You’re Important

Help Finish the Task

Music plays a major role in our lives. It’s almost uncanny how songs get embedded in our minds. When I’ve walked into a store and heard the first few notes of a song, I can often recall all of the lyrics. It happens to you too, right? It reminds me how important it is to fill my mind with good stuff – things that glorify God.

Sing praise

The Bible gives some wonderful examples of people who made much of the Lord through impromptu songs. Remember Moses and his sister Miriam? They sang songs of praise to God after he delivered the Israelites from the army of the Egyptians:

“Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea,” Exodus 15:21

Psalms is an entire book of songs penned by David and others both in times of victory and great need. Listen to the cry of David’s heart in Psalm 4:

“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer,”Psalm 4:1

And then there is the beautifully familiar song of Mary, the mother of Jesus, known as the Magnificat –joyful words she sang in praise to the Lord for His goodness in choosing her to be the mother of the Savior:

“My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name…” Luke 1:46-49

The right focus

Singing songs to the Lord helped these believers focus on God, His goodness, and His great care and love for them. It’s no different today. Songs can be composed and lifted to our great God to remind us of who He is, all He’s done for us, and the opportunity we have to share Him with others. I’m blessed by musicians who do just that.

I wasn’t familiar with the Getty’s music when my daughter and I slipped into our seats at the True Woman Conference back in 2014. (You can find out more about the Conference here.) The True Woman event began with prayer and worship.

Passion for Christ

As Kristyn Getty began singing, accompanied by her husband, Keith, I was captivated by her crystal clear voice and Irish lilt. Her beautiful voice caught my attention, but it was the worshipful words of the hymns she sang that stirred my heart. This couple had a passion for Christ that was evident in their music.

It was no accident that my husband and I choose their hymn, “My Worth Is Not in What I Own,” as the opening song for our Sunday school class a few months later. And when the Getty’s were scheduled to perform “Joy – An Irish Christmas” at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, we ordered tickets right away.

A new hymn with a big message

From their carefully chosen song lyrics, to their Christ-exalting concert tours, the Gettys are known as the “modern hymn writers” of our day. Getty Music’s Manager of Hymn Development, Josh Sutton, filled me in on some exciting news, “We are getting ready to launch our biggest hymn to date – Facing A Task Unfinished – by inviting thousands of churches across the globe in many different languages to sing it during their Sunday worship gatherings on February 21^st. The song was originally written as a call for 200 missionaries to go into China during the worst persecution the nation had ever seen and the Gettys have been commissioned by OMF (formerly China Inland Missions) to introduce a new generation to this compelling hymn.”

What an honor for the Gettys and what an opportunity for us, as the body of Christ. It’s the Getty’s prayer that the song “will be an anthem for rising up to face the unfinished task and going to all the world to proclaim salvation in Jesus’ name.”

Read the song lyrics and let them become the cry of your heart:

“Facing a Task Unfinished”

Facing a task unfinished
That drives us to our knees
A need that, undiminished
Rebukes our slothful ease
We, who rejoice to know Thee
Renew before Thy throne
The solemn pledge we owe Thee
To go and make Thee known

Where other lords beside Thee
Hold their unhindered sway
Where forces that defied Thee
Defy Thee still today
With none to heed their crying
For life, and love, and light
Unnumbered souls are dying
And pass into the night.

Chorus
We go to all the world
With kingdom hope unfurled
No other name has power to save
But Jesus Christ The Lord

We bear the torch that flaming
Fell from the hands of those
Who gave their lives proclaiming
That Jesus died and rose
Ours is the same commission
The same glad message ours
Fired by the same ambition
To Thee we yield our powers

Chorus
O Father who sustained them
O Spirit who inspired
Saviour, whose love constrained them
To toil with zeal untired
From cowardice defend us
From lethargy awake!
Forth on Thine errands send us
To labour for Thy sake

Chorus (2x)

How you can get involved

If you want to raise awareness of the need for missionaries to spread the gospel, you can share the story of “Facing a Task Unfinished” with your pastor and/or song leader. Encourage them to register to sing this hymn with your congregation on February 21^st. By registering, they’ll receive the lyrics and a recording of the song.

Given thousands of years ago, the Great Commission is still our job today:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen,”Matthew 28:19-20

You can find more information about the global movement “Facing a Task Unfinished” and register here

More Info

Are you passionate about sharing the gospel? What step will you take to share God’s goodness with someone today?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us songs to sing that remind us how good You are. Rekindle my desire to get the gospel to everyone You bring across my path. Bless the Gettys in their efforts to honor and glorify you through their music. Work in a mighty way through “Facing a Task Unfinished”. To the praise and honor of Your name, Amen.

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