That’s the theme around our church this year: Offering Ourselves to God. Below was something we looked at together recently…

There’s a story about the famous violinist Fritz Kreisler. After a concert, a fan rushed up to him and gushed, “I’d give my whole life to play as beautifully as you do.”

Kreisler replied, “I did.”

None of us are strangers to the feelings expressed by the fan. We are often like Peter, who declared that he’d do whatever it took—only to learn that he had no idea what he was talking about. The sentiments were great, but intentions alone are insufficient. Good intentions make great pavement for roads we’d rather never travel, according to the old saying.

What’s needed is the actual act of offering ourselves. Anyone even vaguely familiar with the God revealed in Scripture knows that He is One who requires the commitment and devotion of any who long to side with Him. Piles of biblical concepts are built upon the idea that God’s followers will offer their entire lives to Him, as their chosen Master. Examples of this include sabbath, tithes, circumcision, sacrifices, confession, repentance, prayer, worship, baptism, fasting, charity, service, forgiveness. Minus a heartfelt desire to offer ourselves to God, these holy acts are reduced to legalistic tasks or bargaining chips that we bring before God and others.

Even more, the Scriptures display a powerful pattern: We are drawn to God and empowered by Him to the extent that we offer ourselves to Him. How many of Scripture’s wonders would not even exist, if not for the willingness of God-seekers to trust Him and step out in faith? Better question: How much of what He’d love to do in our lives and world might be limited by a lack of such servants today?

Kreisler reminds us of the level of commitment it takes to be part of something beautiful. Nothing compares to the beauty of seeing God’s work within our lives and the lives of those we love. So this year, we offer ourselves to God.