“Jesus keep me near the cross, there a precious foundation; free to all, a healing stream, flows from Calv’ry’s mountain. In the cross, in the cross be my glory ever, till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river”.
I’d been thinking and reading over this hymn throughout the week, then during one Sunday morning service, the hymn came up on the screen and it was such a beautiful song to sing on the Lord’s Day.
These words were penned by Fanny Crosby, a marvellous hymn writer who went blind at only a few weeks old. She said various times that she may not have had the relationship she did with God during her lifetime, penning all these Christ-centred hymns worshipping her Heavenly Father, if she had her sight.
Throughout life, we will face many struggles. Christ said himself “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). The apostle Paul says in Romans 5:3-5, “3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Our sufferings and hardships produce endurance to face them, and our endurance gives us spiritual maturity. But not only that, our spiritual maturity gives us deeper hope and absolute assurance of eternal salvation, because we are found in Christ therefore we are secure (Romans 8:38-39).
What a prayer - to keep me closer to that Fountain of Life (Psalm 36:9); that Christ will continue to draw people to Himself (John 12:32); that the message of the cross will be instilled in my heart and mind (1 Corinthians 1:17-18); that I will continue to radiate Christ as long as I walk with Him, because He lives within me (Galatians 2:20); and that He will continue to perfect me in ways He knows will glorify Him and is pleasing to Him (Hebrews 12:2).
Hymn “Jesus, keep me near the cross”, by Fanny Crosby (1869)
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