Offer yourself.
Oh yes my bruthas! Larry and Tim Melby. Here's the story.
Back in the day when I worked at Cedar Springs Church in Knoxville, the church was right across the street from the Cedar Springs Christian Store. It was not associated with the church, but shared the name. I'm a sucker for a good bookstore. I can't even fathom how many times I walked across the street to the store. I enjoyed looking through the books and oh, how I loved looking and listening in the music section. Cassettes baby! Cassettes! I met a woman who worked in the music section of the store. She began to notice my "junkie" status of how often I lurked in the music section she worked in. Over time, Melanie would tell me release dates of specific artists that she knew I was interested in.
Interesting intersection to meet Melanie, whom I later introduced to my wife Lea. They are now lifelong friends and have led an Advent retreat for women for almost 20 years together. So special to see what God does through talking about cassette tapes. Really, that is so real.
So one day Melanie says to me, "Have you heard of this group called Liaison? They're kind of a hard rock group." I had not. The Melby brothers rock. I have so enjoyed their music over all these years. Please look at that hair. Props to the flow going on there. Music grabs individuals individually. God grabbed me in the Melby brothers music. Song after song. I'll never forget listening to one of the tracks on this particular release for the first time. Tucked near the end of the album is the song "All I have to Offer You." I first listened to this song 29 years ago. Twenty nine people! Almost 3 decades! I, literally listened to these words today, about 4 hours ago on the way to see my friend Mark.
All I have to offer You.
All I have to give this time.
All I have to offer You...
is a broken heart
and a troubled mind.
These words have impacted me since I heard them on cassette in 1991.
We are thinking in these days about Peter's letter to those who were scattered, chosen sojourners. And it is trickling to us today as those who are scattered around the world naming the name of Jesus. If you have never named the name of Jesus as your Savior, you can literally open your mouth and heart and do it right now! Peter declares that those who are in Christ are spiritual stones that God is using to build a spiritual house as His holy people. That God would have anything to do with one such as I is miraculous. And He then says He'll use me to build His kingdom. This is truly amazing, good news. He then continues his words to say that we are "offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Simmer in it.
I really enjoy this particular thought that happens all over the Words of God in the Bible. If we didn't have the capacity for this to be true and real in our life, then He would have never said it! If our life couldn't actually offer spiritual sacrifice to our Lord, then why would He have ever mentioned it to us. We DO have that capacity! Through Jesus Christ, we can offer spiritual sacrifice to the Lord. And we're building to the clincher. Here it is. What is that offering really? An animal? Perfect moral character? Nope.
We offer ourselves to God.
We are the offering.
It's so personal.
It's so intimate.
It's such crazy, God love that it could be us that is the offering.....
to
our
Lord.
Acceptable.
Wow. What a thought on this Ash Wednesday as we begin the season of Lent.
So what's the big deal about the Melby brothers, besides their hair? There are times when our offering comes from a place of overflow and abundance. It is rich and full. And then, there are times where all we can say is....
All I have to offer You.
All I have to give this time.
All I have to offer You...
is a broken heart
and a troubled mind.
Because of Christ....
Acceptable.
It is rich and full.
Offer yourself.
There's more.