Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Not long ago I let my barely three-year-old son drive the car. None of the other drivers on the road seemed to find it odd. No one seemed concerned. Most smiled and laughed along as my little boy veered around corners with reckless abandon. With his dad riding shotgun and filming the entire journey that little boy got a taste for the good, "grown-up" life he so yearns for. That day he got to be a "big boy" and drive the car all by himself.
Caveat: although he handled the wheel, I handled the accelerator. Although it was a legitimate engine-powered car it was only half the size. It was a one-way road with a track to fix the car in the lane and there were a bevy of personnel on hand to chaperone a steady flow of underage drivers in their quest to prove themselves behind the wheel. Thank-you Disneyland for providing a dream-come-true for this little boy.
My son drove the car by himself, yet not on his own, but through Dad at his side. He doesn't fully understand that. All he knows is the joy, the freedom, and the accomplishment. Something completely out of reach became a reality. He took a gas-sputtering machine on a cruise through town. Pure bliss.
How often do we take for granted or forget, or get distracted from the reality that every blessing that is ours is not born of us, but is instead a gift? We can't reach the pedal but still the car heaves forward. We'd be off the course in a moment if not for the guides. We'd be outside the park looking in longingly if not for the price paid for admission.
As the Scriptures remind us again and again, true joy, righteousness, freedom, peace, hope - true life! - are ours, yet not from us. We have been "crucified with Christ" and yet we live. And this life with all its blessing is ours not because we earned it but because it was earned for us. The power that arises out of weakness? It is not ours but Christ in us. The rejoicing amidst the sorrow? It is not from us but from Christ who provides it. That light leading us through the darkness? It does not emanate from us - it goes before us. If we should we possess hope in the face of death it is only because Christ has accomplished on the cross what no man could accomplish. The debt that was ours is paid by Him, fully and finally. Sin is defeated and the race will be completed. We will cross the finish line and shout "I did it! Yet, not I but through Christ in me!"
A new song by CityAlight takes its namesake from this theme. When we come to the realization of how glorious this gift is, when we revel in the victory, when we bask in the blessings - let us not forget from where they come. Let us worship by faith the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Not long ago I let my barely three-year-old son drive the car. None of the other drivers on the road seemed to find it odd. No one seemed concerned. Most smiled and laughed along as my little boy veered around corners with reckless abandon. With his dad riding shotgun and filming the entire journey that little boy got a taste for the good, "grown-up" life he so yearns for. That day he got to be a "big boy" and drive the car all by himself.
Caveat: although he handled the wheel, I handled the accelerator. Although it was a legitimate engine-powered car it was only half the size. It was a one-way road with a track to fix the car in the lane and there were a bevy of personnel on hand to chaperone a steady flow of underage drivers in their quest to prove themselves behind the wheel. Thank-you Disneyland for providing a dream-come-true for this little boy.
My son drove the car by himself, yet not on his own, but through Dad at his side. He doesn't fully understand that. All he knows is the joy, the freedom, and the accomplishment. Something completely out of reach became a reality. He took a gas-sputtering machine on a cruise through town. Pure bliss.
How often do we take for granted or forget, or get distracted from the reality that every blessing that is ours is not born of us, but is instead a gift? We can't reach the pedal but still the car heaves forward. We'd be off the course in a moment if not for the guides. We'd be outside the park looking in longingly if not for the price paid for admission.
As the Scriptures remind us again and again, true joy, righteousness, freedom, peace, hope - true life! - are ours, yet not from us. We have been "crucified with Christ" and yet we live. And this life with all its blessing is ours not because we earned it but because it was earned for us. The power that arises out of weakness? It is not ours but Christ in us. The rejoicing amidst the sorrow? It is not from us but from Christ who provides it. That light leading us through the darkness? It does not emanate from us - it goes before us. If we should we possess hope in the face of death it is only because Christ has accomplished on the cross what no man could accomplish. The debt that was ours is paid by Him, fully and finally. Sin is defeated and the race will be completed. We will cross the finish line and shout "I did it! Yet, not I but through Christ in me!"
A new song by CityAlight takes its namesake from this theme. When we come to the realization of how glorious this gift is, when we revel in the victory, when we bask in the blessings - let us not forget from where they come. Let us worship by faith the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
VERSE 1
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing all is mine
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
VERSE 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
VERSE 3
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing I am free
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
VERSE 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Jonny Robinson | Michael Farren | Rich Thompson
Copyright 2018 CityAlight Music
What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing all is mine
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
VERSE 2
The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need His power is displayed
To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
VERSE 3
No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing I am free
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
VERSE 4
With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Jonny Robinson | Michael Farren | Rich Thompson
Copyright 2018 CityAlight Music
Posted in Doxology and Theology
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