Daily Word of Grace # 234 (May 5, 2021)
The third and final stanza of the brilliant nineteenth century poet Christina Rossetti’s poem “The Thread of Life” reads: “Therefore myself is that one only thing I hold to use or waste, to keep or give; My sole possession every day I live, and still mine own despite Time’s winnowing. Ever mine own, while moons and seasons bring from crudeness ripeness mellow and sanative; Ever mine own, till Death shall ply his sieve; And still mine own, when saints break grave and sing. And this myself as king unto my King I give, to Him Who gave himself for me; who gives Himself to me, and bids me sing a sweet new song of His redeemed set free; He bids me sing: O death, where is thy sting? And sing: O grave, where is thy victory?” Before raising Lazarus from the dead Jesus Christ proclaimed, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live” (John 11:25). And shortly thereafter he gave himself, his very life, on the cross for you. The only response to God’s love is surrender, giving ourselves to the One who gave himself for us (Galatians 2:20)—and join Christina Rossetti in singing “a sweet song of His redeemed set free”, which includes you and means you can echo Christina Rossetti and the Apostle Paul, “O death, where is the sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Love and Prayers,
Dave