It was a familiar tune in an
unfamiliar language. Our team was spending the beautiful Kenyan
morning doing some door-to-door evangelism. We had just left one
lady’s house and were rounding the corner of another… and that’s
when the most sacred of tunes landed upon our ears. The famous hymn,
“How Great Thou Art�, in Swahili tongue, was being raised to
heaven with great sincerity.
We couldn’t help but to be drawn in
to the worship that was taking place. As we got closer we realized
the gravity of what was going on. The choir was made up of a family
of four plus one other. They each had little sheets of paper in
their hands with the lyrics. So far, not so unusual of a scene.
Well perhaps, I mean how often do you see a family in their front
yard lifting up their praises in unison to God?
But still, I probably wouldn’t write
a blog about that… so what else was going on? Well, the choir of
five were all facing one direction… and what stood before them was
a brand new tractor! We were witnessing a worship service to God for their tractor! And what
struck me was the sincerity of their thanksgiving, their worship,
their humility for such a gift. It was amazing. And then a most
unexpected turn of events, one of the older men took a little bowl of
water, and dipping his hand in the bowl, began to sprinkle the
tractor. He was baptizing the tractor!! He was setting it apart,
consecrating it for the Lord’s service and work. Wow!
What providence that we would pass by
in that moment? How much I learned in just witnessing it, watching
their example. It was a form of thanksgiving and gratitude that I
have never seen…
I began to think of my own habits back
in America. How would I respond if I got a new car?… would i take it on a joy ride or first bow my knees and praise
God? Or if i got a new computer, would i open up and check out the new software, or instead put on some worship music?
It’s a question we must all ask ourselves. With any of the gifts we
receive in life… do we properly worship and give thanks before we
run off to enjoy their fruits?
Oh sinful, self-indulging flesh! Are
we not so often like the nine lepers who were cleansed and forgot their God in the blessing?
May God’s gifts to us inspire us to
worship… and may we take all that He gives us… the car, the TV,
the house, the AC (Praise God for that!!), or whatever it is, and
consecrate it to Him to be used for His purposes. After all, all we
have is His anyways… let us steward His gifts well for His glory!
