All I Have is Christ by Jordan Kauflin, 2008.

Verse one describes the universal condition of all humanity before the Holy Spirit brings faith, as lost and without hope. Verse two describes the wonderful grace of God to have mercy on us in Christ. Verse three describes our reasonable response.

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see.
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me.
O Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You.

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ,
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

Observe: After explaining the wonder of the gospel in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul is overcome with amazement and can’t help but break into doxology in Romans 11:33-36.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Augustine, the 4^th century Bishop of Hippo, says that we cannot stretch out to attain to the

knowledge of the love of Christ in this life, only in the next is that fulfilled. For who can know “the mind of the Lord?” So Augustine councils us to “be filled with the all the fullness of God, not as if God should be full of thee, but so that thou shalt be full of God.”

To be full of God leads to Paul’s simple application following his doxology.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2).

In these trying times, we do not lose heart. Instead, ask that he use “my ransomed life in any way you choose” as God wills the opportunity. And the more trying the times, the more opportunity he provides for us, to show that Jesus is our life!

Blessings, Pastor Don.