The Knowledge of How Great Thou Art!

Michael E. Wood

June 18, 2012

The following is part of a post you can find on the Gospel Coalition blog, written by Paul Tripp, June 3, 2012

No Longer Amazed by Grace

“He spoke matter-of-factly, probably not understanding the significance of his words, but I couldn't get them out of my head. He was the head of a national ministry. We were in a meeting talking about ministry partnership. I was sharing my excitement over what I saw happening in the church around the world, and he said, "I don't think anything excites me anymore." It wasn't my place to respond, but I immediately thought, You better be excited, you are leading a ministry, and if you can't get your excitement back, maybe you shouldn't be doing what you're doing. He had lost his excitement, left only with duty to do the repetitive business of ministry day after day. What a sad and dangerous place to be!

Perhaps it begins in seminary with the up-close examination of faith. Perhaps there is a moment when the glory of God just doesn't seem all that glorious anymore. Perhaps living in the middle of a theological community begins to dull my excitement and numb my amazement. Perhaps the Bible gets reduced to little more than a theological manual. Perhaps even God himself becomes more an object of study than the Lord of glory.”

Upon reading the above article in its entirety along with Paul’s post from June 17, entitled The Motivation Behind Every Thing We Say and Do, the following words came to mind.

Oh help us more by You be awed

In holy reverence more enthralled

To know and love You as we ought,

Reflecting Christ by whom we’re brought

To see Your presence new each day

As darkness flees with each new ray

Of light cascading from the sky

Into our hearts by Your own eye

And melting all remains of sin,

As holiness now dwells within,

As by Your Spirit You impart

The knowledge of How Great Thou Art!

Oh Father thank You for the wealth

Of Christ within; renewing health

To praise You more in every thought

As sin and self is brought to naught;

As more consumed we are with Thee

Our passions rise that glory be

Forevermore to You displayed

By what we do and what we say.

And though we fail now miser’bly

Our hope and trust resides in Thee,

Who by Your pleasure we are blessed

By grace through faith in peace; and rest

In knowing You alone impart

The knowledge of How Great Thou Art!