Today’s hymn focus will be “At the Cross”

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT)                  

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction!

 But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”

These poetic verses were written by Isaac Watts, born in 1674 to Pastor Isaac & Sarah Watts. His father was considered a dissenter because he did not fall in line with the teachings of England’s Anglican Church. The younger Isaac showed exceptional intellectual abilities, learning Latin, Greek, French and Hebrew by the age of 13. At the age of 19, he joined his father in leading the Above Bar Congregational Church in Southampton, where he began writing hymns for the church to sing. He published this song in 1707 in a book entitled Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

Almost 150 years later, while singing this song in a revival service, Fanny Crosby (our blind hymnist from last week’s song) was converted to Christ. She said “my very soul was flooded with a celestial light.” So Isaac Watts played a part in her salvation.

          At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light, and the burden of my

          heart rolled away. It was there by faith, I received my sight, and now I am

          happy all the day!

We need to wake up and realize that the power of written words and a beautiful melody do not just impact a few, but can continue to echo through the ages, affecting people’s lives for generations to come. Sing and proclaim this joyous song today!

YOUTUBE:

At the Cross