Singing is important because it is an
expression of worship. We were created as
worshipers not just to worship; it’s
who we are not what we do. As Harold Best says, “We were
created continuously outpouring.”[1] We do not choose if we will worship, we choose
what or who will be the object of
our worship. In our original design, we
were created to worship God and live in open, intimate relationship with
Him. However, like Adam and Eve, we “exchanged
the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than
the Creator.”[2]
We have the choice to daily choose whom or what we will worship and serve.
Idolatry can be so blatantly obvious or so deceptively subtle. Idolatry can be defined as, “anything more
important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination
more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give.” (Tim
Keller – Counterfeit Gods, Riverhead Trade, 2011) What are the areas of
idolatry that have subtly (or not so subtly) taken root in my heart and my
mind?
The biggest issue of idolatry is that of self.
Pride led our first parents to rebel
against God in the garden and that same sin of pride continually leads us to
choose self-exaltation, self-preservation and self-idolatry. I need my mind renewed
with God’s truth and my life transformed by His power in order to live according
to His righteousness and the values of His kingdom. The only way to “present my
body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God”[3]
is to be transformed by the renewing of mind not conformed to the pattern of
this world. The way of the world is to
look out for self. The value of God’s
Kingdom is to lay down our lives in love, to give up our lives so that we may
actually gain them eternally.
The seat or root of all our worship is
our hearts, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”[4]
That which we fix our hearts and minds
on will be that which we speak and sing about. Singing is the overflow of that
which we think about, dream about and have affection for. Singing is important
because it reveals that which we love, or whom we love, and it reveals the
worth of the object of our affection.
The Lord is stirring the heart of His
bride to sing again. The Holy Spirit’s
agenda in this hour of history is to lead us into the truth of who God is,
cause us to know His love, love Him in return and sing love songs to Him. He is
committed to causing our hearts to fall in love with Jesus because He knows we
will sing about that which we love. Singing
is important because it’s not only the overflow and expression of love; it also
stirs, confirms and increases love in our hearts for the object of our
affection.
[1] Harold M. Best, Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts
(Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003),
23.
[2] Genesis 3:4-7; Romans 1:24-25 (New King James Version]
[2] Genesis 3:4-7; Romans 1:24-25 (New King James Version]
[4] Matthew 12:34 (New King James Version)
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