A friend of mine - a former pastor - one time led in prayer at a church gathering I was a part of and used the words, “If it wasn’t for the Lamb by your side…” in his prayer…and those words had a deep impact upon my life.

As he prayed, he spoke a prayer of amazement and awe at the mercy of our holy and just God. His heart cry was this: we don’t deserve God’s love or mercy. Because of sin, we all deserve death and hell. And because of the sacrifice of a perfect Lamb for our sin, we have total access to Almighty God. If we all would remember from where the Lord rescued us we would live in a constant state of amazement and gratitude. Out of such a moment of meditation on my own sin and salvation a song was born. I call that song Holy is the Lamb and will include the lyrics below.

Hebrews 10:19-25 NASB, says, 19 Therefore, brothers [and sisters,] since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, [through] His flesh, 21 and since [we have] a great priest over the house of God, 22 let's approach [God] with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let's hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let's consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging [one another;] and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus in these dark and trying times. Let us not let up in our worship and in the expression of our gratitude to the Lord for all He has done for us. And let’s remember this: the perfect, holy Lamb of God gave His life because He wanted relationship with you and with me. He loves us. Period.

Here are the lyrics to the song my pastor’s prayer inspired:

Holy Is the Lamb

WORDS & MUSIC

Dennis Jernigan

January 23, 1991

Verse

I stand amazed at Who You are

I stand amazed at Your mercy

How could you take a heart defiled

And make it pure and then to You be reconciled?

Pre-chorus

Holy is the Lord God on high

Holy is Your judgment

Both pure and justified

Deserving of both death and hell am I

You heard my cry for mercy

And then laid down Your life

Chorus

If it wasn’t for the Lamb by Your side

If it wasn’t for the Lamb crucified

Life would just be hell

And hell would be forever

But hallelujah hell could not prevail over Him Who is my Savior

So I cry holy is the Lord God most

Holy is the Lord

Holy is the Lamb by Your side

Dennis Jernigan

To hear The Dennis Jernigan Podcast version of this teaching and to hear the song, go to http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/holy-is-the-lamb/

Photo courtesy of https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/04/22/17/02/lamb-3341618_1280.jpg