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.

So it’s been a few months now, litterally, and I can’t seem to get this hymn out of my head. 

I can really get behind the first stanza, all love and praise, sunshine and lolly pops. It’s the second stanza that I choke on.  The second half of the second stanza to be specific. Take my silver and my gold, take my intellect, hang on there, not so fast! 

Once I realized I was stumbling on that one line, I started to think about the rest of the song and realized I have a lot of issue with the whole thing.  It’s a song about sacrifice, about releasing all that we hold dear and letting God be in control.  Easier said than done my friend.  Easier said than done.

The more I pondered the meaning of this song I was drawn to Romans 12, a whole chapter about becoming a living sacrifice for Jesus. 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [Romans 12:1-2]

Paul goes on then to describe a life lived in complete sacrifice to Jesus and his church. The implications of this chapter are massive.  He uses stunning imagery to describe the church as one body, each member with a unique and valuable role to play.  And then talks about a pure and complete love ethic that goes far beyond what most Christ-followers are comfortable with. 

– Place others above yourself (v10)
– Share with those in need (v13)
– Bless those who persecute you (v14)
– Be willing to associate with those of a lower position (v16)
– Live at peace with everyone (v18)

I must confess, I can’t say that I always do this consistantly.  It’s a hard thing to keep front of mind all the time.  Even harder to practice when I feel entitled to something better.  But I keep striving and that’s all I can do.