[Verse 1]
I will offer up my life
In spirit and in truth
Pouring out the oil of love
As my worship to You
In surrender I must give
My every part
Lord, receive the sacrifice
Of a broken heart
[Chorus]
Jesus, what can I give?
What can I bring
To so faithful a friend
To so loving a King?
Savior, what can be said?
What can be sung
As a praise of Your name
For the things You have done?
Oh, my words could not tell
Not even in part
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart
[Verse 2]
You deserve my every breath
For You've paid the great cost
Giving up Your life to death
Even death on a cross
You took all my shame away
There defeated my sin
Opened up the gates of hell
And have beckoned me in
[Chorus]
Jesus, what can I give?
What can I bring
To so faithful a friend
To so loving a King?
Savior, what can be said?
What can be sung
As a praise of Your name
For the things You have done?
Oh, my words could not tell
Not even in part
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart
[Bridge]
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart
Of the debt of love that is owed
By this thankful heart
This thankful heart
This thankful heart
This thankful heart
[Outro]
What can I give?
What can I bring?
What can I sing as an offering, Lord?
What can I give?
What can I give to You?
To You?
Now, what can I give?
What can I bring?
What can I sing as an offering, Lord?
What can I give?
I Will Offer up My Life
Song Meaning
Worship is described as something poured out. Matt Redman begins with an offering "in spirit and in truth," the oil of love set down as a gift, and the "sacrifice of a broken heart" that the Lord is asked to receive. The language is of surrender: every part given, nothing held back.
The chorus turns to questions. "What can I give? What can I bring to so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?" Words fall short, "not even in part," of the debt of love owed by a thankful heart. The second verse answers why, pointing to Christ "giving up Your life to death, even death on a cross," taking shame away, defeating sin and opening the gates of hell to call the singer in.
The bridge circles the line about the thankful heart over and over, then the outro goes back to the opening questions and asks what can be sung as an offering. Romans 12:1 and Psalm 51:17 sit behind the idea of a living and broken-hearted sacrifice, while Philippians 2:8 supplies the cross imagery. The song ends with the question still open, which suits its theme of gratitude beyond measure.