"And Can It Be That I Should Gain?"

We visited a church today where a friend was raising support for her upcoming missionary work in Spain. One of the scriptures read was 1 Peter 2:4-5. You come to him, the living Stone--rejected by human beings but chosen by God and precious to him... There is a succulent plant called a living stone (pictured above), or lithops. They are a little tricky to grow, having specific light and water requirements. They also shrivel up and appear to die in the winter, coming back in the spring, sometimes doubling in size.

Our Lord, the perfect Living Stone, appeared to have died, but He came back and continues to adopt new children into the family of God. We, who don't deserve it, are welcomed to share in His inheritance of eternal life in heaven.

(To hear the accompaniment to this hymn, read the remainder of the verses, and read about its author and composer, go here.)

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?

And can it be that I should gain
An interest 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, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst 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!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

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

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.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.