Colossians 2:13-15 (NIV)

13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

At our Ash Wednesday service I gave everyone a Lenten pocket reminder in the shape of a nail. We sang “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”, focusing particularly on verse two . . .

“Behold the man upon a cross, MY sin upon his shoulders,
Ashamed I hear MY mocking voice, call out among the scoffers,
It was MY sin that held him there, until it was accomplished,
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.”

A primary focus of Lent for me already has been the making the more personal connection between MY sin and the cross of Christ. The following prayer from The Valley of Vision powerfully brings that connection home to me . . .

My Father,
Enlarge my heart, warm my affections, open my lips,
supply words that proclaim ‘Love lustres at Calvary.’
There grace removes my burdens and heaps them on thy Son,
made a transgressor, a curse, and sin for me;
There the sword of thy justice smote the man, thy fellow;
There thy infinite attributes were magnified, and infinite
atonement was made;
There infinite punishment was due, and infinite punishment
was endured.
Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
thirsty that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.
My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorny crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded
brightness,
expired that I might forever live.
O Father, who spared not thine only Son that thou might spare me,
All this transfer thy love designed and accomplished;
Help me to adore thee by lips and life.
O that my every breath might be ecstatic praise,
my every step buoyant with delight, as I see
my enemies crushed,
Satan baffled, defeated, destroyed,
sin buried in the ocean of reconciling blood,
hell’s gates closed, heaven’s portal open.
Go forth, O conquering God, and show me the cross,
mighty to subdue, comfort and save.

Valley of Vision: Love Lustres at Calvary
The Banner of Truth Trust | 1975 | Arthur Bennett

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