Sparrow

A song I’ve been listening to a lot recently is called “Everything is Yours” by Maverick City Music.  This song was recorded spontaneously, meaning that they did have any chord charts, lyrics on a page, or plan for what they were about to do or play.  They just worshiped. One of the main lyrics that is repeated throughout the song goes like this: 

To worship You I live, 

To worship You I live, 

I live to Worship You. 

There is something about those lyrics that are just so profound to me.  The idea that the way that we can worship God, the Creator of life and the entire universe, is to simply live. To live for His glory. But when you turn the sentence around, it gives a whole new meaning as well, which is what they say on the last line: “I live to Worship You.” So then, not only do we worship God by living, but we also live to worship Him. So the whole reason for living is then simply to worship our Creator. How amazing is that! 

This morning I wanted to hear from God— I think so many of us think that prayer is us speaking to God, without ever really just sitting down and trying to listen to what He is speaking to us— so I went and sat in my backyard to look at His creation and listen to His voice. Although I did not hear some deep robust Morgan Freeman voice speaking to me, I heard Him. Me. Just some college student in the middle of Celina Texas, conversed with the God of the universe. How crazy is that? As I was looking at the Lord’s creation, I became very fascinated with all the birds around me.  Something about the way that they flew together and lived, it reminded me of one of the verses that was inspiration for the song “Jireh” by Maverick City Music: 

 “29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

The fact that the birds that I watched this morning are sustained by my Father in heaven–even the sparrows–is completely incomprehensible to me. That this Almighty God of the universe also sees, hears, and knows me and wants a personal relationship with me never ceases to blow my mind.  This reminds me of Colossians 1:15-20: 

“(15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”

I love how this text tells us of the preeminence of Christ. There is no better passage in the bible to explain the transcendence and preeminence of Christ than this one. The fact that “[A]ll things were created through Him and for Him” is astonishing. Not only were those birds that I watched this morning being sustained by Jesus, but they were also made for Him. So then, they really do live to worship Him. How is it that they worship Him? They live. That’s how. And yet Jesus tells us that we are “of more value than many sparrows.” Thus, if the sparrows and the birds of the air live to worship God, and worship God by living, then so can I. So can you. As one of my favorite songs says, “If creation sings Your praises so will I.” 

This is why I am going to Africa. To worship God by living, but to also live to worship Him. The Lord has been faithful to provide, as I am a little more than halfway there in my fundraising. With that being said, however, the trip is coming right around the corner and I still need $3,202. I know that my God is faithful to provide, and I know that He will make a way. So, if you are feeling a tug or pull on your heart to partner with me for the sake of the Gospel, knowing that you are investing in the Kingdom of God, I pray that you would make that step of faith. Any amount at all helps! Let’s go tell people of their Savior Jesus Christ that they didn’t know they had, and the love that He has for them. 

Such an immense love that He humbled Himself by coming down from His throne in Heaven to earth in the form of a servant.  Living a blameless and perfect life, fully God and fully man. He was then blamed for crimes that He did not commit, and hung on a criminal’s cross. He then bore the weight of all the sin that would and had ever been committed; past, present, and future, and then died on that cross. However, that is not where the story ends. Three days later He rose again from the grave, so that all who would believe in His name, confess their sins and pray for forgiveness, and receive the mercy of God found in Christ Jesus, would be able to live with Him for eternity in heaven. Have you done this? Like, have you really confessed Christ as your Lord? If not, what is holding you back? 

He is waiting with open arms, saying to you, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He is enough. Jesus is enough.