This Day in History: 0000-11-27

November 27 – Ephesians 5:4 & 18-20 

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is another verse that talks about the disparity of both praises and curses coming from the same lips. It’s unacceptable before God. The lips of His people should be filled with thanksgiving to Him. Nothing less.

In the same way, the children of God should never have the duplicity to be controlled by anything other than the Holy Spirit. Though our praise for God should be so exuberant that it might be compared to drunkenness.  Hear me out. I am not suggesting that we all dance around like crazy people and shout out unintelligible gibberish in the name of worship. What I am suggesting, is that our praise should be unhindered. Just as a person who is drunk is no longer bound by the inhibitions of their unique personalities, so our worship should flow out without a thought to the perception of others.

I am quite guilty when it comes to this. I’ll let you in on something very personal. I can’t sing a note to save my life. Seriously. I am tone-deaf. None-the-less, I LOVE music, and I love to sing! When I’m alone in my car, I turn the volume up as loud as I can stand it and I sing out at the top of my lungs in praises to my God. And I LOVE it. It’s why I also love to go to loud concerts. I can sing along and no one can hear me! I like to imagine God enjoys it as much as I do. I don’t think He minds how I sound. I think He hears my heart.

But when I’m in church, or around other people, I don’t sing. I move my lips. I whisper my praises, but I am careful not to make noise that people will hear. Because I was taught as a child not to be a distraction to others. Now, I don’t necessarily think this is wrong, after all, the passage does say, “Making music to God in your hearts.” If my heart is still able to worship unencumbered in this way, then I don’t think it matters. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes I am quite distracted by the volume of my own voice, and it stops me from standing in the presence of God, worshiping Him with all that I am. He deserves nothing less.

So will you join me in working to give God our wholehearted praise, no matter where we are? May we always give thanks to God the Father, for everything, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!