Reflection #1 on 'Holy Is the Lord' by Chris Tomlin

Last Sunday, my pastor told a story about an elderly Christian man living in what they used to call the "poor house." It was a place for people who had no other home.

The house was old and run down, a visually unappealing place. It certainly would not be the place people would choose to live unless they had to.

One day a young man came to visit. He remarked about how sorry he was the elderly man had to live in the poor house.

The aged Christian stood up tall and proud and answered, "I don't live in the poor house; I live in Christ."

"In Christ" is simply where all Christians live. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (NIV).

If you live "in Christ," you have a joy--one just like that of the elderly Christian man that looks beyond your circumstances to a future hope and gives you strength for today.

It's a joy Chris Tomlin sings about in "Holy Is the Lord." Chris reminds us that God is holy, great and awesome. Twice in this song of praise and worship, he sings:

We stand and lift up our hands
For the joy of the Lord is our strength

As Christians we have a multitude of reasons to stand and lift our hands, to praise the Lord and to revel in the strength we have because of what God has done for us, both in the past and in the future.

He gave His life for our salvation. He is with us always. We will live eternally because of Him.

First Peter 1:3-6 and verse 8 tell us about the good things--a new birth, a living hope, an inheritance, an inexpressible joy--that are part of your life when you accept Christ as your Savior.

Do you have this hope, this joy inexpressible? Do you know the God who is working all things out for your good and His glory? If you do, you have a reason to rejoice with Chris Tomlin:

We bow down and worship Him now
How great how awesome is He

-Kathy T.

Scripture Reference: "Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:3-6, 8"

 

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