O Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
O Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
All of the Christian life is an exercise in gratitude. We are always, in every way, with every breath, invited to give thanks to God for His great care for us.
This song gives us fresh language for the praise and thanksgiving we have sung in many beloved hymns (I think of “O For a Thousand Tongues” and “How Great Thou Art”). Just like the words of those hymns, we call creation to pour forth its praise.
Those hymns, and this song, echo the Psalmist in Psalm 96:
Psalm 96 (ESV)
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12 let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
13 before the Lord, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
And at the end of this song, we involve ourselves in this praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving here is not just words or emotions. Thanksgiving looks like a life of faithfulness to Christ. A life submitted to His rule: no bowing to idols, but enduring the pain of rejection if it comes from following Jesus only; and devoting ourselves to the truth, despite the feelings that would pull us into self-serving.
May this be our thanksgiving:
O Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
O Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
EMMANUEL REFORMED CHURCH 