Author: mbruce

Myron Bruce is the Head of the School (President) for East Texas Christian Academy in Tyler, Texas. He has served as the Director of Development for Freed-Hardeman University, Associate Minister with the Faith Village church of Christ in Wichita Falls, Texas and Congregation Life Minister with the Waterview church of Christ in Richardson, Texas. Prior to the ministry, he served 15 years in public, charter and private education at all levels and in the states of Texas and Colorado. He and his wife, Vicki, met at Lubbock Christian College and married in August of 1989. His education includes a Bachelor Degree in K-12 Kinesiology, and a Masters in Educational Leadership at the University of Northern Colorado. They have three grown children; Logan, Emili & Dillon.
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Then Sings My Soul!

Have you ever considered the impact you might have on the lives of others based on what you might, write, say or do?  You might go throughout life unaware that there are people watching, listen and learning from you.  Let’s look at one event that continues to impact millions of lives…

In the late 1880’s, a poet from Sweden by the name of Carl Boberg, was inspired by the beauty of God’s creation.  His friend, J. Irving Erickson, capturing this awe inspiring moment wrote the following: “Carl Boberg and some friends were returning home to Mönsterås from Kronobäck (Sweden), where they had participated in an afternoon service. Nature was at its peak that radiant afternoon. Presently a thundercloud appeared on the horizon, and soon sharp lightning flashed across the sky.  Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain.  The thunder pealed in loud claps.  Then rain came in cool fresh showers.  In a little while the storm was over, and a rainbow appeared.

When Boberg arrived home, he opened the window and saw the bay of Mönsterås like a mirror before him…From the woods on the other side of the bay, he heard the song of a thrush…the church bells were tolling in the quiet evening.  It was this series of sights, sounds, and experiences that inspired the writing of the song.”

Carl Boberg recounted the following information behind the inspiration for his poem:

“It was that time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest colouring; the birds were singing in trees and everywhere. It was very warm; a thunderstorm appeared on the horizon and soon thunder and lightning. We had to hurry to shelter. But the storm was soon over and the clear sky appeared.

“When I came home I opened my window toward the sea. There evidently had been a funeral and the bells were playing the tune of ‘When eternity’s clock calling my saved soul to its Sabbath rest.’ That evening, I wrote the song, ‘O Store Gud.'”

Years later a British missionary, Stuart K. Hine, was motivated by the poem (‘O Store Gud’, translated means ‘O Mighty God’) and wrote the words to a hymn that has touched million’s world wide.  Baptized in 1914, Hine penned the words to the hymn, “How Great Thou Art” in 1949.  Read this poem (sing this song) again…

“O Lord my God!  When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds  (works) Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!”

The second verse references ‘the woods and forest’ and the ‘birds sing(ing) sweetly’.  Like the first verse, the second gives us a reminder to the original poem.  But here is a forgotten verse we need to reintroduce and bring back to life.  This verse is a needed reminder from the unique, original work of Stuart Hine.

“When burdens press, and seem beyond endurance,
Bowed down with grief, to Him I lift my face;
And then in love He brings me sweet assurance:
‘My child! for thee sufficient is My grace’.”

If you enjoy learning about the history of our hymns (traditional and contemporary), I encourage you to look into the resources that can give you better understanding and clarity for the back ground of our songs of praise.  The chorus of this hymn begins, “Then Sings My Soul…”, this is also the title of a great resource for hymn history.  I encourage you to see for yourself the joy in Hymnology.  You can find it on Amazon.com

Keep your mind on heaven, your eyes on God’s word and your focus on praising the King of Kings.  When I stay close to Him, lift my voice and my heart to worship God…

“Then Sings My Soul!”

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What Are You Reaching For?

Have you seen how a small child acts when he wants something from his parents?  He might hold his arms out and plead for the ‘gift’.  His actions might look sincere and earnest, or they might just be cute.  But either way, it’s obvious that he is earnest in his request.  He might even be unaware of how much he does, or doesn’t, need what he seeks.  But nonetheless…he wants it!  Even the undisciplined child, sometimes in an inappropriate manner, might beg for something.  Again, he doesn’t think about whether or not he ‘needs’ it, he just wants it.  But this pleading isn’t limited to children.  We as adults are often guilty of ‘begging’ for things.

It might come in the ‘professional venue’ as we approach our boss and ask for a raise.  You know you work hard and perhaps feel that you ‘deserve’ the salary increase.  Or it might be as simple as waving your hand in the restaurant and desperately signaling your waitress for a refill.  In either case, though we most likely would not consider this ‘begging’, we are taking three short steps: 1) we’re seeking 2) we’re seeking something specific 3) we’re seeking something specific from someone who has the ability to give it to us…just like a child.

Now let’s ask the pressing question, what are you seeking?  What is it that you either feel you can’t live without or that you desperately need?  If you cherish this world and things of this world, be careful!  God’s Son (our Savior) told us to be careful about what we plead for.  What we treasure in this world, and think to be important isn’t long term, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, whether moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:19-21

It’s natural, God-given, that we recognize when our bodies are hungry and thirsty; that we seek something to quench that thirst and fill that void.  When you work hard, your labor is to be rewarded (Luke 10:7, “…the laborer is worthy of his wages.” Christ is referring to the preaching of the word.)  So it makes sense that we should seek for something specific, and we seek from the One who can fulfill our needs.  The beggars outside the city gates was pleading for alms (money), but notice the response he was given, “I do not posses silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you…” Acts 3:6.  Peter & John knew this man needed something physical, but instead they gave him something spiritual.  Too often we are stuck in the same situation; looking for physical handouts when our real need is from God.  Would that we truly understand, accept and sing this old hymn.

Give me the Bible, Star of Gladness gleaming
To cheer the wander, lone and tempest tossed
No storm can hide that radiance peaceful beaming
Since Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Chorus:
Give me the Bible, Holy message shining
Thy Light shall guide me in the narrow way.
Percepts and promise, law and love combing
Till night shall vanish in eternal day!

I pray that we will eagerly reach out and take hold of the Bible.  That we will desire God’s Word.  That we’ll seek it, ask for it and come to know that it is exactly what we’re needing.

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May We Truly Worship…

In 1944 a hymn was written that reminds us of the reason we partake of the Lord’s Supper.  A song that calls for God’s help to see more clearly His love for us.  We still sing this song today…in some congregations, but what did the author and composer (Tillet S. Teddlie) want us to take away from this beautiful hymn?

“Oft we come together, Oft we sing and pray;
Here we bring our offering on this holy day.”

Do you think of your worship to God as an offering?  When you ‘sing and pray’, who are you singing and praying to?  To gain further insight into the song and the rationale behind it’s inspection we need to read on…

“May we keep in memory all that Thou hast said,
May we truly worship as we eat the bread.”

Coming together on Sunday morning we are focused on a specific obligation: a beautiful opportunity.  We come to worship, honor, and give glory to our God!  If we come for ourselves or if we come ‘looking for something’, we will be sorely disappointed.  Worship to God is not about what I can get, it is wholly about what I will give.  The second of these verses is a focus on the supper that commemorates our Lord’s death.  It’s to remember what Christ gave to us.  Read on…

“May we all in spirit, all in one accord,
Take this cup of blessing given by the Lord.“

Unity in Christ is something our Savior prayed for hours before His death on the cross.  But notice how Jesus prayed that we would be united in John 17:17-21; “Sanctify them in Your truth; Your word is truth.  As You have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.  I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”  We are united in Christ when we understand and that Jesus is Truth.  Paul told the young preacher Timothy, “I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”  (I Timothy 3:15)

The old hymn concludes…
“Help us Lord, Thy love to see,
May we all in truth and spirit worship Thee.”

We come together each first day of the week to remember the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  When you meet next Sunday with God’s family, will you be united in heart and spirit with the family?  Is the truth of God’s word present in your midst?  How will you conduct yourself? As a ‘pillar and support of truth’?  When you do… you’ll come to understand and know “True Worship”.

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Are You Standing…or Sitting?

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Thru eternal ages let His praises ring;
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God…

Written in the late 1800’s this old hymn reminds us of where we should be standing in life.  The encouragement from this song (in verse one) is to stand with God throughout time, for our whole lifetime in praise to God.  So let’s continue looking at the other three verses;

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God…

How will you handle the ‘storms of doubt’ that come into your life?  We’re reminded by R. Kelso Carter, author and composer, that we can handle (prevail over) the storms of doubt and fear by reading, trusting and following the word of God.  Actually the word prevail, by definition, means to ‘gain ascendancy through strength’…by the word of God.  Now that should make us stop and think about the amount of time we actually spend in God’s word!

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God…

Do you consider yourself ‘bound’ together with Christ?  The statement, ‘to be bound’ infers slavery…do you see yourself as a slave?  Consider the text, “…but now that you have been set free from sin and become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:22  Too often we don’t want to see ourselves as ‘bound’ to anything.  But the facts are clear.  You are either a slave to sin, which leads to eternal death, or a slave to God which leads to eternal life.  (Romans 6:15-23) I think it’s interesting that we, as bond servants to God, have been equipped with tools of war…the Spirit’s sword.

Standing on the promises that cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call,
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God…

Do you listen to God’s instruction?  How do you take your ‘marching orders’ in this life?  As a child of God who is ‘standing on His promises’, we can rest in knowing that His has promised and is calling us to follow and serve…to stand with Him.  But you have to ask yourself a simple question when it comes to this old hymn;  Are you standing on the promise that God gives us?  Are you overcoming daily?  Will you be bound to Him forever?  Are you listening to Him ‘every moment’?  Unfortunately many have said, “Yes, I’m standing on the promises”, but they miss the reminder from this hymn that there is more to living for God than just standing.  Perhaps too many of us are sitting on the premises rather than standing on the promises.

Let’s do more than just stand up, let’s get to work!

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Who Is Leading You?

When things don’t go the way you would like for them to, or the way you had planned, what is your response?  Do you accept things as they are or do you complain and wish for different circumstances?  In 1820 a family was blessed with a little baby girl.  But in the early months of her life she caught a cold that caused an inflammation in her eyes.  Her doctor, in an attempt to treat the sickness, applied a salve (mustard poultices) to her eyes to draw out the infection.  The cold and infection eventually left, but because of the hot poultice, so did the babies eyesight.  If you know the story of this historical hymn writer, you know this baby as Fanny J. Crosby.  Her hymn writing is legendary.

When Fanny J. Crosby wrote the old hymn, “All the Way My Savior Leads Me”, she was expressing her own sentiments of living a life with God as her guide.  Read this hymn and take note of the references she makes to being guided…

“All the way my Savior leads me, what have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt the tender mercy, Who through life has been my Guide?
Heavenly peace, divinest comfort, here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know whate’er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me, cheers each winding path I tread.
Gives me grace through every trial, feeds me with the living bread.
Though my weary steps my falter, and my soul a thirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me, Low! a spring of joy I see,
Gushing from the Rock before me, Low! a spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me O, the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised in my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal, wings it’s flight to realms of day,
This my song through endless ages: Jesus lead my all the way;
This my song through endless ages: Jesus lead my all the way.”

So let me ask you again…when things don’t go the way you want them to, what is your response?  Too often we not only get upset, but we find our day becomes dampened, depressed and despondent.  Some will even blame God for their misfortune or streak of ‘bad luck’.  Even as death plagues your family, who is leading your thoughts?  Consider what Miss Crosby said later in her life about the her blindness; “…it was the best thing that could have happened to me…”  She continued, “How in the world could I have lived such a helpful life had I not been blinded.”  On another occasion she is quoted as saying, “Don’t blame the doctor; he is probably dead by this time.  But if I could meet him, I would tell him that he unwittingly did me the greatest favor in the world.”

When (not if) things ‘go south’ in your life; will you ‘give up’, ‘give in’ and blame someone else, or will you seek guidance?  If we truly trust in God; if we truly seek His favor and if we will sincerely honor our calling we’ll know the answer to the question…Who is leading your life?

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Lost? It May Be Time To Go Home!

Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is calling.
Calling for you and for me…
See on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.

Come Home, you who are weary…come home.
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, ‘O sinner, come home.’

If you read the last post you might think this is a follow up…it is, sort of, but I really just wanted you to think about Heaven as your Home.  If that wasn’t clear enough earlier, please let me reiterate the idea that you have a Father who desires your company.  Better put, God wants each of us to return home!  All of us have been separated from His side at one time or another.  (Romans 3:23) While there are many striving to live a life that is close to His heart, unfortunately there are far too many who don’t even realize they’re lost.

Why is that so many fail to see the comforts of being in the presence of God?  The world (Satan) has deceived many of your friends and family into believing they are on our own and that’s OK.  Without any hope or comfort (except in themselves) and the only thing to do is ‘take care of #1.’  That is sad condition and I shutter when I think how many have bought into this lie.  It might be your son, or you father.  Maybe your brother has turned away from what he knew was right on to follow a deceptive, dead end.  When was the last time you called them to see if they would ‘come home?’  Have you called them lately and ask if they think of home?  Many times we don’t because we don’t want rejection.  Ignore the obvious and continue with business as usual.

But I wonder if sometimes we don’t make that call, because they might actually want to come home.  And quite honestly, we don’t know how to receive them back.  Jesus would (He does) not only receive the lost ones, He’s actually seeking them.  (Oh yes, the prodigal son’s father ran to meet him because he saw him  when, “…he was still a long way off…”, Luke 15:20.)  If only we had the same desire as the Father, to not only be looking for those who want to return, but to seek those who are lost (the coin and the lamb wasn’t looking to go home, they were just flat out lost.  (Luke 15:4-10)

There are many who are lost and don’t even know it.  Some of them might be sitting next to you on Sunday morning.  Could that be true?  Would a ‘Sunday morning church goer’ still be lost and not know it?  Just like the lonely sinner who sits on the other side of the world waiting for someone to ‘bring him home’.  Let’s be more diligent about talking to each other about going home…

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Homesick…But Are You ‘Weary’?

Have you ever been homesick?  This is best described as a time when you were away from the comfort and secure of what you know and love.  During the months when a child goes to summer camp, ask them what it means to be homesick.  In the lonely winter months before his Thanksgiving break, a college freshman might be feeling a bit homesick.  Even that dream vacation can be tiresome after too many days away.  Why?  Maybe it’s the fact we miss the comfort of our own bed.  Or maybe it’s the home cooked meal that we’re missing.  Perhaps we just miss sitting together as a family and talking (do families still sit together and talk?)  To be sure we all have experienced a time when we were ‘sick of being away from home’.  At one time or another each of us have been homesick.

But ask yourself, ‘Am I really homesick?’  Do you long to be home or have you been away so long that you’ve grown comfortable with where you are and don’t think much about your home?  I’m reminded of a young man who was tried of the family and decided to pack his bags and leave home.  He enjoyed his vacation and even when he lost his new found friends, he still refused to go home.  He was alone, lost all the comforts and security he once knew, but he wasn’t ready to ‘go home.’  His ‘vacation’ turned to misery and the comforts of home were just a memory…but notice this, he remembered where home was.  Luke 15:11-32 details this young man and his return home.  We often refer to this story as “The Prodigal Son”.  He finally got the point he wanted to go home.  And you know who was waiting and watching for his return…

This Biblical account reminds me of the old invitation song, “God is Call the Prodigal”.  It’s a song that calls the listener to come back to God.  One who has left what he knew and “…wandered so far from His presence,”.  We know what it means to the parent whose child has ‘forgotten’ his/her way home, but do we realize the application for ourselves?  Are we really weary of this world and longing to be ‘home’?  Look again at these verses from this old spiritual song…

“God is calling the prodigal; come without delay; Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee.  Tho’ you’ve wandered so far from His presence, come today; Hear His loving voice calling still…”

“Patient, loving, and tenderly still the Father pleads; Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee.  O return while the Spirit in mercy intercedes; Hear His loving voice calling still…”

“Come, there’s bread in the house of the Father, and to spare; Hear, O hear Him calling, calling now for thee.  Lo!  The table is spread and the feast is waiting there; Hear His loving voice calling still…Calling now for thee, O weary prodigal come.”

It’s true that each of us at some time or another have been homesick and wished we could go home.  But unfortunately many, unlike the prodigal son, are simply refusing to go home.  Sitting in the darkness of the world, refusing to admit that life isn’t what they want it to be, too many have decided that they’re not homesick enough to go home.  My prayer is that we will never become comfortable living in this foreign land.  You might be feeling homesick, but the prodigal son had determined that he was weary.  You might be homesick but you won’t go home…until you’ve grown weary of this world.

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Passionate Worship…

How do we know if we are passionate worshipers or if we worship from routine? Is there a way to determine the sincerity of my worship, or is it deep within my soul and only I know whether my worship to God is passionate or not. If we are going to be passionate worshipers for Christ and demonstrate lives that bring glory to God, there are a few things we need to keep in mind. With the scripture as our foundation, let’s consider how we can sing songs of praise that will not only encourage (admonish) one another, but be pleasing in the sight of our God.

As we build a stronger heart for worship, we must first be ‘strengthened with power’, ‘according to the power that works within us.’ Ephesians 3:16, 20. When we desire a fuller understanding of the importance of worship within our lives, we find that the outward display of worship must be derived from deep within our lives. Giving God the leftover pieces of our hearts is as worthy as giving our spouse a kiss after returning from a love affair. Too many ‘worshipers’ give God what they scrape from the surface of their hearts, rather than the depths of their lives.

But what does it mean to ‘give God the depths of your heart?’ It’s actually an easy concept; to give God your heart…or is it? Perhaps it’s more difficult than we might think. The concept of giving God something that is already His is easy. But can I just say ‘my heart belongs to God’ or is there more to it? A closer look at Romans 8 tells us how God should impact the depths of our lives, “However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

When we let the Spirit control every aspect of our lives, you find your behavior is different from the world. When God has your heart, your words and actions are unique to godliness. The movies you watch and the jokes you tell (or listen to) are separate from others around you and reflect a Spirit of Christ rather than the world. Ask yourself this simple question, “Is Christ a permanent part of my life, or do I treat Him like a temporary guest?” Galatians 2:20 (a youth camp song from 30 plus years ago) could be your baseline; ‘I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.’

So how do you know if your worship is passionate or if it’s routine…perhaps even rehearsed? Christ tells us how we determine if someone is genuine or putting on front when He warns about ‘false prophets’ in Matthew 7. His warning is directed toward false teachers, but it can help us understand the heart as well; “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” When we are baptized into Christ and walk the life of a Christian, we come closer to sincere, passionate worship. But realize, it’s not a one and done deal. I must constantly work on keeping my heart right with God. Just because I KNOW what to do, doesn’t mean I’ll always do it. We can have more passion in our worship if we are willing to give Him more than just a song. When we allow the Spirit to dwell in our lives, and live daily for Christ…we’ll begin to understand how we can have passion in our worship!

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He Could Have…But He Didn’t

Undoubtedly you have sung this song as you prepared your mind for communion.  The song that begins… “They bound the hands of Jesus in the garden where He prayed.  They lead Him through the streets in shame.  They spat upon the Savior, so pure and free from sin; they said, ‘Crucify Him,’ He’s to blame.”

The author, Ray Overholt, wrote this song in 1959, and he found his inspiration in the scriptures, Matthew 26:52, 53.  As the soldier’s came in to arrest Christ in the garden He spoke to His disciples and said, ‘Put your sword back into its place…’.  As you read the text you will see that one of the disciples was willing to stand up and fight for the Master.  Peter wasn’t going down without fighting, and in his resolve, he attempted to take off the head of the slave of the high priest.  But the life of the slave, Malchus, was spared (and perhaps changed) as Peter was only able to cut off his ear.  But Jesus is true to form and after telling Peter to put away his sword gives this admonition; “Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

For just a minute think about what Jesus said, “…He (God) will at once put at My (Jesus) disposal more than twelve legions of angels…”.  Did you pick up on that number; twelve legions of angels!  How many angels are we actually talking about?  By definition, a Roman legion would total 6,000 troops.  So consider the math within Christ’s statement; twelve legions is 12 x 6,000.  It doesn’t take much to realize Christ was saying to His disciples (you have to know the Roman soldiers were listening too) that He had an army that totaled MORE than 72,000 troops.  Perhaps a more fitting title for this song (instead of Ten Thousand Angels) would have been, Seventy-two Thousand Angels.  Christ had at His command a Holy army that could have obliterated mankind.  It’s clear to me that the chorus of this song rings true; “…to destroy the world and set Him free.”

But as we consider the vastness of this angelic army, let’s look at an Old Testament account concerning God’s ‘angels in battle.’  In II Samuel chapter 24:1-17, David calls for a census of God’s people.  After the ‘count is taken’, which doesn’t please God, David feels remorse and repents saying;  “I have sinned greatly in what I have done.  But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.”  God gives David a choice in his punishment (an interesting study in and of itself) and David chooses three days of pestilence.  The anger of the Lord was demonstrated when He sent a pestilence (an angel) to destroy 70,000 men from among the people; ‘from Dan to Beersheba’.  Did you follow that account?  If ONE angel could destroy 70,000 men; how many men would have fallen if Christ had called “12 legions” of angels?  Some historians estimated that the combined eastern and western Roman Empire during AD 300-400 include no more than 50–60 million people.  (In case you didn’t receive your degree in Mathematics…the fatality number, had Christ called 12 legions of angels, would have been over 5 Billion!)

We must never forget the basis behind this historical account in Matthew 26.  Christ could have walked away from Golgotha’s hill.  He didn’t need a man wielding a sword cutting slaves up one ear at a time.  Christ, the King of Kings, could have saved Himself the insult of soldier’s slapping Him and spitting in His face.  He could have called in the reserves and laid waste to millions, even billions, of human life with His mighty, angelic army. Why didn’t He?  What kept Him from taking mankind out?  To me, the answer is found in the chorus of the song Ten Thousand Angels.  Sing it again and remember why; “…but He died alone, for you and me.”

He Could Have Called THOUSANDS of angels…He could have, but He didn’t.

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Worship…in Song

I love to sing songs of praise to God.  There are some songs that I consider to be my favorites, and I’m sure you have your favorites as well.  Going back, I can’t remember a time when singing hymns weren’t a part of my life.  “The Old Rugged Cross“, “We Praise Thee, O God“, “He is My Everything” have been songs I remember singing from an early age.   When Vicki and I were married (22 years ago), we had “God Be With You Til We Meet Again” as our recessional.  For years we would sing “I Come to the Garden Alone” to our children as they were going to sleep (a practice my grandmother did for me), because there is no better way to close your day then to put into your heart and mind ‘…the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding…’ (Philippians 4:7).

Hymns and spiritual songs are intended to give praise to God.  We should sing in hopes of teaching valuable lessons and stirring the hearts of those who hear.  Singing involves at least three basic elements of our bodies; our hearts, our minds and our voices (lips).  Would that we use all three to bring glory to Him and edification to His people.

Let’s take a look at the blessings we find in singing songs of praise. Since the Lord seeks those who will worship Him to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24), it is important that we ask ourselves one basic question; “What is God’s will for us as we worship Him in song?”

To learn the truth about Christian worship in song, we must go to the New Testament.  (A study of the Old Testament will show you what God expect under the old law).  Ephesians 5:17-21 states, “Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (moral looseness); but 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, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in fear of God.”  In Romans 15:5-9, Paul speaks of the Gentiles glorifying God, and emphasizes how a congregation, together, should be glorifying God.  Notice Paul’s words from this passage in Romans; “…so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Thy name.”

In short, the following are New Testament passages that reference singing praises to God:

Matthew 26:30…Jesus and His disciples after the Lord’s supper

Acts 16:25…Paul and Silas at midnight, in jail with their feet in stocks

Romans 15…Noted above

I Corinthians 14:15 & 26…”I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also…” “What is the outcome then, brethren?  When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.”

Ephesians 5:18, 19…Noted above

Colossians 3:16…an emphasis on singing songs that teach and admonish

Hebrews 2:12 & 13:15…quoting Psalm 22 (‘…in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise.‘) and ‘…let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.‘

James 5:13…a clear call to sing, ‘…Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.”

Each example listed from the New Testament describes worship for the Christian as one that emphasizes verbal communication: singing, speaking, teaching, admonishing, making melody with your hearts, confessing, giving thanks, proclaiming, and the fruit of lips.  Is it just me or do you see a clear call for your heart, mind and voice (fruit of lips) to be the instruments of choice from God.  When we worship, know for certain, your body should be giving God all the praise and all your worship.