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
In August of last year, Cory Asbury and I found ourselves at Bethel Music Conference together with a couple of hours free. So, we decided to sit down and try to write something.
At the time, I was feeling a weight to put into song my commitment and devotion to follow Jesus. And as we began digging through scripture and looking deeper into what frames a life of devotion and worship to Him, the song Christ Be Magnified was born.
The bridge of the song starts with the stanza above, echoing the story of the three Israelites in Daniel 3: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They were captives in Babylon and a decree had been sent out across the land for everyone to bow before a giant golden image of the Babylonian king.
The penalty if anyone disobeyed? Thrown into a pit of fire. Yet in the face of death, the three Israelites refused to bow. The punishment was carried out.
But when they were thrown into the fire, the king was stunned at what he saw.
“I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:25, ESV
When all hope seemed lost, when death seemed inevitable, Jesus showed up. And He always promises to for you and me. Our part is to be faithful to Him. To recognize the idols in our lives, the things that are trying to hold our attention, and be “all in” for Jesus.
I won't be formed by feelings, I’ll hold fast to what is true
This line is based on Hebrews 2:1 (NLT), “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.”
I recently heard Christine Caine preach on that scripture and she said the only thing a person has to do to drift away is nothing. And when I look at our culture today, it’s clear to see that it’s easy to get drifted away, to be formed by our feelings, to unknowingly let offense, shame, or anger drive our actions.
Yet in the midst of this struggle, we always have the opportunity to hold fast to what is true in the Word of God.
If the cross brings transformation then I'll be crucified with You
That line illustrates what Paul teaches throughout the New Testament. When we submit to Jesus and let our old self die, that’s what frees us to be transformed, resurrected, and made new in Him.
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) shows us, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
'Cause death is just the doorway into resurrection life
We find this promise in Romans 6:4 (ESV), “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
And if I join You in Your suffering then I'll join You when You rise
Romans 6:5 (ESV) declares, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” In other words, dying to self, our old ways, our old flesh, allows us to fully enter into the abundant life of Jesus.
And when You return in glory with all the angels and the saints
My heart will still be singing and my song will be the same
Oh! Christ be magnified!
In Matthew 24:30-31 (ESV), Jesus says, “Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Jesus is drawing us deeper into a rich life of devotion that ultimately produces resurrection life. Will you join me in that “all-in” commitment to Him today?
Scriptures:
Daniel 3, ESV
Hebrews 2:1, NLT
Galatians 2:20, ESV
Romans 6:3-4, ESV
Romans 7:4, NLT
Romans 6:5-8, ESV
1 Peter 4:12-17, NLT
Luke 21:27-28, ESV
Matthew 24:30-31, ESV
