A Simple Song of Praise

I graduated from a theological seminary after college. Over the years, I’ve found that I’ve missed my fellow classmates at the seminary more than I thought I would. Yeah, some of the people were a little different, but I have a thing for quirky people. Also, everyone was really nice. Even in passing, they always called me by my first name – regardless of how well I knew them. It’s kind of a small thing, but not really when you think about how much people in the Northeast typically ignore others in public. I’ve even had dreams where I was going through a hard time and people at the school were comforting me.

If I had to give one knock on the place, it would be that some of the students were a little too eager to show off their knowledge. Sometimes, it felt like a twisted game of academic one-upsmanship. As Paul put, knowledge puffs up while love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1). It’s no wonder that Jesus gave such severe warnings about becoming like the Pharisees – it’s such an easy trap to fall into.

Well, they had these “coffee house” things once a semester or so.  It was kind of like a talent show, but there were no winners. Some people did skits, others sang songs, and some people read poetry. There are a few performances that stuck with me most over the years – like the guy who sang this song below.  He was one of those guys whom I initially thought might have missed the point of it all with his academic pursuit. However, as he sang this simple song of praise and thanks, his heart shone through. It made me realize how you can think you know someone and be dead wrong and how it was possible that I was actually wrong in my evaluation of some of those kids.

But, that really isn’t the point of this post. The point is, I love this song  (and this blog is all about sharing things that I love).

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

– 1 Peter 1: 3-9

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