What's been strange is that sometimes, I'll hear one song but soon afterward find myself singing the other as if they were interchangeable. If you know these two songs, you know they sound nothing alike. I finally realized that I've linked the ideas of Savior King and Mercy King in my head. The idea that God was not willing to simply be the Sovereign Ruler and Judge, but chose to take on the role of Merciful Savior captivates me.
She probably won't remember this, but many years ago, Crista Bailey was helping lead University Sunday School worship and shared her thoughts with us one morning before we sang the song Amazing Love which contains the lyric "Amazing love, how can it be that you my King would die for me?" She talked about how in all of history, men died fighting for their kings, but King Jesus came and died for His people. It was one of the first times I remember clearly being struck by the magnificent reversal of the Gospel.
We have a King who determined the price of our freedom, then provided the payment with His very own blood. He is Savior and King. He is Merciful beyond our wildest comprehension. He, who alone is worthy to be highly exalted, chose the role of Servant and Sacrifice on our behalf.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11
No comments:
Post a Comment