Take My Life - Pt 2 (Jan 11)
Last week we began the “Take My Life and Let it Be…” series. We’re taking a closer look at one of the songs we sing as a church and investigating how the bible informs the lyrics that Frances R. Havergal wrote in 1874. The bible’s teaching on the themes of the songs is rich and deep and this week we’re looking at what we mean when we sing “Take my hands and let them move / at the impulse of Thy love. / Take my feet and let them be / swift and beautiful for thee / swift and beautiful for Thee.”
Receiving Hands, Painting by Kesja Tabaczuk
Anchor Texts:
Isaiah 52:7-10 NIV - How beautiful on the mountains are the…
Romans 5:1-6 NIV - Peace and Hope
Questions to Ponder:
An perspective about God popularized in the Enlighenment called ________ proposed that God made the world, but is not actively involved in its happenings. Also called “the watchmaker God.”
Creation is supposed to see God when they see humans exercising His dominion with ________ and ____________.
When you think of the line “take my hands,” what sort of things do you pray God leads you to do?
Describe the “love of God" that has been poured into our hearts. Look to Romans 5:1-6 for help.
Compulsion is usually an ___________ force. Impulse is usually an _________________ force.
How can you be prepared to move “at the impulse of His Love?”
Read Isaiah 52:7-10 again - How can you embody the role of this messanger of Good News this week?
Answers: 1. Deism, 2. love and Justice, 5. external, internal
The Theme in Song:
Given the fact that our biblical teachings are inspired by the Hymn “Take My Life,” we’ll be hearing a few different versions of it over the next few weeks. Each time you hear this song, let it not just be a reminder of what we are learning, but an invitation intot prayer. Pray these words, seek Jesus, give yourself to Him and his Kingdom and receive the Holy Spirit’s outpouring of love and power each time!
The Theme in Art:
Consider again the picture of the hands we saw above by Kesja Tabaczuk. Are the hands open to receive only, or might they be open to give? Open hands can also convey the sense of submission, preparedness, and willingness. Consider the posture of your body and your hands as you pray and sing to God. Are you embodying what your lips are saying? Let your whole being represent your attitude, posture, and requests before God.
