Have I Done My Best for Jesus?

Lyrics: Ensign Edwin Young
Music: Harry E. Storrs

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,
Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary!
I know my Lord expects the best from me.

Refrain:
How many are the lost that I have lifted?
How many are the chained I’ve helped to free?
I wonder, have I done my best for Jesus,
When He has done so much for me?

The hours that I have wasted are so many
The hours I’ve spent for Christ so few;
Because of all my lack of love for Jesus,

I wonder if His heart is breaking too.

I wonder have I cared enough for others,
Or have I let them die alone?
I might have helped a wand’rer to the Saviour,
The seed of precious Life I might have sown.

No longer will I stay within the valley
I’ll climb to mountain heights above;
The world is dying now for want of someone
To tell them of the Saviour’s matchless love.

We sang this hymn in church today, and it almost moved me to tears.  I say almost, because my lacrimal glands sort of have a thing where they don’t function well (or at all) in public places.

For Christians, it is a universal truth that Jesus died on the cross that we might live and be free from the bondage of sin.  However, sometimes we become too familiar with this reality that we fail to recognize the depth of His sacrifice and what it means for us.  A pastor told me once, “Whenever you’re in the pulpit, always preach about the cross.  Whatever subject you’re discussing, always lead the sermon back to the sacrifice of Christ.  Don’t turn your message into some sort of motivational talk.”

I’ve heard the story of redemption thousands of times, yet every time I hear it it moves me differently.  An nth recount of the same truth always seems like the first time, and I never get tired of hearing it.  Why an almighty and powerful God would purposely enter His creation and become a being made from dust in order to save it from its own wretchedness, I can never completely comprehend.

I wonder have I done my best for Jesus,
Who died upon the cruel tree?
To think of His great sacrifice at Calvary!
I know my Lord expects the best from me.

It’s not that we should work really hard to “pay back” the salvation that was freely given to us, but that, in gratitude, and because of our love for God, we cannot help but do all that we do in order to please Him. And yet,

The hours that I have wasted are so many
The hours I’ve spent for Christ so few;
Because of all my lack of love for Jesus,
I wonder if His heart is breaking too.

Oftentimes we look at our lives and see grace overflowing.  But all of that is “unfair.”  Why should we, and not others, be the ones to receive such things?  Of all the students in the class who could have aced the test, of all the professionals who could have gotten that job, of all the people in the office who could have just as easily earned that promotion,  why us?  What makes us any different?  Are we not also sinners like the rest of the 7 billion people in the world?  But that’s just it.  That’s the thing about Grace.  It’s getting what we don’t deserve. 

I was never really a fan of New Year’s resolutions — eat healthier, sleep more, have fun,.. — I’ve lived through enough years committing to such things as “be kinder to my sister” and never lasted three months without, well, not doing my share of the dishes (and now with her in another country, I’m left with all the dishes to myself!).  But this year, I decided I’d spend more time with God. I told myself I’d schedule daily Bible reading and stick to it.  I was doing great the first couple of weeks, but some things — school, friends, blessings that He gave me in the first place — “got in the way.”  Now how’s that for gratitude?

Anyway I thought I’d listen to the song again when I got home and my tear ducts could function well… and spring 500 words or so.

Happy Sunday!

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