As I tuned in to one of our pre-recorded church services from my beloved worship leaders at our church this morning (due to the 'dreaded' virus, per usual), I was inspired by Pastor Tracy's message about song. The message was wonderful, continuing a series that talked about how God created us for 'song'; He created us to sing for Him, and He created us to sing as if we felt like we could not live without singing. There is a song on our hearts, because God has an eternal song on His heart, and we are created in His image.
The worship team sang the song 'Blessed Assurance,' and the lyrics of the song stood out to me. They made me reflect on what possible song could be on my heart. What song could I possible have on my heart, that would reflect the song on God's heart? The lyrics of the chorus almost force you to want to have to explain yourself:
This is my story - this is my song...
Praising my Savior, all the day long.
This is my story - this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.
And yet isn't it magnificent how the lyrics are not what make the song complete... it's the melody! How can one hear music, and not believe in God? One has to wonder. But I digress;
I wanted to break down the lyrics to this song; first the chorus, and then the first verse itself. I wanted to somehow help my pastor's message reach others, and touch others, the way it did me. And the lyrics to this song caught my attention.
So what is my story? I guess my story should be my testimony; my testimony for how I lived my life for our Lord Jesus Christ. What have I done, how have I lived my life, what kind of services and works have I carried out in service to God? How did I come to believe that those works were necessary? How did God work in my life, to help me discover His truth, or THE TRUTH (for He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life)? I should try to find ways, or seek those opportunities, to tell MY STORY every day, to reach other people for Christ... shouldn't I?
(See Matthew 28: 8 Then Jesus came to them and said,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”)
So what is my song? My favorite hymn growing up was The Wondrous Cross. I find it funny, almost, that this song, reminded me of another song, even though nothing was said about a cross. But just read the words to my favorite hymn:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain, I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Many people will read those words, and perhaps not understand, that when I hear those words, especially combined with the melody... my emotions well up within me and create tiny tears, because it is such a poignant reminder of what Jesus did for 'little old me.' But I consider this to be the song on my heart. Maybe that is why it stirs my emotions so; because it IS the song God placed on MY heart.
Then the other words to the chorus of the song in the worship service today:
'Praising my Savior, All the day long' - I am reminded that this is how I SHOULD be living my life day to day; at least metaphorically. Unfortunately, I fall miserably short every day. But at least I am reminded by the song.
The verse of the song goes like this:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. How much assurance could people around the world use right now? What if I told you that the second part of that short phrase, is what helps me get through life? EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Seriously, the main reason I find assurance, living life day to day, despite the fact that I work in law enforcement and could run into a deadly threat, or the reason I don't fear things like dying from a virus, or whatever is out there that could kill me - is because I know Jesus is my Lord and Savior. When I say I know, I mean I believe it with all my heart; I KNOW it to be TRUE. That TRUTH, provides ASSURANCE.
Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Jesus is the Son of God, and we who believe are heirs of His salvation, because God purchased our lives at the expense of His son.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. When we believe in God's promised sacrifice, through the blood of Jesus, we are born of His spirit, and His blood cleanses us of sin in the Father's eyes!
Perfect submission, all is at rest. When we perfectly submit to God's will, we surely can rest easy.
I in my Savior am happy and blessed. In Lord Jesus, I should understand I am blessed, and therefore should know I have an endless reason to be happy.
Watching and waiting, looking above. We who believe are all waiting, according to the scriptures, for Jesus to return. And the scriptures tell us, He will return in the same way in which He left; thus, we look up!
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. When we give ourselves to God, and what Jesus did for us, our lives should exhibit His goodness - and His love should come out in everything we do and how we treat others.
Fascinating, isn't it, how this one song - can tell all of our stories, in a sense? That is what caught my attention as the worship team sang on the video, and as I sang right along with them in my living room.
And yet, an individual's life story can be made up of so much more. That is the beauty of all of this - because God tells each of us that we are beautifully and wonderfully made. Think about how you were made. Think about all the gifts, or blessings, or happenings in your life. How has God used that? How CAN God use that?
So I hope someone out there can read this, and at least gain some insight into why I was touched by the service message, and touched by the song. And I leave you, the reader with one challenge. Ponder on the two questions that title my blog post.
What is your story; what is your song?