Do You Have A Favorite Hymn?

We were in the middle of a service several weeks ago when a fine young man leaned over and asked me, “Do you have a favorite hymn?” I did not know that he was scheduled to play the offertory or that in a matter of moments this gifted young man would play one of the most beautiful arrangements of my favorite hymn.

My answer was, “Yes, I have a favorite, but people don’t sing it much today. My favorite hymn is And Can It Be?” Charles Wesley wrote more than 6,000 hymns but many people believe this is the greatest. Perhaps it is because it was written to celebrate his own salvation. It is a testimony song!

Yet this testimony is not rooted in mere emotion or experience – it is rooted in Scripture! Few songs are filled with more truth. These lines are both devotional and doctrinal.

Relax…I’m not going to sing it for you. I want you to love the hymn as I do. But I would like to ask you to take the time to read this great hymn slowly. Meditate on each line. It will do your soul good…

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

A dear friend of mine has for many years used his social media to share a few lines of a great song each day. I would encourage you to incorporate hymns into your own daily time with God. Use them in personal worship.

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

I have shared my favorite hymn with you, now do you have a favorite hymn? Share it in the comments below or better yet share it with someone else today.