In this episode, we explore the enduring connection between early Christian hymns and the sacrificial nature of Jesus, noting how the New Testament epistles contain some of the earliest Christological confessions. Passages such as Philippians 2:6–11 and Colossians 1:15–20 highlight Jesus’ humility, obedience unto death, and the reconciliation accomplished “through the blood of His cross.” These early fragments of worship remind us that from the church’s earliest days, believers recognized the centrality of Christ’s sacrifice and the power of His atoning blood in God’s plan of salvation.

We then examine William Cowper’s hymn “There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood”, which powerfully captures the theological weight and emotional depth of Christ’s atoning work. Written during a period of Cowper’s renewed spiritual clarity, the hymn draws from Zechariah 13:1 to depict Jesus’ blood as an inexhaustible fountain of cleansing and forgiveness. Despite attempts to soften its vivid imagery, the hymn’s raw, unvarnished language has endured in worship settings, testifying to the deep need for and the transformative power of Christ’s blood, which alone has the power to cleanse every sin and redeem every sinner who trusts in Him.

Ultimately, the hymn serves as a lyrical sermon on substitutionary atonement, reminding us that Jesus’ sacrifice is not an abstract theological concept but a living, active reality that purifies, restores, and welcomes us into God’s presence. Each stanza emphasizes that through Jesus’ blood, we are washed clean, freed from guilt, and made new, leading us to gratitude and daily trust in the power of the cross. As we continue to reflect on this hymn, we are invited to live in the freedom, hope, and reverence that Jesus’ sacrifice has secured for us, allowing our lives to reflect His redeeming grace to a world in need.

In this episode, we explore the profound truth of Titus 3:4–5, which reminds us salvation is not earned by our righteous efforts but is a free, merciful gift flowing from God's goodness and loving kindness. The Apostle Paul’s words shatter the human paradigm of striving for worthiness, replacing it with the breathtaking reality that God’s nature—His compassion and mercy—stepped into history in the person of Jesus to rescue us. This divine act of salvation is not the result of our accomplishments but the overflow of God’s character, expressed through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

We then connect this truth to the song “Goodness of God,” which celebrates God’s unwavering faithfulness and active presence in our lives. The song's imagery of Jesus as our comfort in darkness and our light in despair makes His nature profoundly personal and real, reminding us that He is not just a historical figure but the intimate, ever-present embodiment of God's goodness in our daily struggles. Jesus meets us where we are, patiently pursues us with grace, and brings light, healing, and peace into every area of our lives, showcasing His steadfast love and the depth of His compassionate nature.

Ultimately, the episode emphasizes that Jesus’ ministry and sacrifice reveal God’s goodness in action, calling us to rest in the truth that our salvation is not a prize to earn but a gift to receive. The song and scripture together encourage us to trust in Jesus’ faithful presence, to surrender our striving, and to live lives that testify to the unearned, transformative embrace of God’s mercy. As we reflect on these truths, we are invited to live in gratitude and dependence on Jesus, allowing His Spirit to renew us daily as we thrive in His abundant love.

In this episode, we explore Jonathan McReynolds’ “God is Good” as a lens to deepen our understanding of Jesus’ character and ministry. McReynolds’ reflective, honest songwriting transforms the familiar phrase “God is good all the time” into a lived, examined faith, affirming God’s unchanging goodness even during struggles and “bad days.” The song anchors listeners in the reality that God’s goodness is not defined by circumstances but is an intrinsic attribute of who He is, calling us to praise and trust Him in every season.

We then consider how Jesus is the ultimate, tangible demonstration of God’s goodness on earth. Through His ministry—healing the sick, feeding the hungry, welcoming the outcast, and comforting the grieving—Jesus revealed a God who draws near in suffering, embodying goodness in action. His suffering on the cross and His resurrection affirm that God’s goodness does not mean a life without hardship but a life where hardship is transformed by hope, purpose, and divine companionship.

Ultimately, the song and this devotional remind us that because of Jesus’ sacrifice and victory over death, we can confidently declare “God is good,” not as wishful thinking but as testimony anchored in Christ’s love and faithfulness. Our struggles and troubles, viewed through Jesus, become pathways to deeper dependence and faith, and His presence invites us to live lives of gratitude and trust. As we listen to “God is Good,” we are invited to let each lyric draw us closer to Jesus, the living proof of God’s unwavering goodness in every season of our lives.

In this episode, we continued our exploration of the familiar affirmation, “God is good all the time. All the time God is good,” connecting its rich biblical roots with the Gaither song “God is Good All the Time.” Scriptures like Psalm 34, Psalm 100, and Nahum 1 remind us that God’s goodness is an intrinsic, unchanging part of His nature, providing comfort and strength regardless of our circumstances. The song powerfully reinforces this truth by illustrating how God’s steadfast love and faithfulness sustain us through trials, offering hope and inspiring praise even in moments of difficulty.

We then looked deeper at how Jesus, as God incarnate, is the living demonstration of this divine goodness. His interactions with the marginalized, acts of healing, teachings of truth, and ultimate sacrifice on the cross are tangible expressions of God’s unwavering kindness, mercy, and commitment to humanity’s redemption. Jesus’ life and ministry were not only about meeting immediate needs but were also the unfolding of God’s good plan to restore what was broken, reconcile humanity with God, and establish His kingdom of peace and righteousness on earth.

Ultimately, the declaration “God is good all the time” becomes more than a comforting phrase; it is a profound truth fully revealed in Jesus. His death and resurrection affirm God’s goodness, even in suffering, showing us that God is constantly working for our good and His glory. As we trust in this truth, we are called to live lives of gratitude, faith, and active participation in reflecting God’s goodness to a world in need.

In this 10:10 Thrive devotional, we explored the contemporary worship anthem “Goodness of God,” a song that has quickly become a beloved declaration of faith in God’s constant, unfailing goodness. The hymn invites believers to reflect on the faithfulness of God in every season, proclaiming His kindness and provision as a steady anchor in an ever-changing world. Its accessible melody and honest testimony resonate deeply, leading worshipers to gratitude, trust, and a posture of lifelong praise.

While the hymn directly celebrates the goodness of God the Father, it also deepens our understanding of Jesus as the living embodiment of that goodness. The song’s vivid language of God’s goodness “chasing” and “following” us finds its clearest expression in Jesus’ earthly ministry—His healing, feeding, forgiving, teaching, and ultimately His sacrificial death and resurrection. Jesus is not merely a messenger about God’s goodness; He is the visible, tangible, and active pursuit of God’s love for each of us, demonstrating divine faithfulness through His presence and redemptive work.

Finally, “Goodness of God” fosters a response of worship, surrender, and trust in Jesus, who is the channel of God’s goodness into our lives. By recognizing Jesus as the one who secures our salvation, guides our steps, and remains with us from morning until night, we are led to a deeper, personal reliance on Him as the source of our hope and the assurance of God’s eternal faithfulness. This hymn thus moves us beyond viewing God’s goodness as an abstract idea to experiencing it intimately through Jesus, calling us to testify with our lives and sing, “I will sing of the goodness of God.”

In this 10:10 Thrive devotional, we explored the hymn “And Can It Be?” by Charles Wesley, a cornerstone of Wesleyan and Methodist hymnody that emerged from Wesley’s own transformative Aldersgate conversion experience in 1738. Written in the wake of his encounter with God’s grace, the hymn captures the intense emotional wonder and theological richness of a soul overwhelmed by the realization of personal salvation. Its questions and declarations of praise embody the spirit of the early Methodist revival, emphasizing experiential faith grounded in the assurance of Christ’s atoning work.

The hymn leads us to a deeper understanding of Jesus by highlighting His humility and the astonishing nature of His sacrifice. Phrases like “emptied Himself of all but love” and “died for me” illustrate Jesus’ willingness to lay aside heavenly glory to embrace suffering for the sake of humanity. It moves us to consider Jesus not merely as a distant Savior but as the God who chose to enter the depths of human sin and frailty, bridging the chasm between a holy God and unworthy sinners out of boundless, sacrificial love.

Ultimately, “And Can It Be?” draws us into the transformative power of Jesus’ redeeming love, emphasizing the liberation it brings to those bound by sin and death. The vivid imagery of chains falling off and hearts set free paints Jesus as the triumphant Liberator who enables us to rise and follow Him. This hymn moves theology from the mind to the heart, transforming doctrine into an intimate, worshipful realization of Jesus’ amazing love that leads to adoration, gratitude, and a life fully surrendered to Him.

In this 10:10 Thrive devotional, we explore the hymn “Jesus, the Very Thought of You,” tracing its journey from the 12th-century Latin poem “Jesu dulcis memoria” to Edward Caswall’s 19th-century English translation. We discover how this hymn emerged from a tradition of deep medieval devotion, intended not simply as liturgy but as a living meditation on the sweetness of Jesus’ name and presence. Paired with the gentle melody of ST. AGNES by John Bacchus Dykes, it became a timeless tool for worship, helping believers across generations turn their hearts toward Christ.

Unlike hymns that focus primarily on the acts of Jesus, this hymn fosters personal affection, wonder, and spiritual satisfaction through contemplating Jesus’ very person. Phrases like “sweeter than the honey,” “purer than the sunbeam,” and “nothing else but You can satisfy” point us to Jesus as the ultimate source of joy and peace, the supreme object of our longing. This moves us from intellectual knowledge of Jesus to an intimate experience of Him as the One who meets our deepest needs, reveals divine goodness, and satisfies the soul in ways nothing else can.

The hymn also highlights the joy that comes simply from thinking of Jesus, encouraging us to love Him not only as Savior and Lord but as Friend and Comforter whose presence refreshes the heart. It invites us to a deeper connection with Him through worship that moves beyond duty into desire and delight. Ultimately, “Jesus, the Very Thought of You” reminds us that Jesus is not merely an idea to be studied but a Person to be cherished, whose presence transforms our lives with sweetness and peace.