"All souls atoned, by the blood of the lamb
I'm not a slave to what, once held me damned
How beautiful, that cleansing flood
I am washed, I am washed
I am drenched in love"
For a while now I've had a truth pressed on my heart: “I don't matter!” This is just the way I understand the concept that there is zero place for pride of self in the kingdom of God. The Word says, "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-21 ). As I’ve pondered this text I’ve been asking, where does my pride, my frustrations, MY idea of what MY life should look like, fit into that picture? Furthermore, where does any burden, worry or sense of shame fit into that picture!? Drenched in love, by Daniel Bashta (Bethel Music) gives words that help me work this all out.
"All filth made clean, in that crimson sea
I'm not ashamed of what, once shackled me
how infinite, that grace divine
I am free, I am free
I am a child of God"
There is a loud and common theme in the first 2 verses of this song. We are released from the burdens of our sin and our shame. We are free!
"I was buried deep, with Christ my Lord
Now I'm raised to life, forevermore
My names been carved, upon Your heart
No not death, no not hell could ever keep us apart!"
Verse 3 takes me back to that text in Galatians. We are "buried deep with Christ." Buried with us was ALL that we were carrying and whatever we were holding on to. Now we are "raised to life forevermore!"
"How priceless, how precious
There is power in the blood of Jesus"
As we work our way toward Easter I encourage you to reflect on the power of the blood of Jesus and how priceless a gift it is, and how desperately it is needed in our lives. It is there for you, all you need is to accept it. There is power to overcome any circumstance, to remove anything keeping you in shackles.
"All souls atoned, by the blood of the lamb
I'm not a slave to what, once held me damned
How beautiful, that cleansing flood
I am washed, I am washed
I am drenched in love"
Practically speaking, I know how difficult this is and I acknowledge the opposing forces that can debilitate and can prevent us from finding that 100% freedom. However, the devil always plays to our flaws as mortal human beings. The devil will remind you daily of your short comings and insecurities in an attempt to keep you from doing God's work. But this brings me back to how I started. “I don't matter!” As a worship leader I try to be sensitive to the Spirit when preparing for a Sunday morning service and I'm seeing that for the most part God is using whatever I choose to do. And he is able to bring about whatever he wants to see done. It is humbling to know that no shortcoming on my part can hinder the kingdom of God.
But it is not just our submission to Christ that is being called out. I think that our pride, our stubbornness, our ideas can be just as a debilitating as a our insecurities. The Bible says that we are to “Submit to one another out of reverence for christ” (Eph 5:21). This verse came up in the last study with the life group I attend. It continued to reinforce this mentality that “I don't matter.” It can feel like there are a lot of people in this world not deserving of our love or kindness. And yet we are called to submit ourselves to one another; to humble ourselves to a place of servitude. I feel the vital part of this verse is: "out of reverence for Christ" WE are to do all this out of a deep love and respect for Christ! Once again my ego is being removed from the picture! I am an ambassador of Christ. I represent him in everything I do, and in turn, to him goes all the glory. I can show kindness to that person who has wronged me, or whom I have judged unworthy, because it isn't about me. I don't matter! Christ gave us the best example of this when he died on the cross. If you find it hard to let your own self go, may I remind you what Christ did out of reverence for you with this song.
"Oh precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
I am washed, I am washed
I am drenched in love"
As we introduce this song this month may we praise God for his infinite grace, for how he is going to work in us and around us, despite us!
Enjoy this track now: 
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