Jesus Is My Life

Sunday morning retuning: The message of hope Sunday was so clear. Maybe you have not yet decided to plunge in. I encourage you to do so now. The water is more than fine.

So we have begun to sing a song from the fall recording project titled, “All I Have Is Christ”. I have been looking forward to using it in our worship gatherings because the text of it is so solid. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with it, I have included a link here so you can hear it. [This is a version with an animation of obvious missonal flair, very appropriate to lead us to Sunday and our Missions Impact Weekend.]

While the verses are theologically rich, and some might say complex, the chorus is just the opposite with regard to complexity that is. It simply says, “Hallelujah! All I have is Christ. Hallelujah! Jesus is my life”. Notice is does not say, “Bummer, all I have is Christ,” as if that were some kind of disappointment. On the contrary, it is a joyful exclamation, one that it does our souls well to ponder.

That being said it is the last line that Jesus is bringing to life for me these days. “Jesus is my life.” On the one side, many a weary soul has uttered these words in desperation yet with rest and peace. There have been times when I have lipped those words, and others when I have shouted them. But what Jesus is showing me in these days while we are learning to sing and live this song is another layer. One that I would never have claimed to have figured out, but that I honestly felt I knew a little better than He is revealing to me.

You see, I am selfish. I want what I want and I want it now. Let me rephrase that more accurately. I know what I want to do, and I do not want to bother with distractions. Before you conclude that I am the worst pastor ever, hear me out.

I have realized through a number of circumstances over the last couple of weeks since we have begun to sing this wonderful song that Jesus is my life. I know, I may not be helping my case but follow my thinking. I have know for sometime and really agree with Paul when he wrote to the Galatians that, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” [2:20] But what has been happening over the last couple weeks is God has been giving me little opportunities to demonstrate that.

For example, instead of doing what I was planning on doing, God has given me opportunities to serve others in simple ways. He has also given me opportunities to show value to others, thinking more highly of them than myself. For me, this requires dying. Sometimes I do well, others not so well. That other line from the song suddenly becomes so clear, the one about living so all might see, “the strength to follow [His] commands could never come from me.

Jesus is my life. No arguments from me on that. and yet there are times when a battle for my life, my way, my will, rages within me. But I praise the Lord He is helping me see it so that I can overcome it in His strength. Jesus is my life. Hallelujah!

Jesus, You are my life. Help me to die a thousand deaths so that I can experience moreso every day that blazing and glorious reality. “And let my song forever be my only boast is You.”

In Christ,

Pastor Timothy