The Perfect Gift
Let this moment not just be a religious ritual
Let Your body and Your blood not be seen as casual
Let me recognize the weight
Of the price that You have paid
This is holy, this is holy
Jesus, the sacrifice You made leaves us in wonder
The weight of all our sin upon Your shoulders
The only right response is to say thank You, thank You
It was for our sake You died, through Your blood our sin atoned
So as You freely gave Your life, I will fully give my own
You're deserving of my heart
All my mind and all my soul
You are holy, oh You are holy
“Right Response” by David’s Harp, Gracie Binion
One of the main things I love about this song of gratitude is that it would not be possible without The Holy Spirit. Sometimes, I find myself at a loss for words when I think about all that God has done for me, all that He is doing, and the vastness of who He is. This song brings me into that kind of awe. When I don’t have the words to say, I am reminded that all I can give Him is a grateful heart. I wouldn’t know how to even begin doing that if it were not for The Holy Spirit, who leads us, refines us, and intercedes for us when we don't have the words to do so ourselves. (Romans 8:26-27)
Last time, we talked about how to gift God by following His commands, but in order to truly do this, we have to embrace the gift God has given us — our Helper and our Advocate. It is only through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us that we are able to remember and act on all that God has asked of us.
“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:25-26 NKJV)
If it were not for the sacrifice God the Father made in giving His Son, we would not have songs like “Right Response,” because we would forget the weight of the very thing we are supposed to be responding to daily. If it were not for Jesus’ surrender to the will of the Father (Luke 22:39-44), the Holy Spirit would not be able to dwell within us. There was no sacrifice we could have given that would allow for us to receive such a gift. Jesus, God the Son, was the only sacrifice that could qualify, and continues to qualify.
As Jesus was preparing His heart and the hearts of His disciples for the cruxifixction, He noticed that His followers were visibly grieving. In their eyes, they were about to lose their greatest Friend, Teacher, and the One they had been waiting for their whole lives. The idea of Jesus’ death, and the public flogging that would take place beforehand, was not the slightest bit casual for them. In an attempt to convince the disciples of His death being for their benefit, Jesus’ response was this: 'Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ' (John 16:7 NKJV)
I imagine the disciples did not see Jesus being crucified on their behalf as a very good gift. They had given up everything to follow the Him and to, prayerfully, become more like Him. And yet, amidst their heartache, they were forced to trust that Jesus knew what was best.
The fact that we are able to glorify God over ourselves for even a second is a testament to God’s grace. This selfless act is against our natural, human wiring, but because of the Holy Spirit, we are able to recount and experience just an ounce of how good God is. This alone is enough to bring us to our knees. I’m sure more reasons to love Him will be revealed in heaven, but until then, I encourage you to grasp on this…
Who else can you think of that is not only willing to die for you, but has actually acted on that willingness? Who else has sacrificed themself so that you could have a personal relationship with the God who created everything? Who else loves you enough to chase after you relentlessly, even when you wanted nothing to do with Him?
I don’t pretend to understand all of the nuances and mysteries that are revealed when unpacking the idea of our triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and the Spirit of God — one God in three persons). I’ve heard many different analogies that take great effort to break down this counterintuitive reality. None are perfect, but God is. And when God the Son says that His death leads to me receiving a gift that will draw me closer to Him, I’m not missing out.
Don’t let the death of your Greatest Friend be in vain. Pray, ask, and receive the Holy Spirit. Listen to Him. Let Him lead your life. We cannot do anything apart from God (John 15:5), and because of God’s unfathomable love, we don’t have to. And there is no other right response apart from a life that says ‘thank You’.
God, thank You.
Listen To The Song!
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/0X3bkYLcKOCGcq47ihl85P?si=ffeab7fac9d34b54
Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/album/right-response-live/1729269955?i=1729270267
