Sunday, January 05, 2014

Hymn-ful Sundays! "Come let us use the grace divine"

I thought I'd try something new for the new year!


I love hymns, probably because I grew up in the Methodist church, where we sing a lot of hymns. My plan is to share with you one hymn every Sunday this year. Some of them will be pretty well-known, others more obscure.

The first Sunday of the year in the Methodist tradition is Covenant Sunday. We use it as a time to renew our covenant with God as his followers. It is a corporate reminder of what it means to be a follower of Christ. This hymn by Charles Wesley is one of the hymns typically sung on this Sunday.


Come, let us use the grace divine,

And all with one accord,

In a perpetual covenant join 
Ourselves to Christ the Lord.

Give up ourselves through Jesu's power,
His name to glorify;
And promise in this sacred hour,
For God to live and die.

The covenant we this moment make
Be ever kept in mind;
We will no more our God forsake,
Or cast his words behind.

We never will throw off his fear.
Who hears our solemn vow;
And if you are well pleased to hear,
Come down and meet us now!

To each covenant the blood apply
Which takes our sins away;
And register our names on high,
And keep us to that day.
-Charles Wesley


This hymn embodies what this covenant is, and what it means: we join ourselves with Christ, giving ourselves up to Jesus' power to glorify his name. This covenant we will always remember as a promise to be faithful to God (Jer 31:31-33). Our covenant with God is a blood covenant, sealed with the blood of Jesus, the same blood that takes away our sins (Heb 10:19-20).

Be blessed and shine in grace!

2 comments:

  1. This is an excellent idea! I enjoyed hymns as well, and like yourself, I grew up in the Methodist Church. Some hymns have carried many Christians through the storms and difficult seasons in their lives. Looking forward to seeing some of my favorite hymns and singing them as well. Nice job Shanique.

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A person finds joy in giving an apt reply—
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