Thursday, January 03, 2008

That Special Place in my Heart.

I don't know if you know this about me, but I love music, and there's a special place in my heart for hymns. Why? Because I love the thought that some of those songs have been song for centuries. It makes me feel connected to the larger body of Christ. I mean, to sing a song that transcends denomination and era...that's tight! Anyway, so we were singing this one at camp, and I absolutely loved it. So, I did a little research. So, the following is a little bit of the hymn's back story and the lyrics to it. Hopefully, you find them at least half as beautiful and enjoyable as I do.

Jesus Paid It All


Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Music: John T. Grape

If the title “God Works in Mysterious Ways” were not already taken, the cir­cum­stances of this song’s or­i­gin would cer­tainl­y qual­i­fy for it. Elvina Hall (1820-1889) sang in the choir at the Mon­u­ment Street Meth­o­dist Church in Bal­ti­more, Mary­land.

One Sun­day morn­ing the pas­tor­al pray­er was ex­treme­ly long. As the min­i­ster went on and on, Mrs. Hall’s thoughts be­gan to wan­der. She opened her eyes, and, on the blank fly­leaf of her hym­nal, wrote down a poem that came to her.

La­ter that week, she took it to the church or­gan­ist, John Grape (1835-1915). The words were an exact fit for a tune Grape had just writ­ten.

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim,
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And now complete in Him
My robe His righteousness,
Close sheltered ’neath His side,
I am divinely blest.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus paid it all,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

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