Living By Faith Blog

Sobering.  Serious.  Weighty.

That’s how this worship song felt when I first heard it at a church planting bootcamp.

First — a powerful portrait of the Son of Man — “his holiness uncompromised.”

Then — “the martyrs who laid down their lives, for the cause of Christ were sacrificed.”

Picturing Jesus in His perfect holiness — then martyrs who for love of Him willingly died — I choked up and could not keep singing.

Serious joy

How can you worship while singing about martyrs?

I think C. S. Lewis answers in a quote from his book “The Last Battle” (John Piper quotes it in “Desiring God”) —

There’s a kind of happiness and wonder that makes you serious.

Singing of martyrs can increase your worship — because their willingness to die displays the infinite worth of Jesus.

So let the seriousness of this song deepen, strengthen, and ultimately heighten your joy in Christ.

(I’ll include the lyrics below.)

The lyrics

[Verse 1]
Oh, God, you are a mystery
we crowd the streets in hopes to see
the Son of Man before our eyes
his holiness uncompromised

Oh, God, we have a history
of saints who told of Calvary
and the martyrs who laid down their lives
for the cause of Christ were sacrificed

[Chorus]
Let our faith be not alone
may our hearts be not of stone
give us souls that never close
to the grace that you bestow
may our eyes be quick to see
that you are here – you’ve come to rescue me

you are here; you’ve come to rescue me

[Verse 2]
God, you are a mystery
redemption for the world to see
the Son of Man before our eyes
his holiness uncompromised

Oh, God, we have a history
the saints who told of Calvary
and the martyrs who laid down their lives
for the cause of Christ were sacrificed

One other thing

I’d appreciate your prayers for me as I am speaking on “The Fight of Faith” at a Family Conference this weekend for Grace Bible Church.

Here’s the topics —

Friday Evening — What is Faith?

Saturday Morning — What am I Trusting — Really?

Saturday Morning #2 — How to Fight the Fight of Faith

Saturday Evening — Specific Battles in the Fight of Faith (Worry, Disobedience, Grief, Unforgiveness)

Sunday Morning — Why Fight the Fight of Faith

Comments?  Feedback? 

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And here’s some related posts you might find helpful —

•  "All I Have Is Christ" (a powerful worship song)
• "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" (Chris Rice 4-min worship video)
• God is My Portion -- 5-Min Worship Video
• A Worship Video For Good Friday