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Heart Songs 200804

Effective Living > Music > Heart Songs

Summary. This month’s Heart Songs selection is The Blessing by John Waller from the album The Blessing (available from our store).

The entire album is available from the iTunes store and the song is available as a single from the iTunes store.

Message. The message of the song is taken from two biblical scriptures. The first is Deuteronomy 11:26-28 which states, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse – the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.”

The second scripture is Deuteronomy 30:19-20 which refers to and elaborates on the previous scripture with these words, “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

This message is in stark contrast to the New Testament teaching on salvation through grace. According to the Old Testament guideline, a person’s fate and salvation are based upon their actions. In the New Testament, according to popular Christianity, salvation is by faith (in Jesus) and not through “works” or good deeds (or bad deeds).

The deeper message of this song and of the scriptures it is based upon is that we are all have significant influence on our future and our life. In the area of health for example, the top causes of death in the United States are all preventable. Beliefs, conclusions, actions, and behavior can determine the quality of our life. Discipline, purpose, planning, self control, rational thinking, and education can help ensure positive outcomes in many areas of life such as finances, health, and our relationships. 

Lyrics. Here are the lyrics to the song.

The Blessing by John Waller

Let it be said of us
While we walked among the living
Let it be said of us
By the ones we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That we lived to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That we gave to reach the dying
Let it be said of us
By the fruit we leave behind
Let it be said of us
That our legacy is blessing for life

This day
You set life, you set death right before us,
This day
Every blessing and curse is a choice now
And we will choose to be a blessing for life

Let it be said of us
That our hearts belonged to Jesus Let it be said of us
That we spoke the words of life
Let it be said of us
That our heritage is blessing for life

For your Kingdom, for our Children
For the sake of every nation

 

By Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson is a freelance writer and tech consultant in Iowa City. He is also the founder and Director of the ResourcesForLife.com website. Learn more at AboutGregJohnson.com