My heart has been heavy this week about giving up something precious to me (perhaps only temporarily?) because I can no longer participate in it in good conscious.
I don’t want to let it go. But I want to stand for what’s right.
So I lay it down.
As God would have it, my daily Bible reading has had me in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ last hours on earth. Oh my.
Anything I lay down is nothing compared to what He laid down for me.
And because He did, I can make my sacrifice (albeit still reluctantly) knowing that anything done for His glory has already been paid for.
Matt Maher elaborates on his song “Lay It Down”:
How amazing it is that when we lay down our lives for God what He gives us is infinitely greater than what we’ve had to sacrifice.
...We lay it down and we celebrate what God has given us. So the laying down isn’t that depressing because what we receive is so much greater.
So I lay my gift at the altar, and I celebrate that He will provide what I need next to show His glory, even though I can’t see it yet.
And I hope.
I’ve been memorizing Romans 8:24-29 the past three weeks, not realizing the specific blessing I would need from them now. Thank you, Father, for laying out gifts before me so I can lay mine down later with more ease. And pick up more of yours. You always outgive me.
24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Matt Maher
LYRICS
Everything I am
Everything I long to be
I lay it down at Your feet
Everything I am
Everything I long to be
I lay it down at Your feet
I lay it down
I lay it down
I lay it down
At Your feet
Oh pearl of greatest price
No act of sacrifice
Can match the gift of life I find within Your gaze
Oh what a sweet exchange
I die to rise again
Lifted up from the grave into Your hands of grace
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