KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
RELEVANCE What do we owe our Lord and Saviour?
When He gave His all for us—his childhood, youth, adulthood and life—what do we give in return? What do we owe Him?
I have a favourite Apple Music album that reminded me of the price He wants me to pay. "A Live Worship Experience" by Casting Crowns.
I play it in the bathroom when in the shower, while walking with the earphones, and I put it on in the car. I also play it in the kitchen when working at the kitchen table. (Yes, I'm one of those people. The view to the backyard is better.)
Like all albums, I would change a couple of songs if I had the chance, but I love the others. Yet, one song touches me in a profoundly humbling way.
Great Are You Lord is the song, and the chorus pierces my heart whenever I hear it. 'Cause it's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
We pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise
To You only
The part that affects me most is the writer's connection with pouring out praise from the organ God made. It seems so perfect. We offer up our breath to our Lord and Saviour, and we pour it out to Him alone, no other god, idol, or wasteful idea.
It reminds me of Revelation 4:8, And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Yet, the song's words also reflect what we do with other creations in our body.
The Apostle Paul writes of some in Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. This sentence points our heart to the lifting of praise and rejoicing.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. Besides other excesses, Paul speaks of appetite, offering our stomachs to the Lord—the birthplace of all our ailments.
The Lord is at hand. Paul guides us to direct our brain's fear and anxiety section to the Lord (Scientists call it the amygdala) because He is here with us now. He is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Again, Paul writes that the worry centre is unnecessarily overburdened. It doesn't need to be. In offering up prayer, supplication and thanksgiving, we remove the turmoil that worries and fears create in our organs—bringing a sea of peace to them and helping them last longer.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This is the result of following Paul's suggestions.
But Paul goes on to speak of the continual offering of our minds, that we remove the caustic thoughts and feelings that lead us back to the turmoil we left behind. We only have one mind, one day to get through, and one God to praise. None of us wants to waste time by offering our thoughts to the wrong god. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
To offer up our lungs and other organs to praise our Saviour and obtain peace as a benefit, Paul suggests we follow His pathway. After all, God led him from the brutal beast he was, giving the wrong offerings of hatred, to the remarkable disciple he became. I think he learned a thing or two along the way.
PRAYER Dear Lord, thank you for the song's suggestion that I offer up all my breath unto you, every beat of my heart, every thought and intent, and every work within my body. Pleas help me understand more, so I can offer more.
Photo by Milada Vigerova
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