We’ve been blessed in the past by the Saints who’ve gone before us,
Who in times of tribulation showed theirs was a living faith.
But the future is our challenge, for in days of wealth and leisure,
Will we show a lonely world that God is love?
We’ve been blessed by the past, but will we embrace the future?
When the Lord asks, “Who will go for me?” how will we answer Him?
Will we stay safe in our churches and drop coins into the offering,
Or will we respond to Him, “I’m yours; send me!”?
We’ve been blessed by the past, but when we embrace the future,
We will prove to be a blessing if we show our faith is real.
When we sacrifice our wealth and when we sacrifice our leisure,
We will show a lonely world that God is love.
View and/or download the lead sheet here.
About This Song:
A number of years ago, one of the Baptist associations in Virginia held a song writing competition as part of the celebration of a significant anniversary, although I can’t recall which association–or even which anniversary.
The theme was “Blessed by the Past.” I honestly thought that was a pretty weird idea–something I ordinarily wouldn’t have been interested in. But it seemed like a worthy challenge.
Months after the event at which the winning song was shared, I sent email to the association office. My song hadn’t won the contest, and that was okay, but what had become of it?
When I heard back, the contest coordinator apologized for the fact my song had somehow gotten lost–and consequently had not been considered.
I didn’t have much choice but to shrug off my frustration. Nothing they could do to make amends.
Have you ever put your best efforts into something you wouldn’t ordinarily have done? Something that seemed like the right thing to do, only to have your efforts ignored–or perhaps to have the project backfire on you? Then you can relate.
Yet as I look at these lyrics, perhaps my decision to write them was my way of telling God, “I’m Yours; send me.”
I believe God sometimes calls people to go somewhere or do something to test their obedience. God’s asking Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac comes to mind. God didn’t want Abraham to actually kill his son, but to prove that he put God first. So God was able to prepare Abraham to do what He really wanted.
Let me change directions.
American Christians are currently under attack from the federal government, homosexual organizations, abortionists, atheists and non-Christian religious groups, and who knows how many other special interest groups that represent things Christians cannot biblically accept or endorse. And in some cases they are things Christians must actively oppose.
We may well be facing times of tribulation. Are we prepared to sacrifice our Isaacs to show that ours is a living faith in a loving God–a loving God who teaches us to “hate the sin, but love the sinner”?
NOTE: This post was originally written four years ago. Everything I said in the last two paragraphs is even more true today.
Free lead sheets (lyrics, tune, and chords) are available for many of my songs. Click on the Lead Sheets tab at the top of this page to see whether one is available for this song. Videos for many of my songs, some recorded at home and some at our church’s nursing home ministry, can be accessed at my website, RogerBruner.com, under the Listen tab.
Look for me again next Wednesday. Better still, subscribe to receive these weekly posts by email.
Best regards,
Roger
Links you might be interested in:
As I Come Singing. . . 