Every week I get to lead several chapel services and bible studies at the hospital where I work. Typically, we start the service off with a couple of songs. We try to provide a variety of hymns and contemporary songs and we try to make use of various artists. We play the songs using an app on our phone and we connect our phones to a speaker using the Bluetooth function. It works pretty well. This week we were listening to an old favorite, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” The version selected for the service was a contemporary one. The artist changed up the original melody and the cadence and even added some pauses at various places. After the song was finished and it was time for prayer requests, one of the individuals attending the service commented on the new version of the song. They said, “That song sounds a lot different than the way I remember it…but, the words are still the same. And I like that pause. It’s good to pause and think about how special Jesus is.”

Their comment was met with a somber and reverent “amen” from another participant. And together, we just paused and thought about the goodness, the grace, and the faithfulness of our Lord.

What can wash away my sin
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

Oh, precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
Oh, no other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

For my cleansing, this I see
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
For my pardon this my plea
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

I pray that this week you will have the opportunity to pause and reflect on the goodness, the grace and the love of Jesus Christ.

Blessings to you and the people you love.