Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh how strange and divine, I can sing, “All is mine”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future sure, the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released, I can sing, “I am free”
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

We shall be singing this at church this morning. It has the feel of an old hymn – The focus is unashamedly on Jesus; it’s a clear statement of my faith:

It starts reflecting on all that Jesus brings to my life – joy, freedom, love, peace, hope… All I need becomes mine not because I deserve it – ‘but through Christ in me’.

This is particularly true through times of darkness, when I feel weak, powerless and defeated. I can come through the deep valley because ‘my Shepherd will defend me’.

I’m then reminded of Jesus’ suffering and death, bringing forgiveness and redemption; Jesus’ resurrection, bringing life and hope. ‘Yet not I…’ I’m turned away from ‘me’ to remember what Jesus did.

The song finishes with my response. Because of what Jesus did I re-affirm my desire to follow Jesus, now and throughout my remaining years until ‘my race is complete’. My only hope is in Him. I refocus. ‘Yet not I but through Christ in me’.