Words to a new hymn that express what I said in my message Sunday Jan 9:
I lived as though an orphan, Abandoned and alone,
So lost in sin and darkness, Without a hope or home.
Then God, in love and mercy, From heav’n’s eternal throne
Called out my name, declaring, “I claim you as my own.”
This claim God has upon me, Through Christ, God’s only Son,
Who lived in full obedience, Who died for what I’ve done.
Now through Christ’s resurrection, We gather all as one
And join in heaven’s household, Joint-heirs with Christ the Son.
This promise we inherit: God’s Spirit comes today.
The Spirit gives its witness That “Abba!” we may say.
We pray to God as “Father,” We’re never left alone.
We are forever cherished, Adopted as God’s own.
Since we have been adopted, We close not heart nor home
To any who feel orphaned, Abandoned or alone.
God, fill us with compassion, To love as you love, too,
That we may show the whole world The grace we know in you.
The above lyrics are based on a hymn about adoption written by Eric Schumacher, along with David Ward of Reformed Praise. Their lyrics are at http://www.reformedpraise.org/songs/modernhymns/though-i-was-born-an-orphan/. I’ve used some of their images and rhymes, however I reshaped the lyrics on the basis of several principles (a) moving from the individual’s experience (stanza 1,2) to the community (stanza 2-4) by shifting from “I” to “we” language; (b) moving from salvation (stanza 1) to mission (stanza 4); (c) moving to an implicit Trinitarian structure for stanzas 1-3, shifting to an implied Church background behind stanza 4; and (d) I shifted from the “widows and orphans” focus to tie it more closely to my text, Romans 8, so I used the language of “Abba” and “joint-heir.” I’ve written them an email to see what they think of my version!
