Christ Be Magnified
By Cody Carnes
Were creation suddenly articulate
With a thousand tongues to lift one cry
Then from North to South and East to West
We'd hear Christ be magnified
Were the whole Earth echoing His eminence
His name would burst from sea and sky
From rivers to the mountain tops
We'd hear Christ be magnified
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
When every creature finds its inmost melody
And every human heart its native cry
Oh then in one enraptured hymn of praise
We'll sing Christ be magnified
Oh, be lifted high, Jesus
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
I won't bow to idols, I'll stand strong and worship You
And if it puts me in the fire, I'll rejoice 'cause You're there too
I won't be formed by feelings, I hold fast to what is true
If the cross brings transformation then I'll be crucified with You
'Cause death is just the doorway into resurrection life
And if I join You in Your suffering, then I'll join You when You rise
And when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints
My heart will still be singing, my song will be the same
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
Let His praise arise
Christ be magnified in me
Oh! Christ be magnified
From the altar of my life
Christ be magnified in me
Exalt: “Christ Be Magnified”Empower: Galatians 1:10; Proverbs 29:25; 1 Corinthians 4:3-4; Colossians 3:23-24
Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”(NIV)
Alalahanin na ang sulat sa Galacia ay isinulat ni Pablo dahil may mga Judaiser teachers na nagtuturo na ang pananampalataya (faith in Christ) ay hindi sapat para sa kaligtasan... na kailangan pa ring sundin ang ilang kautusan ni Moises, lalo na ang pagtutuli (circumcision). Para kay Pablo, ito ay isang pagbaluktok ng ebangelyo. Mariin niyang sinabi na ang sinumang mangaral ng ibang ebanghelyo ay dapat ituring na isinumpa (Galacia 1:6-9); at pagkatapos nito ay sinabi niya sa kasunod na verse: “Huwag ninyong isipin na ang nais ko ay malugod sa akin ang tao. Hindi! Ang nais ko ay malugod sa akin ang Dios. Kung ang ikalulugod ng tao ang hinahanap ko, hindi ako tunay na lingkod ni Cristo.” (Galacia1:10) Hindi nangangahulugan na wala siyang pakialam sa opinyon ng iba, nagmamalaki, ayaw magpaturo, at hindi siya nagpakita ng kabaitan; ang ibig niyang sabihin, hindi niya ikokompromiso o babaguhin ang mensahe ng ebanghelyo para lamang malugod o matuwa ang mga tao.
Paul’s freedom from the opinions and approval of people is rooted in his understanding of the gospel and his identity in Christ. Kung ang layunin lamang niya ay magpasikat o bigyang kasiyahan ang tao, madali lang niya itong gawin - ang ituturo lamang niya ay ang gustong marinig ng mga tao. Ngunit pinili niyang ituro ang katotohanan ng biyaya (grace) kahit marami ang tumututol sa kanya. Sa ibang talata, mariin din niyang sinabi na ang kanyang ipinapangaral na ebangelyo ay hindi galing sa opinyon ng tao o galing sa sarili niyang opinyon, kundi, ito’y kapahayagan ni Jesu-Cristo sa kanya. Kaya wala ring puedeng humusga sa kanya at sa kanyang ipinapangaral kundi si Cristo lamang. Hindi niya kailangan ang approval o opinion ng ibang tao dahil kilala niya kung sino siya at ang layunin at panawagan ng Diyos sa kanya. Paul’s confidence was not based on people’s opinion, his own emotions and self-condemnation. What matters to him was God’s opinion. His confidence rested on what Christ has accomplished.
