Have you ever attended a funeral service?
The best funerals are filled with laughter and heartwarming stories. Loved ones share memories and commend the good character of the person who has passed. Hymns, passages of Scripture, and a sermon from a follower of Jesus are given to help those in attendance remember the power of God over death and the grave. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4 about this purpose. "We want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope."
However, one of the saddest parts of funerals is that I believe the person who has passed likely didn't know a lot of what was shared at a funeral. They didn't see the difference they were making. They didn't know of the admiration, encouragement, or legacy their life left with others. While the attendees are stirred, I grieve that the words being spoken weren't spoken sooner.
As I was recently preparing to speak at a funeral, I heard "One More Day" by Sons Of Sunday for the first time. The song captures exactly the kind of mindset I wish more of us carried while we're still here—an awareness of life's precious brevity and a deep gratitude for each day we're given.
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If you're not familiar with the band, Sons of Sunday is a dream team of worship leaders and artists whose music has dominated the charts in recent years. Steven Furtick and Chris Brown from Elevation Worship, along with Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore, Pat Barrett and Leeland Mooring, came together to complete several songs over a short period. These songs had been started during previous projects and in sessions that Furtick described as "no-pressure" moments.
While one of the first singles, "God Did," has an emphatic and victorious tone, "One More Day" offers a more sober and reflective invitation. As I've listened to the song while getting ready, driving to work, and reflecting on my day at night, three expressions from the song have stood out.
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First, the opening verse of the song conveys an awareness of what God has done, which quickly turns into gratitude.
"I'm a sinner grace is still healing
I'm a story time is revealing
I'm all of these things
But mostly, I'm thankful, yes, I am"
The band demonstrates an awareness that God's work in them is far from complete, but they aren't waiting for the work to finish to express gratitude and thanksgiving. After all, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 calls us to "be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Second, Sons of Sunday models worship as a response to God's actions across all of time. Our worship can be a response to God's promises for the future or His actions in the past. We can also worship because we're trusting His character amid our present challenges. The song demonstrates all three elements. We look forward with hope, holding onto an expectation of God's continued goodness. We look backward with gratitude, after all grace is "still healing.” We look up with present trust, singing "Hallelujah" not because everything is perfect, but because God is faithful.
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In Hebrews 13:8, the writer declares that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Our worship can and must endure because Jesus has not and will not change. His character is consistent and His presence is faithful.
Third, Sons of Sunday models how to treasure each day through the attitude present in "One More Day." If our habits are any indication, many of us are unaware of how fleeting and valuable each day truly is. We become consumed with lesser things and forget that life is short and each moment is a gift.
I mentioned going to a funeral earlier. People are always surprised when I tell them I'd rather perform a funeral than a wedding. The central reason is that people pay attention at funerals - they genuinely pause to reflect. The writer of Ecclesiastes spoke directly to this reality.. "Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart."
The song's title reflects an attitude that emerges strongly by the end of the track. God's gift of one more day to each of us is not lost on Sons of Sunday. They're receiving the gift and praising God for it. They aren't taking today for granted and they are aware tomorrow isn't guaranteed either!
There will come a day when some of the people we love most gather to remember our lives. They'll share stories about us and we won't get a say on leaving that one story out! Until then, God gives us another day and invites us to steward it well. The question isn't whether we'll be remembered, but how and, more importantly, whether we'll live each day with the gratitude and intentionality that "One More Day" so beautifully captures.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
