Lenten Song Meditation: Week 2

Throughout the season of Lent, we’ll be posting various songs that will help us engage in this season. Music is a helpful way of engaging both our minds and our affections as we meditate on truths of Scripture. For week 2 of our Lenten song meditation, we’ll be looking at Red Mountain’s “Christ Or Else I Die”. We’ll also be singing this song on Sunday, so take time to meditate on the words! If you want to buy this song on iTunes, click here.

(Verse 1)
Gracious Lord, incline thy ear
My requests vouchsafe to hear
Hear my never-ceasing cry
Give me Christ, or else I die.

(Verse 2)
Wealth and honor I disdain
Earthly comforts, Lord are vain
These can never satisfy
Give me Christ, or else I die

(Chorus)
All unholy and unclean
I am nothing but sin
On thy mercy I rely
Give me Christ, or else I die

(Verse 3)
Thou dost freely save the lost
In thy grace alone I trust
With my earnest suit comply
Give me Christ, or else I die

(Verse 4)
Thou dost promise to forgive
All who in thy Son believe
Lord, I know Thou cannot lie
Give me Christ, or else I die

1) When we read & sing the words “Give me Christ, or else I die,” what’s our response? Is it one of agreement, complacency, or even disagreement? During this season of Lent, we want to remind ourselves that Christ is the only hope for sinners like us! Apart from Christ, there is no salvation from our sin, only judgment. May Park Church be a place that trumpets the declaration: “Give us Christ or else we die!”

2) The chorus says some big statements about our condition apart from Christ. “All unholy and unclean, I am nothing but sin.” Often we forget our state apart from Christ. May this season of Lent stand as a reminder to us that our sins took Christ to the cross. Take time to meditate on the truths of Ephesians 2:1-3 (we were dead in our trespasses and sins). May this again lead us to sing, “Give me Christ or else I die.”

3) Often we seek to find life outside of Christ, be it in our jobs, hobbies, money, etc. This song is a reminder to us that though those things can bring temporary joy, they can’t truly and eternally satisfy us. Take time to think on Peter’s response to Jesus in John 6 asking if he was going to leave as well: “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.'” This season of Lent, let us remind ourselves of where we find the words of eternal life.