Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Due to an unexpected trip out of town, the Song Reflections for the next few days will simply consist of Scripture, a song, lyrics to read prayerfully, and some reflection questions. The devotionals will return the week of February 14th. Thanks for your understanding.

If you’re new to Daily Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Daily Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.

Psalm 1 (NRSV)

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Song: “How Firm a Foundation” by Wendell Kimbrough

How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed
For I am your God and will still give you aid
I'll strengthen and help you, and cause you to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand

When through the deep waters I call you to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless
And sanctify to you your deepest distress

When through fiery trials your pathways shall lie
My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply
The flame shall not hurt you; I only design
Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake
I'll never, no never, no never forsake

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Like yesterday’s text from Jeremiah, this psalm uses imagery from nature to communicate spiritual truth. How do you see truths about God and his love reflected in nature? Are there other images or metaphors that resonate strongly with you?

  2. What does it mean for you to “delight in the law of the Lord?” What practices have been most helpful for you for engaging with Scripture? Spend some time in prayer that God, by his Spirit, would show you ways to always encounter Scripture with eyes open to new revelations of his love and guidance.

  3. Are there people you’ve known who have helped to build a strong foundation of Scripture in your life? Spend some time in prayer offering thanks for those who have taught you about the word of God, and those you have yet to meet who will learn from you.

Monday, February 7, 2021

Due to an unexpected trip out of town, the Song Reflections for the next few days will simply consist of Scripture, a song, lyrics to read prayerfully, and some reflection questions. The devotionals will return the week of February 14th. Thanks for your understanding.

If you’re new to Daily Song Reflections, click here to learn about it

Click here to follow the Daily Song Reflections playlist on Spotify.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NRSV)

Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD.

They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse-- who can understand it?

I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.

Song: “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” by Casting Crowns

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

I'm so glad I learned to trust Him,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that He is with me,
Will be with me to the end.

Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me
'Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. This word from the Lord through Jeremiah focuses on trust. What are some things that you are tempted at times to trust apart from (or sometimes even more than) God? What do you think lies behind that tendency?

  2. How have you experienced God’s flourishing in your life when you’ve rested in him and trusted his ways? How has he shown himself trustworthy and faithful?

  3. Spend some time praying over verses 7-8 and asking God to root them deep in your life:

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

Friday, February 4, 2022

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2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 (NRSV)

Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.

Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Looking back over the texts from this week, I see a particular word that resonates through all of them:

Grace.

We started with the call of Isaiah, who became keenly aware of his own unworthiness to be in God’s presence. How does God respond?

“Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’” (Isaiah 6:6-7, NRSV)

Then in our psalm from the week, these words:

“For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.” (Psalm 138:6-7, NRSV)

In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul also struggles with a sense of unworthiness, but becomes a recipient of mercy from God in response:

“For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” (1 Cor. 15:9-10, NRSV)

And then in Luke, when Jesus calls the fishermen to follow him, Simon Peter also becomes acutely aware that he is sinful and undeserving. Jesus offers him mercy and grace as well:

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who are partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.’” (Luke 5:8-10, NRSV)

In each of these passages we see how God reaches out to the lowly, the unworthy, and the sinful and extends a merciful touch that transforms them and lifts them up. In each case it’s not just that their sin is forgiven—they are changed and become something they weren’t before. They become God’s chosen servants.

The world looks at weakness and that’s all it sees. God looks at our weakness and sees a place for him to begin his work. The key is that we acknowledge our need. The Apostle Paul understood this well. How thankful I am that he recorded his own testimony of receiving God’s grace and strength, telling us what God declared to him:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12: 9, NIV)

That’s what grace does. It takes the weak and makes them strong. It takes the guilty and pronounces them forgiven. It heals. It cleans. It transforms.

For today we offer three songs reminding us of God’s grace in our weakness. As our Song Reflections run only Monday through Friday, you may wish to use one a day into the weekend, or you may wish to sit in an extended time of worship and prayer. For your reflection, simply read and pray through the lyrics of each song and reflect on these questions:

What lyrics and words resonate most with your soul right now?

How does that lead you to prayer?

However you make use of these songs and prayers, may God show you his transforming grace as you spend time with him.

Song: “Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)” by Hillsong

LYRICS

All these pieces
Broken and scattered
In mercy gathered
Mended and whole
Empty handed
But not forsaken
I've been set free
I've been set free

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost
But now I am found
Was blind but now I see

Oh I can see You now
Oh I can see the love in Your eyes
Laying Yourself down
Raising up the broken to life

You take our failure
You take our weakness
You set Your treasure
In jars of clay
So take this heart, Lord
I'll be Your vessel
The world to see
Your life in me

Song: “Who Am I?” by Casting Crowns

LYRICS

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the bright and morning star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Who am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again?

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You are

I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours
I am Yours
I am Yours

Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

Song: “Grace” by Laura Story

LYRICS

My heart is so proud,
My eyes are so unfocused.
I see the things You do through me
As great things I have done.
And now You gently break me,
And I cry just like a baby.
You hold me as my Father,
And mold me as my Maker.

I ask You: “How many times will You pick me up,
When I keep on letting You down
And each time I will fall short of Your glory,
How far will forgiveness abound?”
And You answer: “My child, I love you.
And as long as you’re seeking My face,
You’ll walk in the power of My daily sufficient grace.”

At times I may grow weak,
And feel a bit discouraged.
Knowing that someone, somewhere,
Could do a better job.
For who I am to serve You?
I know I don’t deserve You.
And that’s the part that burns in my heart
And keeps me hanging on.

...You are so patient with me, Lord...

As I walk with You,
I'm learning,
What Your grace really means:
How all of my transgressions
were paid at Calvary.
So instead of trying to repay you,
I’m learning to simply obey You
By giving up my life to You,
For all that You’ve given to me.

Thursday, February 3, 2022

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Luke 5:1-11 (NRSV)

Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.

He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets."

When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.

So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!"

For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who are partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."

When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

What a simple statement. What a profound story it tells.

When Peter, James, and John become disciples of Jesus, they leave behind everything they ever knew. Steven Curtis Chapman calls it “reckless abandon.” I’m sure that’s what it seemed like in the eyes of the crowd, but in light of what just happened it’s not really all that reckless. Audacious? Yes? A little scary? Perhaps. But given what they’ve just experienced I’m not sure we can call it “reckless.”

Think about what’s just happened—Jesus has shown up at the seaside, crowd in tow. He turns to Simon, who is wrapping it up after a failed effort at fishing. I can certainly imagine Simon and the other fisherman are frustrated at an empty catch. Then this young rabbi shows up, climbs into Simon’s boat, and asks to be pushed out a ways. I picture Simon shrugging with a, “Sure, why not? This day can’t get any worse.” attitude.

We don’t have a record of what Jesus said to that crowd. I wonder what he taught that day. But it’s had an effect of some sort on Simon, because when Jesus suggests they try for another catch, he agrees. He points out that it seems to be a useless task, but he agrees nonetheless, saying, “If you say so, I will let down the nets.”

If you say so.

Something in Jesus’ teaching that day has sparked a notion in Simon—that there might be something special about this teacher from Nazareth. And the teacher’s suggestion, though impractical and most likely leading to failure, is worth following.

And the rest, as they say, is biblical history. The nets break. The boats nearly sink. The catch is, in a word, miraculous. Simon realizes he’s in the presence of supernatural power that must come from God, and he falls to his knees in repentance. Jesus replies simply and directly:

“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”

And with that, they follow.

Following Jesus at times may look reckless, but the kind of decision Simon and the others make is not based on a hunch. It’s not a choice they make out of nowhere. They’ve heard the authority of the teacher. They’ve seen his power demonstrated. They’ve experienced his grace. In light of that, the call is not unreasonable.

It is irresistible.

Song: “For the Sake of the Call” by Steven Curtis Chapman
Lyrics: Click here

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you known people in your life that have made life decisions based on their faith that might have been called “reckless?” Have you experienced that yourself? What were the circumstances of that call and response, and how did God move to confirm (or correct) that decision-making process?

  2. When discerning God’s call, what practices, prayers, and Scripture are helpful for you as you consider what he is asking you to do? Are there other resources or disciplines that are helpful for you?

  3. Is God calling you to make a decision today that involves a bit of risk? Spend some time in prayer before God, asking his authority, power, and grace to made real as you seek his will.

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

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1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (NRSV)

Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

One of the songs which seemed to impact people the most during last year’s Eastertide Song Reflections was this haunting piece by Aaron Shust, written out of his own personal grief. It seemed a good match to today’s reading from the Revised Common Lectionary, so we offer you an adapted version of that day’s reflection.

At the heart of 1 Corinthians is the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. At the very beginning of the letter, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the message of Jesus’ sacrifice was always central in his preaching:

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Cor. 2:2, NRSV)

Now as the letter draws to a close, Paul shifts focus to the resurrection. One scholar calls these two bookends in chapter 2 and chapter 15 “sentinels”—calling the Corinthians to a deeper understanding of what Jesus has done for them.

And just what has Jesus done for them (and us)? He’s given them hope, hope that this world is not the end. He’s prepared a way, and his resurrection stands as a promise of our own.

We don’t know what will happen when we die. That is a mystery. We can’t begin to imagine what it will be like. All we can do is place our trust in the promise of Jesus, who said:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”—John 11:25 (NIV)

Yet even though our existence after we have broken free of these earthly bonds is a mystery, the reality of that existence is something that still impacts in the here and now. It provides hope whenever we find ourselves brushing up against the veil between this world and the next, whenever we are touched by physical death and are confronted with the truth that “…we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.” (Job 8:9, ESV)

These past two years have been a painful reminder of our mortality, and not only because of a pandemic. It seems every day there is breaking news of more lives cut short by violence. Death is all around us, and we are all touched by it in some way. Sometimes it seems to much to bear. Because it is.

But then just when I think the weight of it all will crush me, I find myself before the one who experienced death, and yet lives. The man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, who willingly went to the grave for us, then returned for us. The one who, even as he himself was dying on the cross, turned to a thief who expressed faith and declared, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43, ESV).

Do you hear the certainty in his voice? Can you sense the assurance in his eyes as he tells a repentant sinner that death will not banish his soul to darkness?

We need to hear that certainty today, to sense that assurance once again. In part, because as followers of Christ, imbued with hope, we can provide a message this hurting world so desperately needs to hear.

But we also need to hear it for ourselves. There are times we need to simply cling to the promise that this is not the end. That those who trust in Jesus, though they lie down in death, will rise with him in new and everlasting life. There is sadness in the moment of goodbye, but there is an enduring promise of reunion in eternity with Christ.

Jesus conquered the grave so that we no longer need fear it. Today may the truth of that victory sink deep into our souls. We need it more than ever. May this message, which Paul proclaimed as being of “first importance”, remain central for us and bring us hope:

“For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures…” (vv. 3-4)

Here is a word from songwriter Aaron Shust about today’s song:

“I began writing this song when my Uncle was slipping from this life into the next. The Bible says that when we lose someone in the Family of God, we don't grieve like the ones who have no hope. We do grieve, but our grief is temporary. I'm so grateful for our Hope: our Confidence. This song is intended to allow the listener to grieve: to experience the pain and loss. But also to cling to the promise that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him has hope for eternal life.”—Aaron Shust

Song: “Death is Not the End” by Aaron Shust
Lyrics: Click here

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Paul says this teaching about Christ’s death and resurrection are of “first importance.” How do you hold this truth before your eyes in your own walk? What practices and disciplines are helpful to keep your eyes on the cross and the empty tomb?

  2. Do you ever find the assurance of Christ’s promise hard to hold onto? Spend some time in prayer asking that God would remind you of the power of his love, power which raised Christ from the dead and now lives in you. Ask him to stir that hope within you whenever despair seems close.

  3. Even though we “do not weep like those who have no hope,” tears are still part of the journey. Even Christ shed tears. How are the cries of the hopeful different from the cries of the hopeless?

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

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Psalm 138 (NRSV)

I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;

I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything.

On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.

For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Psalm 138 is a prayer of thanksgiving. It is a word of praise lifted to God in pure gratitude. God has answered the psalmist’s prayer, and in response the psalmist pens these words to express thankfulness and praise.

The psalmist has come to know God’s steadfast love and faithfulness in a new and powerful way, and can’t help but sing. But when you dive into it, Psalm 138 is not just about an individual who has received a blessing from the Lord and feels a need to offer God a word of thanks. That may have been the impetus, but the psalmist, over the course of just eight verses in our English Bibles, is then inspired to offer up deep and meaningful truths about God’s character, God’s workings, and God’s priorities. It’s not just about thanksgiving—it’s about the very glory of God.

As you read Psalm 138, watch as a song of thanks bursts forth into a grand symphony of gratitude-based praise. In its strains we hear kings bowing in worship, the lowly and downtrodden finding favor in God’s eyes, and the prideful receiving their due. We are reminded of God’s protection, deliverance, guidance, and steadfast love. And the end result is actually stated near the beginning: “you have exalted your name and your word above everything.” (v. 2)

There is a good word in here for us. When God “shows up” in our lives, when he answers prayer, provides for our needs, and guides us in his ways, it is absolutely right to give him thanks. But in our gratitude we need to watch out that we don’t focus solely on the answer, the provision, or the guidance. They’re important, yes, but in the end the glory goes to God, not what he has given.

I’m challenged by this psalm. I’m challenged to move into a deeper experience of gratitude, one that looks beyond the present situation and considers the God who meets me in it. I want to glory, not in the answer to prayer, but in the one who loves me enough to answer it in the first place.

Song: “Worthy Of It All” by CeCe Winans
Lyrics: Click here

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. How have you experienced the link between gratitude and praise in your own life? In what ways have you seen God move on your behalf that have led you to give him glory?

  2. What does in mean for you to “give thanks with your whole heart?” Are there times when gratitude (even to God) can be only half-hearted? What can guard us against that?

  3. Spend some time prayerfully asking God to open your heart to even deeper levels of gratitude and praise, that he alone would receive the glory and be exalted. Perhaps use the Scripture-based lyrics of today’s song to lead you in prayer:

You are worthy of it all
You are worthy of it all
For from You are all things
And to You are all things
You deserve the glory

Monday, January 31, 2022

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Isaiah 6:1-8 (NRSV)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple.

Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."

The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke.

And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"

The call of Isaiah is a personal favorite because in it we find a pattern for Christian worship that has stood the test of time. It’s a movement that is echoed in thousands of churches around the world every week when they gather for a service of worship:

  • We come into God’s presence (v. 1)

  • We lift God up and celebrate his glory (vv. 2-4)

  • We are made aware of our own sinfulness (v. 5)

  • We receive God’s forgiving touch (vv. 6-7)

  • We hear the word of the Lord inviting us into his kingdom purposes (v. 8)

It is important to note, however, that Isaiah is not simply brought into God’s presence in order to celebrate God’s presence. There is a deeper purpose to what is happening here—Isaiah is being brought into this worshipful space in order to be commissioned for service. He is transformed by God in order to be used by God. He hears the word…he responds…and he is sent.

That is something we forget at our peril.

Worship is, was, and always will be about God, not us. It is about the worthiness (“worth-ship” being the origin of the word) of God to receive all glory, honor, and praise. That is true. But what is also true is that worship changes us and equips us. It aligns us with God and his purposes. That’s what happens to Isaiah, as we see in the very next verse: “And he said, "Go and say to this people: 'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.'“ (v. 9)

In worship God is lifted up, and then we are sent out.

Thomas Long, in his book “Testimony,” puts it like this:

“Worship is a soundtrack for the rest of life, the words and music and actions of worship inside the sanctuary playing the background as we live our lives outside, in the world. The words of worship are like stones thrown into the pond; they ripple outward in countless concentric circles, finding ever fresh expression in new places in our lives.”

We always need to be on our guard that worship doesn’t become an escape, an excuse to ignore the places in our lives where God would have us go and be about his work. In fact, we need to expand our understanding of worship to see that when we live out his call, we are adding to that “fresh expression” of worship in our lives. As Paul encourages us:

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1, NRSV)

The story doesn’t end with “Here am I, send me!” It continues with, “Go and say to this people…”

Song: “Use Me Lord” by Caleb Andrews

Lyrics: Click here

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever found yourself using worship as an escape? How can you seek a deeper understanding of the link between living a life of praise and living a life of service to God’s kingdom?

  2. How has God typically led you into opportunities to serve? How does he stir your heart? What practices and experiences help you become more “attuned” to God’s call?

  3. The song includes as a cry to God, “Give me an outlet for love.” Spend some time praying that God would open those outlets in your life and circumstances.