Series: Blessed Be
Psalm 113:2 ESV
It shouldn’t be a surprise that songs often pop up in our mind when we read various scriptures, especially if singing in church has been an important part of our lives.
Two of my children majored in music in college and church music was part of their studies. Bach, Mozart, and Handel are among composers of the past who wrote church music. As they studied and practiced it was a joy to hear the classical compositions.
Psalm 113:2 tells us, “Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!”
The instant I read that scripture I thought of the old hymn, “Blessed Be the a name of the Lord”.
The lyrics to the old song written by Charles Wesley in 1739 tell us,
“Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing,Blessed be the Name of the Lord!The glories of my God and king!Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name,
Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
Of course what we often remember when we recall an old song like that from our childhood (or early in life) is what we felt when we sang it. We might remember others who sang with us, like parents who loved singing that song. What I remember about this song is how we belted out the chorus. We fervently sang, “Blessed be the name!”
Even before I knew how to read as a young child I could sing those words.
Fast forward a generation…
When my children were very small we pastored a very small congregation. The church was a beautiful white country church that had been well cared for through the years.
They did not have any staff except the pastor (which they referred to as the preacher).
They did not have a paid secretary. Different members of the congregation had specific administrative jobs.
They did not have a custodian but the church was always extremely clean. There were women who cleaned it top to bottom after every service.
They cleaned the church with great care.
Even years later when we pastored much larger churches that had regular cleaning staff, the old small church stood out as being very well cared for and loved.
That’s because cleaning the church was not a job.
It was a labor of love.
It wasn’t just a labor of love for the church or the members…it was a labor of love for God.
The women who scrubbed and polished the small church were using their gifts for God.
In addition to that we were really the only family in that church who had small children. When we went there we were in our early 30’s. My daughter (the oldest) was in second grade and my youngest son was a baby.
I didn’t think about it at the time but the women who cleaned the church were of retired. They were not young women.
Their tireless effort of scrubbing and polishing the wooden pews would not have been an easy task.
Yet they fervently practiced “blessed be the name.”
Their gift of cleaning in their senior years was their way of blessing the name of Jesus and they took that seriously.
Fast forward…forty years.
I heard a few years back that the land the old church sat on had been sold. The parsonage was a mobile home and it had been sold years ago, but the church still stood.
I don’t know exactly when the land was sold but since it was surrounded by prime farmland that’s probably what happened.
When I heard the land had been sold I wondered (and hoped) that the beautiful little church could have been moved.
I do realize that’s probably not realistic, but I can hope…
Now that I’m the same age as the women who tirelessly cleaned and polished the church I am even more appreciative of their gift. What I do know is that when their time came Jesus would have met them and said, “well done, good and faithful servants.” They utilized their gift well.
It doesn’t get any better than that!
Spiritual Practice: Your Gift
Whatever it is…don’t use it for people. Do it for Jesus.
In God, Deborah
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