By: Jon Nelson
During a recent time in worship, a song lyric caught me…I am still caught by it…
“…Cause all that I have is a Hallelujah, Hallelujah, and I know it’s not much, but I’ve nothing else fit for a King…” Gratitude: by Brandon Lake
I have been a Christ follower for a long time.
As a young Christ follower, many years ago now, it was impressed upon me that praising God through hymns and songs of worship should be an integral part of the daily life of a faithful follower. I have always enjoyed singing – not because of the tune or the song but because it is an act of worship, even with my voice being so inadequate. If you ever sneak up on me, you’ll most likely find me humming a song of praise or lyric.
Worship through song draws me to a place before Christ, into His presence in ways that help me refocus upward, even through long and often hard days of life. These ways differ from my cerebral study of scripture or attentive listening to a message.
So, what has caught me?
As I seek to live life as a faithful servant of the Lord through His Spirit’s strength, I often think of God as Lord and as Father, but do I think of him as a King? Yes … at a distance I might see him as King: of the universe or of all creation, but how do I pay tribute to him daily?
I’m pondering God’s Kingship in my life. I think of His grace, as the lyric says, I have little to offer a king except for holy gratitude and to seek His ways over my own. Even now, I am struck with my shortcomings, and yet the gospel brings life each new day, and I am desperate for it.
Here at Hume Ministries, we talk a lot about keeping the gospel central to our mission. I think it is just as important to keep the gospel central in my daily journey as a Christ follower.
Ephesians 2:1-2 reminds me of who I was:
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of the world…
Ephesians 2:4-5 reminds me of who He is:
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:8-10 reminds me how to live daily, resetting the good news of the gospel fresh and central into each day of my journey with Christ :
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The line from this song brings me back to the truth of the gospel. So, I offer a Hallelujah to my King: for who he is, for how he is transforming me through his gift of renewal, the gospel, and for His adoption of me, which allows me to enter into a deep intimacy with the King of Kings. I know it’s not much, but I’ve nothing else fit for my King.
Jon Nelson has experienced Hume Lake Christian Camps as a high school camper in the mid-late ’80s and then as part of summer staff in various roles from 87’-94’. He then came back to work full-time in January of 2000 with his bride, Jennifer. His family, which includes Genevieve, Jacob, and Gerrit have had the privilege of living and growing up at Hume Lake and are now in college and post graduate studies. He feels blessed to have had almost a full career working and serving God in this very special ministry.