Music: January 27, 2012

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 27, 2012.

MUSIC

DEFINITION:

The combining of sounds and tones as a form of artistic expression.

SCRIPTURE:

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Psalm 100:2

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:18-19.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We have often said and have heard many people say over the years that when we get to heaven we will be able to sing so much better than we try to now. Have you thought how thrilling it will be just to sit down and sing with the angels, psalms and hymns most likely with words and music like we have never heard before.

We have mentioned several times in prior devotionals the experiences we have had in Kenya. Each year the 75 churches that we helped to sponsor had a three day conference somewhere in the middle of where their churches were located. We will never forget the singing that we heard at these conferences.

The church choirs would come and everyone would join them in singing songs and praising God through music. It was an experience that we will never forget and we commented at the time that it maybe would be something like the singing we anticipated in heaven.

But when we get to heaven John tells us in Revelation 5:11 that there will be thousands upon thousands singing praises of honor and glory to the Lord. In the verses we have put above we see in Psalms that we are to come before our Lord singing as we enter into His presence. Can you imagine the thrill of that happening for an eternity?

While Jesus was here on earth He joined with His disciples in singing hymns. After instituting the Lord’s Supper with His disciples they joined in singing a hymn before they went up to the Mount of Olives where Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. In Matthew 26:30 we read: “After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

In Ephesians (above) the apostle Paul reminds us that while we are here on this earth waiting for our Lord’s return we are to speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Our Lord wants us to honor and glorify His name through music. Songs of praise to the Lord ministers to our hearts and lifts us up.

When we think of music we often think of hearing the Halleluiah Chorus sung by a mass choir of hundreds. What a thrilling experience that is. We all have heard wonderful singing honoring God in our churches and at Christian concerts. Over the years music has changed. We personally have our hearts moved when we hear the old songs sung years ago.

It is important that we make music part of our daily lives. We need to listen to music that honors God. We need to sing songs that honor God, even if we really cannot sing. God listens to the heart knowing that when we are with him we will all have wonderful new voices.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in I Peter 2:2-3.

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

PRAYER:

May my heart be filled with music that honors and glorifies Your name today.