It’s easy to name the greatest gift that God has ever given to mankind, which is obviously Jesus, but it’s much more difficult to name the greatest common gift He’s given.
What do I mean by a common gift? Common gifts, or as theologians call them, common graces, are gifts that He’s given to mankind in general – things that most everyone enjoys whether they acknowledge God or not. E.g. the taste of delicious food, the warmth of the sunshine on your skin, the joy of welcoming a new baby into the world, etc.
There are innumerable gifts that God allows mankind to enjoy, but my favorite is music. Can you imagine a world without music? As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved music. We are blessed to live in a time and place where virtually all music that exists is easily accessible to us. What a blessing!
I remember when I first came to church and witnessed music on a whole different level. It was a different type of music than anything that I’d experienced before. I liked it before I was a Christian, but then LOVED it after I became a Christian.
Why did I love it? The songs we were singing in worship service captured the things that I wanted to say to God when I didn’t have the words myself. The words were full of beautiful praises to God and loaded with truths from the Bible. Here are some of my favorite lines…
My God and I will go unendingly…
He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own…
Holy! Holy! Holy Lord! God of hosts on high adored!
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so;
There are many songs I love to sing in praise to my God, many of which express the joy of my heart so profoundly that tears rob me of my voice entirely. Why is music my favorite common gift from God? Because of the uncommon way it enables me to articulate the deepest admirations of my heart.
You know what I enjoy more than singing praises to God? Singing praises to God with my wonderful church family!
Much Love,
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
