Good morning! It is a wonderful day for worship, a summer Sunday, a day to rejoice and be glad within its’ beauty.
Before I begin the thought for today, I would like to let you know that I am going to be gone for a bit (yes, it is a fishing trip). This is the trip that takes me away for over a week each summer. I have asked my brother Dan, and he has graciously agreed, to go through previous “thoughts for the day” that I have written and select some that he feels would be worth sharing again. I have been writing these pretty much every day for about 17 months now so there are quite a few to choose from. So, while I am away, I hope that you can find something to enjoy in the “repeats” from days gone by.
For our thought on this Sunday morning, I would like to have us consider the power of music. Scottish poet Carlyle declared: “Let me make a nation’s music, and I care not who makes her laws. If I am allowed to make her music, I will control that nation.”
Music has great power. Music speaks to the heart of those who choose to listen. It is also true that while a piece of music speaks powerfully to the heart of one person, that same piece of music may be considered nothing more than obnoxious noise to another. But music rarely leaves a person feeling neutral.
When we are gathered into the arms of our heavenly Father and we hear the angels singing, worshipping, expressing their love of God with heavenly music, what do you imagine it will sound like?
Will there be rap in heaven? Many of us may be thinking along the lines of “oh dear God I hope not!” Others may be thinking, “yeah! of course there will be rap in heaven, why wouldn’t there be?” Or is it possible that the spiritual forms that we will enjoy in the heavenly realm will dance to a sound that the physical limitations of earth could never allow?
Every generation seems to be determined to develop a form of music repulsive to the generations who have gone before. I am not sure what the kids were singing and playing around Jerusalem in king David’s time, but it probably annoyed someone.
We read the following in Ephesians 5:17-21 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
We are directed in this command “ do not be foolish.” What would you say constitutes foolishness when it comes to music being used in the worship of God? I would suggest that “foolish” music would be anything that is elevating the individual rather than being aimed at the worship of our glorious Father God. We are commanded to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” That has been clearly put to us by Jesus Himself, “Be one, even as the Father and I are one.” If what we are doing is divisive, perhaps we need to re-think it?
At the heart of this scripture passage is the command that we communicate with each other in all forms of musical expression, while at the same time we are singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. This seems to me to be saying that we are being told that our Christian music is to be an expression of communication one to another, even as it is being delivered to the heart of God.
It isclear that this musical communication is an opportunity for giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Imagine if every song and piece of music shared is intended to be an expression of thanksgiving to God, and why wouldn’t it be exactly that?
Finally, we read this command that our efforts are intended to include submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The power of music. It is lifted up to God as a harmony from His children. It is shared with one another as an expression of understanding and love. It is to be performed and shared with humility, out of reverence for Christ.
When you sing in worship this Lord’s Day, please consider that what you are doing is much more than singing songs. Worship…the wonder and the love that it brings!
Vern