My Grave Moment
By Lexi Ellis
“As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have
been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all
places where they have been scattered on the day of clouds and thick darkness.”
Ezekiel 34:12 (ESV)
Who, oh Lord, could save themselves
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still.
Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea
Your grace is deeper still.
You, oh Lord, have made a way,
The great divide You heal.
For when our hearts were far away,
Your love went further still.
Yes, Your love goes further still.
You alone can rescue,
You alone can save,
You alone can lift us from the grave.
You came down to find us,
Led us out of death,
To You alone belongs the highest praise.
The great divide You heal.
For when our hearts were far away,
Your love went further still.
Yes, Your love goes further still.
You alone can rescue,
You alone can save,
You alone can lift us from the grave.
You came down to find us,
Led us out of death,
To You alone belongs the highest praise.
We lift up our eyes, lift up our eyes,
You're the Giver of Life. [1]
You're the Giver of Life. [1]
“You alone can lift us from the grave.” The words of the familiar worship song hit me. Instantly, the Holy Spirit spoke to me, “What is your grave? What struggle do you need to be lifted from?” Suddenly, I realized I had misunderstood this line. I had figured the line referred only to the grave Jesus rose from. I assumed it was about Easter.
Yes, I have been saved from
spiritual death. Yes, God has lifted us up from the grave of eternal separation
from God. But He has saved us from more than just hell. We’ve been lifted up
from a grave of oppression, selfishness, hurts and hang-ups to oneness with Him
- - to a relationship. Notice the tense in the song. It’s not “you alone have
rescued; you alone have saved; you alone have lifted us
from the grave.” The lines aren’t past
tense, they’re present. Except for the line that Jesus “led us out of death”
(past tense - - His work on the cross), the rest is about the sanctifying work
God does in us when we are in relationship with Him.
After hearing this song multiple
times, I had focused exclusively on the work that God had done. I missed out on
the support He provides with my “graves” now: struggles, hang-ups and hurts that affect my
spiritual growth. My graves are something that only God can rescue, save
and lift me from. And because of it, He
deserves the highest praise.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Take the time to listen to this song. Allow His Spirit to speak to you
through the theology of the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2cWrjq-O0I
2. Take time to also reflect. What graves do you
need to be surrender?
FURTHER
READING:
[1] “You Alone Can Rescue” Matt
Redman. “Awakening” EMI Christian Music Publishing
