Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3.16
I witnessed something for the first time this past Thursday night. My hope is that every follower of Christ could witness such a thing at least once in their journey. I gathered with some brothers and sisters in a simple church meeting. Two new songs came out of this gathering. Will these songs grow in popularity? Who knows? All I know is I was there at the birth.
New songs such as these can teach us and remind us of love and grace given to us. Simple words and simple melodies can touch us in the deepest of places and bring healing and restoration. These little reminders that embody an eternal wisdom and the riches of Christ in frail jars of clay. Songs that seem new to us but are as old (or is it new?) as eternity.
My prayer is that each believer, young or old, could participate in something like this. A small gathering of the saints, united by the Spirit in a tangible way. Awash in the glory and presence of God, singing together in worship. Bringing forth new songs, simple songs, that can grow and mature and unveil the depths and riches of God in Christ. May God be merciful on us all.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. Galatians 5.13
We have been given freedom, no restraints or limits to love and service. We can forget that freedom and reenter brokenness, frailty and selfishness. This forgetfulness can easily come upon us. Sometimes unintentionally due to the demands of life, sometimes intentionally due to the depths of our selfishness.
Remember that freedom and serve up a healthy slice of love. Take a moment, breathe deep and remember the grace of God. We are loved unconditionally and nothing changes that love God has toward us. It is the love of God we can participate in, in all its wildness and abandon.
God has called us. In following the way of Christ we respond to that calling. This way leads us to greater and greater freedom. Freedom from ourselves to freedom for others. Let us be faithful to that calling by looking to others so we can serve them in love.
