Just The Wei I Am

I'm reading The Heart of The Artist by Rory Noland. It used to be compulsory reading for everyone in worship and arts ministry in church, but I'm not sure if it still is. In any case, for my own benefit, I decided to get the book. Helen from work also strongly recommended that I read it. So today I picked it up off the bookshelf where it had been waiting for months.

The power of the arts

The arts can have a powerful impact if they're produced with the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. God used an anointed musician to open Elisha's heart to prophecy in a powerful way (2 Kings 3:15). In the same way, an inspired piece of art in the hands of an anointed artist can be extremely powerful. An anointed song sung by a Spirit-filled vocalist results in a holy moment. We Christian artists can't do what we do apart from the One who gifted us. Let's never forget that our message is not in glitzy demonstrations of our own talent but in "demonstration of the Spirit's power" (1 Cor 2:4). One theme running throughout the book of Ezra is that God's hand was upon Ezra and all that he did. We need the mighty hand of the Lord to be upon artists today. (21, emphasis mine)

Surrendering everything means being willing to say, "Lord, whatever You want me to do I'll do it. I say yes to anything You ask of me, even it means dying to myself and my desires. I will give up the things of the flesh that I want in order to have more of You in my life. I will go to church when I feel like staying home. I will fast when I feel like eating. I will pray when I would rather go to bed. I will read Your Word when I would rather watch TV. I will give when I would rather spend my money on myself. I will enter into praise and worship as my first reaction instead of my last resort. I will do whatever You say so that I can please You and move into all You have for me." This attitude of surrender means putting God first and submitting to His rulership. And it makes all the difference in our lives.

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Why is it so hard for us to simply say, "Whatever You want, Lord, I'll do anything You ask"? It's because we want what we want and we're afraid of what God might ask of us. We think He might do something to hurt us. Also, it's not just a matter of saying, "Jesus is Lord." We must then do what He says. Jesus said, "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). We doubt that what God asks us to do will be for our greatest blessing. But that's wrong. God just wants us to be on the winning team.

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Jesus said, "Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:27). You can't bear His cross unless you surrender your life to Him. A surrendered life, a life ruled entirely by God, is one that can be used powerfully for His kingdom purposes. God doesn't want just part of you. He wants it all.

Omartian, Stormie (2005). The power of a praying woman. IMprint Edition. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers. p80-82.

Pang - The Greater Good
A good guy, his ethics is utilitarianism. It is right to kill 4000 men in order to save many thousands.

Er Hu - The Hero
Also a good guy, he believes that there are imperatives that cannot be compromised. The 4000 men cannot be killed, regardless of the implications.

Wu Yang - Follow the Leader
Yet another good guy, his ethics is borrowed. Lacking his own, as a result, he eventually makes some tragic choices.

Pang had morals based on his own reasoning. Dependent on his situation, his ethics was flexible. What was wrong in one situation might be undesirable but necessary in another. Wu Yang was loyal and faithful, believing and following Pang. When Pang stumbled him, he was lost without a source of ethics. Finally forced to make his own moral judgment, he did so badly.

Er Hu, a former bandit, was inspired by Pang's utopian vision. Reformed, he chose to be a hero. His ethics were not dependent on the situation and are consistent. The right thing had to be done regardless of consequences to himself or anything else for that matter. Blameless to the very end.

Sunday morning, I was feeling really down.

But just one divine word, just knowing that He understands. That touched me at the core of my soul.

I've found myself being drawn nearer to God, and really discovering that only He truly satisfies. And that my life is truly purposeful when aligned with His will. As empty as that often sounds, I must say that it is only as true as the extent to which I know Him, and the extent to which I commune with Him.

Lord, I'm grateful that You've made that void in my heart tangible again. Please come in and take Your place. I know I do not fully yield, and I pray, Lord, that You would help me die to myself more and more, day by day. Amen.