The Weekly Encourager – August 1, 2017 – An Offering

Here is a thoughtful poem which is a follow-up to my previous post about giving all our talents and blessings back to God for Him to use when and how He pleases.

An Offering by Eileen Berry

O Christ, who spared not any cost
Nor any grace withheld,
But poured forth Your redeeming blood
In love unparalleled;
What would You have me offer, Lord?
What must I count as loss
That I may taste the fellowship
That brings me near Your cross?

Why should I cling to gifts You give?
Why grasp in foolish pride
What You, who gave Yourself for me,
Now bid me lay aside?
To know You is my highest gain,
Worth any sacrifice,
A treasure worthy to possess
At any earthly price.

Yet if behind my open hands,
My heart shrinks from the cost,
Teach me that nothing offered You
Is ever truly lost.
A hundredfold reward awaits
In one glimpse of Your face,
My sacrifice forgotten
In the riches of Your grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him.” - Philippians 3:7-9a

John, beloved of Jesus, wrote, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” - John 3:30 Oh, let me understand this!

God is faithful,
j

“The Offering” has been set to lovely music by Dan Forrest. He describes it as “a musical unfolding of the balance between anything we could possibly offer and Christ's supreme sacrifice.” To hear it, visit http://danforrest.com/music-catalog/an-offering/

My thanks to Holly Novak, who sent me this poem.