Lift High the Cross (Strength in Hymn)

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,

Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,

The hosts of God in unity combine.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,

Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Each newborn servant of the Crucified

Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,

Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,

As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,

Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:

Praise to the Crucified for victory.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,

Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

This is my new favorite hymn. I'd sung it before, but heard it again recently at Asbury United Methodist Church. It has been ringing through my soul ever since. I find myself singing the chorus to myself day after day. Today, as we begin Holy Week for 2018, I thought it would make a good addition to my Strength in Hymn series.


 

Youtube link

If you would like to know more about this old Anglican hymn, which was written for a missionary conference, you can read it here: History of "Lift High the Cross"

The heart of Christianity is Jesus - his eternity in the Divine Trinity before mankind, his birth on earth, his sacred life, his miracles, his teachings, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, his continued intercession for us at the right hand of the Father Almighty, his powerful work through us as his body.

Let us lift his cross high, proclaim the love of Christ, and devote our lives to adoring his sacred name.

Does this mean we retreat into religion and ignore what is happening out in the world? No! I believe that those who follow Jesus should be actively engaged in social justice such as combating the evils of human trafficking and  abortion, serving those who are homeless or hungry, welcoming immigrants, advocating for abuse survivors, caring for those who struggle with mental illness, empowering women around the globe, and protecting schoolchildren from violence. We turn our faith into action. It is because we march in resurrection triumph that we can be bold for the sake of others. Jesus had compassion on the poor, the prostitutes, the foreigners, the women and children. So must we as those who proclaim not only his name but his justice. 

If you would like to read more Strength in Hymn posts, here are several I like best, or you can look through my index to find your favorites.

• I Know that My Redeemer Lives
• How Great Thou Art
• Abide with Me, Fast Falls the Eventide
• Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun
• It Is Well with My Soul
• Before the Throne of God Above
• Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder
• Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
• O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Here are some of my posts related to Holy Week from past years:

• Holy Week
• Holy Week: The Throne Room of Grace
• "Sainte-Chapelle, Nouvel Esprit"
• An Odd Palm and an Odd Parable for Palm Sunday
• The Life of Christ, Our Identity in Christ, The Priesthood of All Believers, Submission and Humility

I photographed all of the artwork in this post in Paris and Geneva in October 2016, on a trip which was an amazing gift from God. I love cathedrals and art museums, and always gravitate to masterpieces which glorify Jesus. You can click the links to see other pieces from each site. From the top:

• Statue Le Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral in Paris
• Illuminated painting "Le Retable de saint Denis" by Henri Bellechoise from The Louvre in Paris
• "Le Christ decloue de la croix" by Bourgogne at The Louvre in Paris
• "Deploration du Christ Mort" by Ludovico De Donati at Musée d'Art et d'Histoire in Geneve
• Statue at Basilique de Sacré-Cœur in Paris 
• "Le Christ Bennissant" by Bernardino Luini at The Louvre in Paris

Lift high the cross!

Virginia Knowles
www.watchtheshepherd.blogspot.com