For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
Is that such a small price to pay
For the fame and the glory of the long work of a day?
I will work and strive to do my best,
to exceed and excel above all the rest.
“Work as though working for the Lord,” I say,
Push everything aside that stands in the way.
For what does the Lord require,
but perfection, the best – these thing I desire.
I work and I work to earn your favor,
and treasure and store it for me to savor.
So here I am Lord, look what I’ve done,
I lay these before you, my audience of one.
I bring them before You,
For Your glory and pleasure,
These things are my pride, my glory, my treasure.
Then right before me You consume them with fire,
Is this not what You wanted, not what You desire?
But I worked so hard for the gifts that I bring,
Surely I have gained and not lost anything.
Then there before me a mirror does fall,
To see the god I was worshiping was not You at all.
My god was great and worthy in my eyes,
When all along it was me in disguise.
My work and my sacrifice was all for my idol.
I couldn’t see clearly or fight the denial.
With what shall I come before the Lord Most High?
What can I bring or what can I buy?
What do You want from me
What do You need?
Tell me what to do, I know I’ll succeed!
Silence.
Oh please, just tell me something.
I know I can bring it… just not the one thing.
I bow my head.
But God it’s not worthy.
It’s broken, it’s gross, it’s filthy and dirty.
A burst of light, a flash and a fire,
“You know what I want and what I desire.”
But God, it can’t be.
Why would you want me?
I love you, I’m Yours and you are mine.
I bought you, it cost me, I paid the fine.
Your sin and your filth,
Your work and your strife,
They’re clean, it’s finished.
It cost me my life.
Through my grace and my mercy,
Now you are saved,
From the work and life of which you were enslaved.
Let go of your life, relinquish your grip,
Just let it go, abandon the ship.
I have chosen to love you,
Adopt you, my son,
To free you and lead you,
The work has been done.
Lord, now before you,
I stand and I fall,
I know I’m not worthy, not worthy at all.
Lord, take it all,
Please take me apart,
I give it to you, I give you my heart.
You lift up my chin,
My Savior and Lord,
You tell me you love me and I am adored.
Thank you oh God, for granting me favor.
For nothing I’ve done, but for me to savor.
My living, my dying,
I give you it all.
Your Word and your faithfulness I will recall.
You’ve given me life and given me peace.
Now I can rest, now I can cease.
Lord through Your power shall my life decrease,
May You alone and Your glory increase.
©2023 likefilthyrags
. . . Selah