Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20
My five year old daughter loves to sing. Many times she sings throughout the mundane tasks that she may be doing – playing, going to the restroom and, yes, even while she eats. She reminds me a lot of my Aunt Margie who always had a melody on her lips. Her gentle spirit permeates the melody throughout the room that she enters. In this gentle way, she seems to calm my spirit whenever I am around her. I feel the same calming of spirit whenever my daughter sings her sweet songs.Chapter five of Ephesians challenges us Christians to be imitators of Christ. It goes into detail of how we can accomplish this challenge. Verses 15 through 20 tell us to be careful how we live; to be wise; to make the most of every opportunity; to not be foolish; and to understand the will of God. It goes on to tell us to not let things like wine overtake our being, but to instead be filled with the Holy Spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts and actions. Continuing through to verse 19, we see that we can begin to accomplish this by singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to each other and by making music to the Lord in our own hearts. Christians in today’s world, more than ever, need to make music to our Lord in our own hearts. We need to fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit and flourish to bring pure joy to our Lord.
This is what I am reminded of when I observe my daughter and Aunt Margie - the pure joy of the Lord overflowing from their hearts. Have you thought about what is overflowing from your heart? Are you imitating Christ showing this world the fruit that His Spirit bears – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Every day of my life I take this challenge from this chapter of Ephesians. I am sad to say that many times I fail. Yet, each moment of failure reminds me how much I must pull strength from the Father. This reminder helps me to dust myself off and put myself back on track of being filled with the Holy Spirit. Through it all, I hope others will see Christ in the glimpses of when I succeed in allowing the Holy Spirit to fill me. This is my prayer. This is my song. This is my music to the Lord.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, how blessed we are as Christians to have Your Holy Spirit. May I continue each day to take the challenge to allow Your Spirit to work through me so that I may show this world Your fruit. Don’t let my failures keep me from taking up my cross, but instead let them be incentives to draw more strength from You. Help me Lord in making music in my heart that will bring pure joy and glory to You. Amen.
