Pledge of Allegiance

      After my first semester at Ellerslie this summer, I was back home for a few weeks and one Sunday was visiting a church with some friends. During communion, I realized I had a clearer understanding than I'd ever had before of what communion truly represents. While I was at Ellerslie, I encountered a fuller definition of the covenant of communion than I had ever known before. It was no longer just a symbol and reminder of what Jesus did on the cross, but now I understood it as a declaration of not only that, but also of all that He has done, and of a covenant exchange--a pledge of allegiance, of sorts--in which I give my life to Him just as He gave His for me. That day during communion, a song began to form in my head, and I jotted down the lyrics that sprung into my mind. It was only after returning to Ellerslie for EALT (Ellerslie Advanced Leadership Training) that I had time and opportunity to work on finishing the song, partially because I had left my guitar there in case I'd had to fly back. These are the lyrics of the song that came forth:

Pledge of Allegiance

          Your body was torn,

          Your blood was shed

          For the sake of this covenant.

          Now I offer myself to You.

               This is my pledge of allegiance.

               This is my vow of surrender.

               My body and my blood are Yours,

               Ready to be spent to further Your cause.

          The power of sin

          You destroyed

          On that cross.

          And with You, I rose from the grave.

               This is my pledge of allegiance.

               This is my vow of surrender.

               My body and my blood are Yours,

               Ready to be spent to further Your cause.

            As You gave Your life for me,

            Now I give mine for You.

            As You shed Your blood for me,

            I offer mine to be shed for You.

            As Your body was torn for me,

            I surrender mine to whatever may come.

            The exchange is far from fair--

            For Your life is worth far more than mine.

            Still here I am, my King.

            Take all of me.

               'Cause this is my pledge of allegiance.

               This is my vow of surrender.

               My body and my blood are Yours,

               Ready to be spent to further Your cause.

               Yes, this is my pledge of allegiance.

               This is my vow of surrender.

               My body and my blood are Yours,

               Ready to be spent to further Your cause.

     In the several months that it has been now since I wrote this song, it has only become more and more the cry of my heart, as God has continued to take me to greater depths of surrender and readiness to follow Him wherever He leads, no matter the cost--for there exists no cost high enough that Christ is not still more than worth paying it.

With a King so great and majestic, so holy, and so worthy, where else could my allegiance lie?