Friday, February 20 At the Cross

Scripture:
“But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Hymn Focus: “At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away…”

Lent draws us again to the foot of the cross, the place where truth and grace meet. The hymn “At the Cross” gives voice to the deep wonder of this moment—wonder that God’s own Son would suffer, and that His suffering would bring us life.

Isaac Watts’ words begin with honest astonishment:
“Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die?”
This is not casual reflection. It is the startled realization that the cross was not an accident or a tragedy alone—it was love willingly poured out. Lent invites us to sit with that question, to let it pierce our hearts before rushing to answers.

The hymn leads us to confession as well:
“Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?”
These words echo the Lenten call to humility. We acknowledge our sin, our brokenness, and our need for grace. Yet the hymn does not leave us in despair. Instead, it moves us toward release and gratitude:
“At the cross… the burden of my heart rolled away.”

Lent is not about carrying heavier guilt, but about laying it down. At the cross, the weight we have carried—regret, shame, fear—is lifted by Christ’s sacrifice. Faith does not deny the seriousness of sin; it trusts the sufficiency of grace.

The hymn ends with a response:
“Now I am happy all the day.”
This joy is not shallow happiness, but deep assurance. Even in the solemnity of Lent, there is quiet joy in knowing we are forgiven, redeemed, and held by love stronger than death.

As you journey through Lent, return often to the cross—not just as a symbol of suffering, but as the place where light first broke into your darkness. Stay there long enough to see clearly, to confess honestly, and to rise renewed.

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
At the cross we see both the cost of our sin and the depth of Your love.
Help us to bring our burdens to You and leave them there.
As we walk through this Lenten season,
shape our hearts with gratitude, humility, and faith,
until the light of resurrection dawns anew.
Amen.