Christ our Savior

I am beginning to prepare for a sermon that I'm preaching soon, and I've come across something that I wanted to share with you. I hope you read it prayerfully, as the following was penned as a prayer to God our Savior. I also hope this warms your heart towards God and points you to the redemption that is only found in Jesus our Savior.

Christ was all anguish that I might be all joy,
cast off that I might be brought in,
trodden down as an enemy that I might be welcomed as a friend,
surrendered to hell’s worst that I might attain heaven’s best,
stripped that I might be clothed,
wounded that I might be healed,
athirst that I might drink,
tormented that I might be comforted,
made a shame that I might inherit glory,
entered darkness that I might have eternal light.

My Savior wept that all tears might be wiped from my eyes,
groaned that I might have endless song,
endured all pain that I might have unfading health,
bore a thorned crown that I might have a glory-diadem,
bowed his head that I might uplift mine,
experienced reproach that I might receive welcome,
closed his eyes in death that I might gaze on unclouded brightness,
expired that I might for ever live.

You can purchase Valley of Vision, a collection of puritan prayers in which this prayer is found. They have it in both a leather and paperback edition.