Living for the King “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (1) What are our members? They are the instruments of our body, our hands, feet, lips, and voice. Even our soul, mind, will and heart belong to the Lord. Why do we present them as instruments of righteousness? Jesus claims ownership of us - He paid a high price…death on a cross for us all because He loves us so. We now live for Him. When we truly know God, and His attributes we understand He desires our best, and He is going to look out for us. As we come to know His character, we find when we readily submit ourselves to Him, blessings follow and we avoid the eroding effects of sin. Walking with God by loving and serving Him, is far greater than those pitfalls. Frances Ridley Havergal (2) was totally convinced of God’s absolutes, His presence, and power in and through her life. As a result, she sat down and penned the most devoted words to a simple song, conveying her life and dedication to the Lord. The song, “Take my life and let it be.” Became a well known and popular song sung in the churches. Later in life she wrote a book called “Kept for the Master’s use.” She used the words from this song, “Take my life and let it be”, and exchanged the word “take” for “keep”. “Keep my life and let it b…consecrated, Lord, to Thee.” The original word “take” was an expression of a complete surrender to the Lord to use all the instruments of her body for a “present” use. Take my hands, feet, voice, lips, mind, will, and heart and use them daily for You, Lord, were her expressions. It gave a picture of God’s Spirit moving in her body through her members to accomplish His purposes. Her mind, heart and will were freely yielded to God to go where He sent her to go, and do what He told her to do, each and every day of her existence. Then this change of one little word brought a deeper meaning into the song and book. “Keep” my hands, feet, voice, lips, mind, will, heart and preserve them, for the future, adding the expression, “forever His” all the way into eternity! God will maintain these instruments as they are willingly surrendered to Him for His glory. They are bound in His fear and love. As you read the words to Frances’ song, picture taking your life - this day, and surrender it fully to the Lord, giving Him complete control. Then commit to the Lord a keeping of your life, from this day forward into eternity past to be His instruments for righteousness. He will receive and keep you forever! Take My Life and Let it Be. Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee. Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose. Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne. Take my love, my Lord; I pour at Thy feet its treasure-store. Take myself, and I will be ever, only, ALL for Thee. Lord Jesus, I thank you for not only receiving my life, but also for keeping it in Your care daily. You watch over me, protect me, provide and sustain. Lord, I pray for wisdom to be able to keep away from evil and live daily in Your righteousness. Amen 1. Romans 6:13 esv 2. christianity/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/frances-havergal-wrote-take-my-life-and-let-it-be-11630571.html
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 04:20:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015