What Wondrous Love Is This (ELW 666)
Devotion
1 What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
2 When I was sinking down,
sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down
beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown
for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
3 To God and to the Lamb
I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb,
who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
4 And when from death I'm free,
I'll sing on, I'll sing on;
and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on;
and when from death I'm free,
I'll sing God's love for me,
and through eternity
I'll sing on, I'll sing on;
and through eternity I'll sing on.
Text: North American folk hymn, 19th cent., alt.
We all need daily reminders to care for ourselves — even ones as simple as an alarm clock to get us up out of bed so we can get ready for the day. We learn from an early age to care for our bodies — our teeth, our hair, and all of our "stuff." And God does so much more in caring for us. God gives everything we need for life and continues to care for all of creation.
Verse 2 of "What Wondrous Love Is This" tells again the special story of how much God loves us and cares for us: "When I was sinking down beneath God's righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul." We know we cannot live up to the standards God sets for us — and even those we may set for ourselves — but we also know that God makes a way for us to be forgiven, transformed, and renewed. We are loved; we are redeemed. What wondrous love indeed!
Prayer
Holy Redeemer God, help us to see your presence and love in our lives. Remind us daily that you are with us to guide us; when we stumble, fall, or fail, you pick us up and free us from our sin. We give you thanks and praise. Amen.