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.”
This verse of “How Great Thou Art” has always been my favorite. It is a beautiful summary of something I often lack in my relationship with the Lord.
“I scarce can take it in.” Those words have haunted me since the first time I actually stopped long enough to think about them while singing. The hymn writer was so moved by the reality of what God did in sending Jesus to be a sin offering for us (Romans 8:3) that he can’t even really let it sink in. It’s too good for him to understand. It’s so amazing that he almost can’t believe it.
That sense of wonder is sometimes missing in my life. I’m so familiar with God’s Word – I know the story. But even though I’m familiar with it, I don’t want to get used to it. I don’t want to “take it in” so easily and so quickly.
When I take the time to see God – to gaze upon His beauty (Psalm 27:4) through prayer and His Word – I realize that He is high and exalted (Isaiah 6:1), He is holy (6:3), and the earth is full of His glory (6:3). When Isaiah had that experience in his life, he was changed forever.
Do you take time to meditate on God’s majesty and glory? If we do, we will be overwhelmed with a sense of wonder.
Written by: Abbey Le Roy, MA in Theological Studies from CIU's Seminary and School of Ministry
"Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11
