Coffee With Pat
Written By: Pat Aman
copyright 2006
All rights reserved

Saturday already! This year is flying by as fast as last year.  What will you do for Christ this year?  Will you be His disciple? 

I love praise and worship music, but I love the old hymns. The words tell us of what Christ did for us. One of my favorite is "At The Cross" written by: Isaac Watts, and Ralph E. Hudson.  Isaac Watts wrote others Hymns like, "When I survery the Wondrous Cross", "Joy To The World", "Father of Glory to Thy Name", "When the Battles Over", and many more.

The song "At The Cross" tells of what Jesus did on the cross for you and me. I do not believe that I need to add anything else to this devotional. The WORDS of this song say it all. Read the words below and let them sink in.

In Hebrews 12:2, the scripture tells us exactly what Jesus went through, so we could have everlasting life. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Isaac Watts,  Ralph E. Hudson  

Chorus: At the cross, at the cross Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away.  It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day! 

1. Alas, and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sov'reign die?  Would He devote that sacred head For such a worm as I?

2. Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, And love beyond degree! Chorus:

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When Christ the mighty Maker died For man, the creature's sin.  Chorus:

4. Thus might I hide my blushing face While Calvary's cross appears, Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, And melt mine eyes to tears. Chorus: 

5. But drops of grief can ne'er repay The debt of love I owe; Here, Lord, I give myself away, 'Tis all that I can do. 

Alternate Chorus: Oh, the Lamb, the loving Lamb, The Lamb on Calvary; The Lamb that was slain, That liveth again, To intercede for me.

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Isaac Watts’s lyrics flowed from a heart marinated in Scripture. Moreover, many of his hymns are paraphrases of biblical texts.  “Joy to the World,” for example, was not originally written as a Christmas carol, but was Watts’s Christian reflection on Psalm 98.  Isaac Watts’ creativity was tethered to Scripture, and therefore what he produced was both inspiring and God honoring. This also helps to explain why we’re still singing Watts’ songs three centuries after they were composed.  This information came from the web site of Pastor Mark Roberts "The Soul of Worship" Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Pat Aman

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