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2 Corinthians 8:5  And they exceeded our expectations:  They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.

In the face of this verse, I found myself doing some heartsearching!  If Paul were observing my life, would it  ‘exceed his expectations’?  How much of my church inolvement, and church-related activity demonstrate, that I have ‘given myself first of all’ to the Lord himself, as a person?

Authentic Christianity is first and foremost a personal relationship to a person – the crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended Lord Jesus Christ.  Living genuinely in the reality of such a relationship of faith can make a powerful impact on people of other religious convictions, and especially from other more formal, ‘ceremonial’ and impersonal expressions of ‘Christianity’.

There is much to be said for meaningful, mutually beneficial fellowship, but to be able to sing meaningfully the following song with others puts us in whole different place. “I know that my Redeemer lives; what comfort this assurance gives!  He lives, he lives, who once was dead; he lives, my everlasting Head.  He lives triumphant from the grave, he lives eternally to save; he lives to bless me with his love and intercede for me above. He lives to help in time of need, he lives, my hungry soul to feed; he lives and grants me daily breath, he lives and I shall conquer death.  He lives, my kind, wise, constant Friend who still will guard me to the end; he lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing: ‘He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.’  He lives, my Saviour, to prepare a place in heaven and lead me there; he lives, all glory to his Name! Jesus, unchangeably the same” (Samuel Medley).

“God sent his Son, they called him Jesus; he came to love, heal and forgive; he lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives! … … And then one day, I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; and then, as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know he lives. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, because he lives, all fear is gone; because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living, just because he lives!” (Bill Gaither).  Have you given yourself first of all to this Lord?

– Bruce Christian