WORSHIP REFLECTIONS are weekly devotionals based on worship songs/hymns. Our hope is that this content encourages your love and adoration of Christ Jesus as you grow in closer communion with Him through personal worship.
J. Louis Cronin, Pastor/Author, presents this worship song devotional based on the CityALight song, "Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me".
Hi, let me ask you a few questions.
What do you identify with? When things are really hard, where do you find hope? When circumstances are out of your control, where do you go for peace?
Now, it’s my hope that as you’re watching this, your answer is probably, “Jesus.” It would be my answer as well, but if you’re like me, you can find it incredibly difficult in connecting that truth, that theology with life when things are crashing down beyond your control.
When joblessness is setting in and you’re not sure how you’re going to feed your family.
When, for me, it’s been tough feeling alone and helpless as my wife battles cancer.
So it’s been an incredible joy, an incredible help, to find a truth that sums these things up, even in a song that I can sing and be reminded of. And the song here, in this case, is “Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me” It’s a song written by Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson and Michael Farren. They’re out of City Alight Church in Australia. Their overarching theme of this comes from Galatians 2 verse 20. Let me remind you of these words, it says,
“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”
And the song, if that’s all it talked about, would be a gift to me, it would be a gift to the church, and I hope a gift for you, but it goes on. If you read these lyrics, and I wish we could unpack the whole thing, consider these truths.
Verse 1 What gift of grace, is Jesus my Redeemer, There is no more for heaven now to give.
And we’re reminded of Romans 8:32,
”He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
The promise that sits deep within our soul, and we sing this in just the first verse of the song.
Verse 2 I labor on in weakness and rejoicing; For in my need his power is displayed.
I’m pointed to 2 Cor 12:9–11,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I love that this song doesn’t say, “Everything is gonna be alright.You’re going to feel super great.”
Verse 3 No fate I dread I know I am forgiven; The future sure, the price, it has been paid.
1 Cor. 15:55–56 Reminds us that,
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That victory is not in our own works. We know that, but we are reassured to think eternally. We’re just passing through.
Verse 4 to this I hold; my hope is only Jesus
Let me leave you with these words 1 Peter 1:3-6 that echoes that sentiment.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
It’s my hope that a song like, “Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me” would bless you, and fortify you because of the truth that it points to. That as you sing these truths that you would be reminded that our hope is in Christ, that our identity is in Christ, and that our peace is found in Christ, and this is just a temporary setting in front of us.
God bless you, may you have hope today in Jesus Christ.
Phil. 4:12-13
”I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
— J. Louis Cronin, Pastor/Author