We spent the better part of last year – at least ten months – giving our Youth an in-depth study of Ephesians. We covered maybe a verse or two at a time, but I don’t think we spent enough time on two verses.
The one above is the first verse. We covered “… be filled with the spirit” quite well and I’m certain we mentioned that the hymns and spiritual singing we (and special groups) do in our services is part of that filling with the spirit. But I don’t think we skipped over “making melody in your heart to the Lord.
What’s on your iPod/iPhone/MP3/TV or radio setting/CD player when it comes to music? Country western? What do we hear when we drive in city streets? Hard rock? I have it fairly easy – my car is experiencing electrical difficulties, no radio, no player. So I listen to my iPhone. I have more than twelve hours of hymns and gospel music there, along with some great sermons. Isn’t that wonderful?
Beloved Husband’s CD player works fine in his truck. But only one CD played in it for months – our Easter cantata. I wake up in the morning with the music and words running through my mind: Isn’t the love of Jesus wonderful? And that’s a rhetorical question – I know the love of Jesus IS wonderful. And it is making a beautiful melody in my heart to hear those words over and over again.
Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Which one is going through your mind right now as you think of them? Did you almost break into song thinking of them? Do you look for any excuse for a song?
From David’s psalms, through Fanny Crosby’s hymns into Mark Lowrey’s spiritual songs, they come to mind because I’ve heard them over and over again! Loving them each and every time. Which brings us to that second, slightly overlooked verse:
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20 KJV)
Always for all things. I do believe making melodies in my heart makes it much easier to give thanks for all things in all ways. Even when sadness overcomes, there’s a hymn that comes to mind. Mentioned recently is the comforting “It Is Well With My Soul.”
So, what melody will you be making this week? What song will well up in your heart and lift you closer to God?
Always have a song on my lips, right not it is Theres with in my heart a melody, Jesus whispers sweet and low, fear not I am with thee peace be still in all of lifes ebb and flow...Good ole hymn
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting about that verse are the three types of songs mention - Psalms (Songs to God); Hymns (Songs about God; Spiritual Songs (songs about our faith/Christian walk, etc.). What I wish I could find is someone who takes the Psalms from the King James Version of the Bible and puts it to music. I have heard many of the choruses used in the teen groups, but would like something a bit more.
ReplyDeleteHi Grammy -
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this message. It made me smile.
In particular, I loved "be filled with the spirit."
Yes - A hearty Amen to that!
The song that comes to me now is
"Love Lifted Me."
Glory to the precious rich name of GOD!!!