Recently I was singing the Offertory to myself. I grew up singing that every Sunday, although there were different melodies, depending on the liturgy we were using that week. It is based on the words of Psalm 51 in the King James Version.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.

As I was singing, I remembered my high school days when I was on one of the usher crews in the church where my dad served as pastor in Dallas. There were usually five or six of us on each crew.  It was a large church. The ushers sat in the narthex, a large lobby area that was the entry way to the sanctuary worship space. Because there were doors separating us from the sanctuary, we had speakers bringing us the audio of the service. It also meant we could hear each other singing, but not the congregation. The head usher on that crew loved to sing loudly. And each time we sang the Offertory, he would sing, “Restore to me the joy of MY salvation…”

I knew those were not the right words, but I was not about to correct him. I was just a kid. But every time I think about his “error” I think that maybe he had it right. I understand that the only reason we have salvation is because God gave it to us. It indeed was His to give. But he did give it to us. That is why Jesus was born and lived and died and rose again. He did that to give us His salvation. And because we have latched onto that promise in faith, it is now ours. So I can say it is MY salvation. The salvation Jesus earned for me. And that gives me joy.

Maybe you can think about the at the next time you sing the Offertory.