Come, Long Awaited King

Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
Born thy people to deliver,

Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to thy glorious thone.
-Charles Wesley

In my newfound joy in the richness of hymns, I examined this hymn’s particular words.

This baby was born with purpose. The cross was in view. He was born to die.

We celebrate His birth because without it we are doomed.

Let’s examine some of the ideas in Charles Wesley’s words:

·     The child-King was born to deliver His people,
to set them free. Who are His people? All the nations hope in
Him. We are His people.
·     This infant-King was born to reign in us, not over us. Jesus was born
so that He could send His Spirit to live (and reign) within each one of us. It
was the plan from before the moment of His conception.
·     Only through the Holy Spirit do we have the desire
to be ruled. We’re naturally self-centered and independent. But His eternal
spirit
gives all of us the desire to obey His rule alone which,
when we do it well, brings His gracious kingdom to earth. Wow!
·     Finally, only through Jesus’ perfect life and
sacrifice, His all sufficient merit, can we approach God’s glorious thone.
 
Read the hymn again slowly. What new insights do you see? Am I the only one just getting this?

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus, born to bring us into God’s Kingdom. (tweet this)

#SeedsofScripture #HeSaves #hymns

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