This week has had some challenges. That hardly makes me unique. I remember my Grandmother saying “Mercy me!” when she encountered something difficult. I had a variation of that response today. I cued up some MercyMe. I would guess that many of you who have stumbled onto my blog are familiar with the uber successful Christian band MercyMe. Their signature song, I Can Only Imagine, is a compelling ballad about Heaven and what it might be like when we see Jesus someday.

But I am praying that their legacy will have really started with the release of “Welcome to the New”. This new album is the most amazing, encouraging, moving and upbeat packaging of grace and identity in Christ that I have ever discovered. My favorite track on the album is Flawless. Here is a sample of the lyrics.

Could it possibly be
That we simply can’t believe
That this unconditional
Kind of love would be enough
To take a filthy wretch like this
And wrap him up in righteousness
But that’s exactly what He did

The power of song lyrics amazes me. Talented writers can say more in a stanza that I can say in a thousand words. Think of that image. I was (and am) a filthy wretch. What is God’s response? Clean up and I will give you righteousness? That was the theology of my youth. Nope. The image is the father of the prodigal son. He takes off his beautiful and expensive robe and wraps it around his shivering son covered with filth. That’s exactly what the Father does for us.

The chorus is powerful.

No matter the bumps
No matter the bruises
No matter the scars
Still the truth is
The cross has made
The cross has made you flawless

That is your Hump Day Hope courtesy of my friend Bart Millard and Mercy Me. The Cross has made you flawless. No matter what else is going on. No matter how tough your week might be. No matter how much you are being buffeted by the Enemy. The Cross has made you flawless.

In the first chapter of the Letter to the Colossians Paul writes this reminder.

Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.     (Colossians 1:22-23, NLT)

Today I feel a little beaten up. But the truth is I stand holy and blameless before God without a single fault. Because of Jesus the Cross has made me holy.

Mercy me!

 

Postscript: I rarely suggest how you spend your money but I do recommend “Welcome to the New” . I have found the album to be a wonderful encouragement that reminds me daily of grace and who I am in Christ. And the truth is I need to be reminded daily.  I think downloading this album would be one of the better ten buck investments you will make this year.