Nothing except Christ

Nothing except Christ

by Joel Howard

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." 

1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV)

If I can know one thing

If only one thing be my message

It would not be the loftiness

Of me or my words

If I can preach one thing

While I am with you

It would be the crucified Christ

And what He's done

Lets keep it simple

Lets keep it pure

If I can tell you about Jesus

My lot will be secure

Lets go back to the basics

Not the strength of our words

Or other such gizmos and gadgets

They don't guarantee us, for sure

Can we bring it back, then

To a God, to a grace

Who excels at all things

Keeps all by His name? 

Can we stay, each of us, centered

On what will last:

This God-man, Jesus

And His works of the past

This God-man Jesus

And His Word which will last!

~~

Behind the scenes for "Nothing except Christ":

I was going about my day today and began singing the phrase - "Know only Christ" - It reminds me of many hymns and songs but more importantly it reminded me of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2 when he explained to the Corinthians his motive and strategy for ministry, which included not "lofty speech or wisdom" but, and perhaps surprisingly, "weakness, fear and trembling".  This was comforting to me and I am encouraging you with it because of this: God meets us where we are and works with us through who we are, not when we put on a mask or try to get "bigger" than we actually are.  May the call to know only Christ resound in our hearts as we decide to make him our "one thing" again today.   Enjoy your day!  Joel Howard