Because everyone loves a good story
Check Out This Song!
This isn’t the post I was intending to write today. In fact, this won’t be a full post at all. It’s really just a pre-post. (Talk about an oxymoron.)
So here’s the scoop: I began writing an article about one small idea (my tendency toward perfectionism), but it grew into a much bigger idea, its roots spreading obtrusively into topics and implications that I didn’t intend. But the spreading was good because it revealed some parts of my heart that had been hiding from the light.
Sorry, I don’t mean to be cryptic. I promise to be as forthcoming as possible once I’ve had more time to organize my thoughts in the coming week. But by way of a teaser trailer, I’d like to leave you today with a beautiful song that has been immensely helpful as I consider the topic of perfectionism. It’s called “It Is Finished,” or “Nothing Either Great or Small,” and it was written by James Proctor in 1864. I’ll post his original lyrics for you to read, and I’ll also add a link to a beautiful rendition performed by a church worship team called You Me & The Bread. I hope you’ll join me in meditating on its beautiful truths!
So for now, I leave you with a song and a promise to share much more next time.
“It Is Finished”
Nothing, either great or small—
Nothing, sinner, no;
Jesus died and paid it all,
Long, long ago.
Refrain
“It is finished!” yes, indeed,
Finished, ev’ry jot;
Sinner, this is all you need,
Tell me, is it not?
When He, from His lofty throne,
Stooped to do and die,
Ev’rything was fully done;
Hearken to His cry!
Refrain
Weary, working, burdened one,
Wherefore toil you so?
Cease your doing; all was done
Long, long ago.
Refrain
Till to Jesus’ work you cling
By a simple faith,
“Doing” is a deadly thing—
“Doing” ends in death.
Refrain
Cast your deadly “doing” down—
Down at Jesus’ feet;
Stand in Him, in Him alone,
Gloriously complete.
Refrain
3 Comments on “Check Out This Song!”
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Great teaser! Love that song, well written and convicting. We must put our deadly doing down for all was done for us!
Proctor concentrated on Eph.2:9 and rightly dismissing the idea that we earn our place with God. Nor incidentally do we keep it by our meritorious works, though meritorious works are expected as befits our new nature. He missed the balance that Eph.2:10 encourages good works – a thing we were created unto/towards (not ‘for’ as if only created as tools – cf. KJV/GNV), which in context means the works/fruit of the new creation. He failed to define his context and made rebuked ‘works’ (Sinaitic/Moral?) absolutely. Yet it is Christian to do good new (and old) creation works as people of the new (and old) creation.
I see what you mean. If Proctor were condemning all works, he would have been missing a vital part of salvation’s fruit. I didn’t get into the verses that inspired Proctor’s hymn, but they’re found in Romans 10:1-4 where Paul laments Israel’s tendency to focus on the law rather than faith. That’s why Proctor clarifies in stanza 4, “Till to Jesus’ work you cling/by a simple faith/’doing’ is a deadly thing.” It’s not always deadly–just when it’s pursued without faith in hopes of receiving righteousness. As always, thanks for your thoughts, Steve!