In the Cross of Christ I Glory, ELW 324
Devotion
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 more luster to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.
"In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time." I hear these words anew tonight. ISIS is spreading fear. Racism has reared its ugly head. Children are dying from malnutrition. The number of people in my town who are without running water because of the drought continues to rise. Nations continue to rise up against nation, and earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods continue to ravage the earth. Talk about the wrecks of time. And yet the opening words of this hymn remind us that the cross of Christ towers over it all. Our Lord Jesus, who was crucified, has been raised from the dead. There is an eternal hope that rises above the ashes of the earth calling us forth from the dust to a new life in him. Let us then lift up our eyes to the cross of Christ, and let us there glory.
Prayer
What an amazing gift is your cross, O Christ. It is our hope and our life. It is our foundation and our shelter. Thank you for such wondrous and powerful love that is from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.