Moved by Faith

To open this posting, I want to ask a question. When was the last time you were moved to tears by worship? When was the last time you were that overcome by emotion in the presence of God?

Think about it for a moment before you keep reading. Picture that moment in your mind and feel it in your heart.

To share mine, it was today at my first service at the Williamsburg Christian Life Center.

For me, it's the fundamental truths of our wonderful faith that hit me every time. During worship today, I can't remember exactly what point was made or what song was sung to get me onto this mindset, but I suddenly started thinking about everything God has given us, from that very beginning ("In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...", Genesis 1:1) to that last moment when Jesus gave His life for us ("For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life...", John 3:16) and until now ("In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed...", Psalm 139:16).

When presented with that, a simple sentence echoed in my mind and heart. So simple, in fact, that it consists of merely two words.

I give.

God has given us everything. How can we not feel compelled to give back with cheerful hearts when presented with that simple and fundamental truth?

One time before that, when I was a counselor at the wonderful Christian camp Camp Highroad that has shaped my faith so much, I was holding an open discussion with some of my campers. I can't remember what question one of my girls asked, but the answer I found for her in Scripture was one that is familiar to many, and one that I have already quoted in this blog posting. I'll write it out one more time, though:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life."

That's right, John 3:16, a frequently-quoted verse. That was the first time it really hit me, though, in its fundamental truth.

He died for us. He died for you. He died for me.

Since the days when those fundamental truths became fundamental truths, we've come up with a lot to distract us. Sometimes the things people try to communicate get complicated and convoluted. We don't spend quite as much time as I think we should just thinking about some basic fundamental truths.

God made everything and gave it to us.
God calls us to give back to Him.
God died for us because He loved us and still loves us with the deepest love you can ever imagine and then some.


There are some other truths that are just as important, but these three have been defining points for my faith and therefore they're the ones I wanted to share.

I'll leave you with some of the words of one of my favorite hymns and then one of my favorite songs. They're really quite similar.

The hymn ("Here I Am"):
'Whom shall I send?'
Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord
If You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.


And the song ("Alabaster Jar"):
This time that I have left is all I have of worth.
I lay it at Your feet, Lord; it's less than You deserve.
Though I've little strength, and though my days are few,
You gave Your life for me so I will live my life for You!
Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King!
Here I am; take me as an offering.
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory.
Take me.