S = Ephesians 5:18-21 “And
do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the
Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving
thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for
Christ.”
O = Last week I briefly referred to drunkenness as “false-filling”
which would make debauchery a “false-spending” of one’s life. When one is drunk
they seek to indulge only themselves in a display of unbridled selfishness.
When we allow God to fill us with the Holy Spirit our live begins to be spent
much differently—focused on exalting the Lord and on encouraging others. Being
filled with the Spirit means I don’t have to inflate my own ego by tearing down
or dominating others, instead I am empowered to submit and serve “out of
reverence for Christ” who is the “lifter of my head”. However, I do notice one
area of similarity between the drunk and the Spirit-filled person…singing. I
can easily picture the drunken person singing once his natural inhibitions have
been suppressed. So to the Spirit-filled person no longer keeps himself behind
his façade of reserve and respectability, but sings wholeheartedly in thankful
worship to his Savior. One person becomes loud, rude, and obnoxious as a result
of being filled with the wrong thing. The other becomes more respectful,
thankful, and personable as they live out their song of praise. The one may use
God’s name as a curse, but the other reveres it, and blesses others by it!
A = I know that music is a powerful way to communicate and
connect with others, so what is the song on my lips this week? What am I being
honest about with God and others this week? How can I encourage my brothers and
sisters in the Lord? When I sing to the Lord I join the great crowd of
witnesses down through the ages who sing his praises from Moses’ song (Exodus
15) when Israel was delivered from Egypt, to the great Psalms of David and
others, to the song of Mary (Luke 1) even unto the final and complete gathering
of the saints in heaven (Revelation 15). I choose to be a part of that chorus
today…praising and thanking God rather than complaining, encouraging others
rather than criticizing, always honoring God and others before me…because that
is the song Jesus calls us to sing (Philippians 2).
P = O Lord, fill me with your Holy Spirit this day and
always. I ask that I would be so full of the Spirit that I would not be able to
contain my love and gratitude for you without speaking of it to others. Thank
you for setting me in this great family of believers called the church…May our
song and life be honoring to you this week. I hope Lord that not only in our weekly
times of collective worship but in our lonely hours of singing solo we would do
all out of reverence for you and may others be drawn to turn around and join
your team. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment