Renewing Worship #190, “Send Me, Jesus!”
Devotion
Send me, Jesus; send me, Jesus; send me, Jesus; send me, Lord,
I am willing; I am willing, I am willing, willing, Lord.
Our congregation has decided to use this simple South African hymn as a sending song at the end of worship. After hearing a challenge to grow in discipleship in the Gospel lesson earlier this week, this song gives a simple but powerful response: lose your life for the sake of the Gospel and find it in Jesus! This is a clear challenge to be a fearless witness in the midst of an unsympathetic and often hostile world.
Each Sunday during the next year, after being filled with confidence through word and sacrament, our worshiping community will respond with “Send me Jesus.” In the split-second transition to the second verse I have found myself, more than once, taking a big swallow. Maybe I am swallowing my fears. Maybe it is a swallow in the midst of excitement. But the gathered community then sings with an enthusiastic joyfulness, “I am willing.”
Prayer
Gracious God, you call us into discipleship through your Son. Help us in our journey to trust you and not be afraid. Help us to truly respond freely by saying, “Send me Jesus,” for “I am willing, I am willing, Lord.” Amen.