The question of the origins of the Christian tradition called Baptist has been, and to some extent still is, a much-debated issue.
Elizabeth Clephane was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1830. Growing up in Melrose, Scotland, Elizabeth was a very quiet little girl, preferring to go unnoticed and was always absorbed in books. She lost both her parents at a very early age. She had a passion for poetry. She was very frail physically, yet despite that, she was a diligent Bible student, and spent much of her time serving the poor and the sick of her community. As with so many of her poems, they were published in a Scottish Presbyterian Magazine entitled, “The Family Treasury.” Elizabeth passed away at the young age of 39. A year before she died, she wrote a poem that would later become the hymn entitled, “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.” Here are some of the words of that hymn….
Upon the cross of Jesus mine eyes at times can see
The very dying form of One who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears, two wonders I confess:
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.
I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face,
Content to let the world go by, to know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self, my only shame, my glory all the cross.
In 1 Corinthians 1:18, Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.” Later in verses 23 and 24, he writes, “but we preach Christ crucified; a stumbling block to Hews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks; Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
As we move through these days, where do you stand? Can you say with the hymn writer, “Beneath the Cross of Jesus, I fain (gladly) would take my stand.” That is without a doubt a life changing decision. When we take our stand beneath the cross, it affects every area of our lives. It has bearing on every decision we make.
“Life is wasted if we do not grasp the glory of the cross, cherish it for the treasure that it is, and cleave to it as the highest price of every pleasure and the deepest comfort in every pain. What was once foolishness to us – a crucified God – must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in the world.” John Piper Blessing to you,
Pastor Steve
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