Just Pondering
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Rick Branan |
And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
Isaiah 35:10 (CSBBible)
James Bowring was born at Exeter, in 1792. He possessed at an early age a remarkable power of attaining languages, and acquired some reputation by his metrical translations of foreign poems. He became editor of "The Westminster Review" in 1825, and was elected to Parliament in 1835. In 1849, he was appointed Consul at Canton, and in 1854, was made Governor of Hong Kong, and received the honour of knighthood. He is the author of some important works on politics and travel, and is the recipient of several testimonials from foreign governments and societies. His poems and hymns have also added to his reputation. His "Matins and Vespers" have passed through many editions. In religion he is a Unitarian.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872
In the Cross of Christ I Glory
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time,
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o'ertake me,
Hopes deceive and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me:
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds new luster to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that thro' all time abide.
Written by John Bowring
At best, life is difficult. Most of the time it is our own fault. The root of our trouble is always sin. The children of Israel struggled with sin just like we do. But God never forgot about them. Isaiah describes the Millennial Kingdom in Isaiah 35. At that time, the redeemed in Christ will “will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy.” Isaiah goes on to say that sorrow will flee. Our troubles will flee too when Christ returns.
John Bowring put this into song, “Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; peace is there that knows no measure, joys that thro' all time abide.” Only through the blood of Jesus can that restoration happen. This week in VBS we learned that Jesus is God’s promised, perfect, powerful, proven Son of God and He alone is God’s plan for redemption and forgiveness.
Are you redeemed by Christ’s blood? Make the decision to Admit, Believe, and Confess Jesus is Lord.
Just pondering . . . Bro. Rick