There are many things that draw our attention today – family, jobs, sports, vacations, homes, national news, hobbies, television, cars, and even the weather. And many of these are important and good. But too often we have so many things to care for and our schedules just get so full, that we have so little time left to share with the Lord and reflect upon His goodness to us. And let's face it, this happens to all of us. It's a product of the times that we live in. We may cram in a little time to quickly read a few verses or say a few prayers but the urgency of our schedules and "things" keep us from a deeper relationship with God. And then we rush to church on Sunday and with our minds cluttered with the week's needs we try to spend an hour in worship. And sometimes our reflection upon the cross and the sacrifice of Christ gets limited to the ten minutes we spend each month taking Communion. This might have been on the mind of Fanny Crosby many years ago when Cincinnati businessman William Doane gave her a melody he had written. Listening to it, Fanny felt the words "Jesus keep me near the cross" and she promptly wrote the words to this great hymn. Maybe singing this hymn this week will help us to reflect upon our need to be kept near the cross in our daily lives and walk.
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o'er me.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
Near the cross I'll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
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