My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve; It lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve. It cannot drive the world until itself be driven; its flag can only be unfurled when thou shalt breathe from heaven. ~ “Make Me a Captive, Lord” by George Matheson (UMH #421)

One of the devotional books sets out scripture readings and prayers for the scriptures that are part of the New Common Lectionary. The Lectionary provides a set of scriptures throughout the course of three years for pastors to use for preaching. Since I base many of my scripture selections, this particular devotional is helpful as the scripture passages throughout the week build into the passage for Sundays so it helps keep me grounded and focused on worship.

A big reason why I enjoy this particular book is that it includes a hymn for each week. This week, the hymn was written by Scottish minister Georgy Matheson (1842-1906) in 1890. We understand the words to be based off Ephesians 3:1; “This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for/of Christ Jesus…” Knowing this the title makes a lot more sense, “Make Me a Captive, Lord.”

See, Paul often get’s in trouble in these modern times for his use of slave and prisoner language. Matheson opens this language up and the entirety of the poem talks about how desperate he is to be a prisoner for Jesus and why. He speaks to the freedom he has found knowing God has and will give him strength. He speaks to the fact his heart was aimless and stuck until it started beating for God alone.

It’s verse three that fascinates me. Matheson makes the claim that we can do nothing until we learn to serve God. He makes the claim that this heart that is now beating for God, cannot do anything of great power until it feels the breath of the Holy Spirit.

I almost want to say that Matheson is outright wrong because I have acted out of love and service for others without feeling the Holy Spirit moving around, in, and through me. But I wonder too if that is what Matheson meant… maybe we don’t always feel the breath of the Holy Spirit and in that moment, we can still do good because our hearts beat for God… but in the moments where we do feel Holy Spirit, those things we do out of love are far greater than we could ever imagine.

Matheson’s next lines go even further, “My will is not my own ‘til thou hast made it thine… when on thy bosom it has leant, and found in thee its life.” In other words, it is only when we are held captive, a slave, a prisoner to God’s will, that we will be able to truly live.

But what does that look like?

I think it looks like doing everything possible to be people who speak with love and forgiveness in all times, in all places, to all people. I think it looks like ensuring that we are engaged in scripture, even if we don’t feel we fully understand it, because let’s face it, who does? I think it looks like helping others to live fully into the image of God that resides within each of us. I think it looks like being engaged in our families, our church community, and our community at large. I think it looks like spending time daily in prayer, talking with and listening to God. I think it means doing everything we do for the glory of God.

And that’s going to look different for each of us because we all have different God given gifts that allow us to make up the whole body of Christ. Let’s all spend some time this coming week, reflecting on the gifts we have, the things we like to do, and think about ways we might use them to serve.

Comment your thoughts! stpaulsbayhead.org/pastorsblog

Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole