Christ is Enough. He is more than Enough!

We sang Hillsong’s “Christ is Enough” this past weekend at our church. Like many worship songs today, it is a mash up of a new song with an old hymn. The lyrics to the new song:

Christ is enough for me.

Christ is enough for me.

Everything I need is in you.

Everything I need.

Through every trial.

My soul will sing.

No turning back.

I’ve been set free.

Then, the lyricist adds the words to the 19th Century hymn “I have decided to follow Jesus:”

I have decided to follow Jesus. The cross before me. The world behind me. No turning back. No turning back.

Christ is enough for me. How do I know this? Personally, I have experienced His provision first-hand during trial after trial. And, the Bible is peppered with God’s promises proclaiming it:

Luke writes, “Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.” Acts 4:12

Christ is enough for me. How do I know this? Paul writes, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need.” Philippians 4:19

Christ is enough for me. How do I know this? The Psalmist writes, “You’re all I want in Heaven! You’re all I want in earth. When my skin sags and my bones get brittle, God is rock-firm and faithful.” Psalm 73:25-26

Christ IS enough. No matter if we think all our good deeds means we get to go to heaven, it doesn’t work that way. No matter how much we exercise or how many skin tightening facial cremes we use at night, we cannot control that we age, that our flesh and heart will fail. No matter how much we try to plan and control all the many and mini details every day, failure is a part of life. And that’s the point. Only when we get things in the right order can we find true freedom. God is our strength! He is enough. He is more than enough! The cross in front of us. The world behind us. No turning back.

The story behind that old hymn is inspiring:

“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is sung to a traditional folk tune from India, and it is named after the northeastern Indian state once home to tribes known as “head-hunters” due to their custom of collecting heads and hanging them on their walls. In his book Why, God, Why?, Dr. P. Job says that 150 years ago a Welsh missionary converted a man, his wife, and his children to Christianity. After the village chief demanded that the man renounce his faith, he spontaneously sang the now-famous words, “I have decided to follow Jesus.” Reportedly, the chief ordered his archers to kill the man’s two children, threatening to kill his wife as well; but the man sang, “Though no one joins me, still I will follow.” The archers shot his wife, but still the man refused to deny Christ, and he was executed while singing: “The cross before me, the world behind me.” It was said that the chief was so moved that he declared, “I too belong to Jesus Christ!” and the entire village converted.

Can I assure you: Christ is enough. He is more than enough for whatever weakness,whatever stress, whatever illness, whatever failure, whatever brokenness you are facing today. He will meet your every need. Let Him be your strength. Put the cross in front of you and the world behind you. Jesus is enough. He is more than enough!

(c) 2019 Rich Ronald.

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Notes:

“Christ is Enough” by Hillsong Worship. Written by Jonas Myrin and Reuben Morgan. CCLI # 6514035.

Story behind “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” from Christian Classic Ethereal Library, CCEL Times 6.10 (October 3, 2011), accessed May 22, 2019.