One of the great joys of life is music. There’s something so special about what music does in our hearts and minds. Music can excite and relax. It can motivate and guide. The Bible is filled with music sung and played by God’s people. Hundreds of verses in both the Old and New Testaments testify to its great power to reach the emotions and will of people for the glory of God.
“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: ‘I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” (Exodus 15:1)
“Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.” (Judges 5:3)
“Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.” (1 Chronicles 13:8)
“I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.”(Psalm 7:17)
“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” (Psalm 33:3)
“Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” (Zephaniah 3:14)
“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
Singing is a natural way of expressing joy, even in times of great difficulty. What did the Apostle Paul and Silas do when they were beaten and thrown into prison? They prayed and sang. “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25) What does Paul recommend for Christians to do each day? “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; 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 the fear of God.” (Ephesians 5:18-21)
Music is also a great educator. We can use music to teach Truths from God’s Word: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)
I love that phrase, “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Think about what it means to sing “with grace in your hearts.” What kind of music would you write with grace in your heart? Here are a few examples of what other Christians have written through the years with grace in their hearts:
“Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.”
“Some day the silver cord will break, and I no more as now shall sing; But, O the joy when I shall wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to face, and tell the story, Saved by grace.”
“More about Jesus I would know, more of His grace to others show; More of His saving fullness see, more of His love, who died for me.”
“There is grace for each need, Grace full, grace free, Saving grace yes, indeed, Flowing from the throne above; Grace to hide all my sin, All, yes, grace free, Pardon all may win, Grace in His perfect love.”
“Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin; How shall my tongue describe it, Where shall its praise begin? Taking away my burden, Setting my spirit free; For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me. Wonderful grace of Jesus, Reaching to all the lost; By it I have been pardoned, Saved to the uttermost, Chains have been torn asunder, Giving me liberty; For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.”
What’s the song of your heart today? Is it God’s Grace? If so, write it down so you’ll remember it in the days to come. Share your song with other Christians. Watch as your song of grace lifts their spirits and eyes upward to glorify God. Tell God today how much you love Him, “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Mark McGee
GraceLife Blog 