Ephesians 5:18-20 " And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the SPIRIT; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD; giving thanks always for all things unto GOD and the FATHER in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST; "
Our songs, like our speech, reveal what is in the heart. JESUS spoke about this in Luke 6:45 when HE said, " For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. " Our text today speaks of " psalms and hymns and spiritual songs " and of " singing and making melody in your heart to the LORD " (v.19). Is there a song in your heart to the LORD right now ? Is it a song that comes from deep within - a song that cannot be suppressed by difficult circumstances but that is simply the result of a heart overflowing with love for the ONE WHO redeemed you by HIS precious blood ?
If our worship, our singing, our study of the WORD, and our service for CHRIST are motivated only by a sense of duty and obligation rather than love and thankfulness, do we think that we are pleasing our LORD WHO knows our hearts ? Our songs may be praised by the listener for their beauty and harmony, but if the heart of the singer is out of tune with the LORD, the result is entertainment rather than spiritual blessing. It glorifies man, not GOD; it may please the flesh and the world, but it cannot please GOD.
Our text reminds us of the importance of separating from " the unfruitful works of darkness " (v.11). So many of the world's songs are shameful (v.12) and represent the words of fools (v.15) and the music of drunkards (v.18). Believers who sincerely want to please GOD with singing that comes from the heart will pay careful attention to verse twenty of our text, for when we are occupied continually in giving thanks to GOD, the spiritual songs that please HIM will overflow our hearts and lips (Psalm 23:5). What a wonderful SAVIOR is JESUS our LORD (Isaiah 9:6), WHO is worthy of all our praise ! MHR
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie
Copyright, Feature: A Daily Bible Study Guide. Used with permission.
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