A Joyful Symphony

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds.  His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power!  The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!  He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.  The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.  Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy!  Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.  Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!  Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!  Let the earth and all living things join in.  Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!  Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth.  He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.  Psalm 98:1-9

I attended a meeting Sunday evening of leadership teams from four local churches.  The facilitator took time introducing each pastor, as some of us were in a first year of appointment.  One of each church’s team mentioned how the pastor sang, or played piano.  My group was noticeably (and appropriately) silent on the matter.  I can play the piano, but no one would listen, because I just bang on the keys with no discernable musical ability!  As for singing, I can make a joyful racket with my voice, but couldn’t find the key with a search warrant.

So, what am I doing writing about all these musical instruments, including the human instruments that are supposed to create a joyful symphony?  So glad you asked…I’m doing what the preacher is supposed to do, take a close look at the Word of God, and share what I see.  In this case the Word’s words tell the story.

Joyful is a word that is somehow confused with giddy laughter.  While often there is laughter associated with joy, laughter is more an adjective to describe one facet of joy.  Joy is a deep-down, in-the-pit-of-your-soul assurance of well-being.  It is knowing God’s got your back (and front, middle, sides, bottom, and top)!  It’s the understanding that when all else in the universe may melt-away, family or friends desert, and all you counted-on turns to dust, God will be there, smiling at you, ready to embrace.

Symphony is a word that can encompass many applications beside music.  Anything that takes a bunch, rather than an individual, could be described as a symphony.  In an orchestra there are many instruments, percussion, strings, wind; you never find them alone for the big sounds.  But what musician in his right mind would try to pucker-up to a tuba and saxophone at the same time, while playing the violin with his feet for good measure?  It just doesn’t work.  Each instrument needs someone who knows that tool, and who will follow the musical score, designed to get the best contribution for the sound of the whole group.

Even with my limited knowledge of music, it is a no-brainer that a symphony orchestra cannot produce the finest music, if the instrumentmentalists don’t follow the score, listen to each other, practice together, and have their whole heart in presenting the piece, all the while keeping their attention on the conductor.  Now, that sounds like a perfect description of the church, Christ’s body…all different, all wonderful, all needed.  And all created, and gifted, and called to be the symphony of God’s praise.

For You Today

You are placed in the Body of Christ as an instrument of His praise.  And God knew what He was doing.  You have a contribution to make.  Even the tiny triangle with one note to play would be missed.  So, play your joyful note!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

       Sometimes It's Hard to Sing a New Song   and   Go Git Y'r Bucket

Images: Title image Pixabay.com Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

Go Git Y'r Bucket

 

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Praise the Lord!  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!  Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!  Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp!  Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!  Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.  Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!  Praise the Lord!  Psalm 150:1-6

The Psalmist makes no small, obscure point here:  everything that breathes is expected to offer praises to God with whatever noise we’re capable.  The problem isn’t understanding that…more, it’s a matter of pride or shame in the ability to do just that.

There’s an old saying which was, more than likely, coined to describe my singing ability:  He couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.  My bride, Elizabeth, who knows what she’s doing with music, says it isn’t my voice…it’s my ear.  Well, I’ve got to disagree; how many people do you know that sing the Star Spangled Banner out of their ears? 

Anyway…when I do sing, it’s one of three places:  the car, when I’m driving alone, the shower…again alone, or church (and definitely not alone) when my voice joins with all the other worshippers to offer heart’s praise to our Lord.  At such times the other voices make a fine garment to cover my part, which sounds like two cats getting ready to fight to the death!

My decades-long struggle with trying to sing on-key, on-pitch, to any degree acceptable to human hearing, started in church Christmas programs.  As soon as the first rehearsal ended, without fail the director always found a wonderful (non-singing) part for me, like handing-out programs, or reading a verse – anything that did not include music.

Once, long ago, and in a faraway galaxy, a music director in our church convinced me to solo one verse of When the Saints Go Marching-In during our July 4^th service.  To this day I’m certain he had a wicked agenda, something like give-him-enough-rope-and-he’ll-hang-himself…but the pianist was skilled, knew me, and played loudly.  In the spirit of good manners, and lacking musical snobbery, the congregation applauded.  Perhaps they were just glad I was finished.

For You Today

This confession about my lack of musical ability has a purpose.  If I came close to describing your singing voice, you know who you are.  We are definitely not alone - by any means.  But that didn’t stop God from compelling the Psalmist to emphasize it:  everything that breathes is the way he made the job description for singing His praises. 

So…go git y’r rusty old bucket of a voice, and let’s carry as much of that tune as God gives us strength.  We’ll make a joyful racket[1] to the Lord, and, to Him, it will be a sweet sound of symphony…praise the Lord!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title image: Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] See Psalm 98:6 Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

Everything that Breathes

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Praise the Lord!  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!  Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness!  Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp!  Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes!  Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.  Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!  Praise the Lord!  Psalm 150:1-6

The picture of a three-ton elephant next to a two-pound egret is a perfect symbol for this last chapter of the Psalms.  Juxtaposition, seeing the contrasting difference between two or more of anything placed together, is today’s word for praise.  To paraphrase the Psalmist’s encouragement, let’s just say let everything that breathes praise the Lord, however that creature can offer praise, no matter how much they differ from one another.

The juxtaposition of different kinds of praises are represented in the Psalm-writer’s musical instruments.  Ram’s horns blasting and cymbals clanging are what they do…loud, bombastic, and overpowering to declare God’s majesty.  The contrast of strings, flutes, and harps, so gentle and lilting, are just as authentic paintings of God’s beauty and kindness.  And then, there is dancing to the beat of drums and tambourines, a frenzied release of the heart’s joy to celebrate the goodness of God’s mercy towards His created universe, and all its inhabitants.

Praise to God comes in so many differently-wrapped packages it is difficult to even have a category list, let alone a comprehensive dictionary of the ways creation offers praise.  But, maybe the juxtaposition of church and cicadas come close.  Church services lift praise in song, and many other ways.  

The lowly 17-year cicada locust eats everything in sight and blasts a chorus of night songs that could keep Rip van Winkle awake.

Our first introduction to these little beasts came many years ago when our children were preschoolers.  Our two-year-old son, Jason, was lying prostrate on the back patio, chin on the ground, facing one of the little buggers.  He had his tongue extended for the ugly little beast to crawl up.  I’ve tried, but cannot imagine what was going on in that little mind.

The eggs from which cicadas hatch were buried 17 years prior in the ground.  Somehow God awakens them all at the same time in 204 months, and they come out of the earth like…well….locusts.  They do the locust thing, eating like they’ve been stuck on a diet for decades.  The sound of their wings and hind legs rubbing together is an opus dei similar to a thousand lions roaring for dinner.  The sound is the male mating call, which is followed by more millions of cicada eggs buried in the ground. 

And in just a few short weeks they’re gone, leaving empty shells of bodies strewn all over, stuck to tree trunks, on patio floors, gutters, and every other nook or cranny you can imagine.  Their song of praise is always short, loud, unstoppable, and no mistake.  In this dance of praise to their Creator’s design they serve a purpose, pruning mature trees, aerating the soil, and, when they die, returning vital nitrogen to the soil from whence they came. 

Now, stand that image of annoying cicada bugs in your mind against a four-year-old child singing “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”.  And there it is, juxtaposition!  They’re so different…and so alike…offering to God the praise He placed within them. 

The next time you see a hurricane building in the tropics, or watch on tv as a volcano erupts, or the 17-year-locusts return, try to remember God’s creation doing what the Almighty hand has given them to do…praise His holy name.  And while you’re at it think of your neighbor, or that person on the other side of town, or the other side of the world, and how differently he may offer praise than you do.  And then offer the praise he put inside of you, in just the way He designed it.

For You Today

Whether you’re an elephant, an egret, or a cicada, or just somebody who happened to wake up today in God’s universe, there’s a song inside you.  Sing it loudly or softly, on-key or off, but don’t keep it to yourself.  Offer it to Him!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!  

[1] Title Image: Wikimedia Commons  Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

An Uncertain Note

[1]

Friday, August 2, 2019

Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.  And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?  1 Corinthians 14:7-8

Unexpected things are so named because they’re not expected.  Sometimes those unanticipated events are tragedy – sometimes comedy; occasionally they are both!

Homecoming/memorial service at our church is the most well-attended Sunday of the year, and the choir is reserved a spot to sit together in a side area of the worship center.  This is for two reasons – there might not be a seat in the main area, and most of the choir helps serve the dinner following worship, so they have a convenient side door where they sit to hurry out when the service ends. 

For last year’s service the final hymn I chose was familiar to our bunch.  However, as we sang the first verse, I suddenly realized most of the returning members and visitors had never heard it before.  In a moment of what turned out to be less-than-inspired, I stepped to the side room where the choir was sitting and tried to speak to our Lay Leader to bring the choir out to stand in front of congregation to help lead the singing.  Our Lay Leader is a most helpful and agreeable man, but he is almost as deaf as I am.  He misunderstood my request; he thought I was encouraging them to leave.  I began to lead them, but as I walked to the front I was alone; they went out the side door. 

In the split second in which I realized I was alone, I wondered if that was how it was for Jesus when the Roman soldiers came to arrest him, and his followers beat a frenzied retreat.  I am not equipped to lead singing…I mean, I can get enough volume, but when the notes come out of my mouth, there are few people who would pay money to hear those notes when they get there.  (I daresay there might be a few willing to purchase ear plugs for such times, or a lynching rope).

I learned two lessons (or rather re-learned things I’d messed up before):

1.     Don’t take things for granted.  If I’d followed that, I would have asked someone about singing that song.

2.     When you’re leading, sound a clear note so others can follow.

Those wisdom tidbits oftentimes come at a great price.  Once learned, they should be kept close in hand.  Being the leader doesn’t mean you get to decide everything gets done the way you want it; spiritual leadership means it’s your responsibility to sound a clear note, so others will know we’re not going out the side door.

For You Today

The clear note from our God about his children’s path is found in Jesus’ last words of his earthly ministry:

And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

Now, that’s NOT an unclear note; we get to decide what instrument we’ll play, but all God’s children are part of the band!

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day.

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[1] Title Image:  Pixabay.com        Unless otherwise noted, Scripture used from The New Living Translation©

Be Still...an Interlude

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Monday, January 22, 2018

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.  So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.  Let the oceans roar and foam.  Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!                            

-        Interlude    -

A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.  God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.  From the very break of day, God will protect it.  The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble!  God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. 

-        Interlude    -

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:  See how he brings destruction upon the world.  He causes wars to end throughout the earth.  He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire.  “Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world.”  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. 

-        Interlude    -

Psalm 46:1-11^(NLT)

By definition an interlude is a relatively short period of time between two longer periods, during which something happens that is different from what has happened before and what follows.[2] 

Many of the Psalms were written to be sung in worship, so the interlude may be a musical instruction for the choir director.  But in the larger sense an interlude is a time to re-focus and reflect on what has just been said, because something else is coming.

This Psalm is certainly about God’s sovereign protection over his creation.  But the flow of this Psalm is so welcoming to all who love God.  It starts with all the trouble on earth, earthquakes, storms and such.  The first interlude gives you a breath to think about it and remember all the storms of your life.

The next stanza turns towards Heaven where God reigns supremely and indestructibly, despite the storms on earth.  The silence of interlude sharpens the contrast of the entire struggle on earth with the blessings of security, peace and rivers of joy in the presence of God.

The final stanza is an invitation to come away from the struggle and run into the arms of God, while He deals with all the rebellion below.

And then…be still…a final interlude to let the reality of the graciousness of God flood over your soul.

It’s an opportunity, like the old hymn has it, to know that in the presence of God it is truly well with my soul!

For You Today

Another old hymn[3] begins with this theme:

Living below in this old sinful world

Hardly a comfort can afford

Striving alone to face temptation's sword

Where could I go but to the Lord

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Pixabay.com

[2] Encarta [digital encyclopedia]

[3] J.B. Coats, Where Could I Go But to the Lord, 1940

No More Tambourines

[i]

Monday, December 5, 2016

Look!  The Lord is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland.  He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people.  Priests and laypeople, servants and masters, maids and mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, bankers and debtors—none will be spared.  The earth will be completely emptied and looted.  The Lord has spoken!  The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers.  Even the greatest people on earth waste away.  The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.  Therefore, a curse consumes the earth.  Its people must pay the price for their sin.  They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.  The grapevines waste away, and there is no new wine.  All the merrymakers sigh and mourn.  The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled; the happy cries of celebration are heard no more.  The melodious chords of the harp are silent.  Gone are the joys of wine and song; alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.  The city writhes in chaos; every home is locked to keep out intruders.  Mobs gather in the streets, crying out for wine.  Joy has turned to gloom.  Gladness has been banished from the land.  The city is left in ruins, its gates battered down.  Throughout the earth the story is the same—only a remnant is left, like the stray olives left on the tree or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.  But all who are left shout and sing for joy.  Those in the west praise the Lord’s majesty.  In eastern lands, give glory to the Lord.  In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.  We hear songs of praise from the ends of the earth, songs that give glory to the Righteous One!  But my heart is heavy with grief.  Weep for me, for I wither away.  Deceit still prevails, and treachery is everywhere.  Isaiah 24:1-16^(NLT)

My wife owns a tambourine; there, I said it!  She uses it from time to time with choir stuff.  I’ve never been a fan of tambourine music.  Really?

Yes, I mean I REALLY hate the sound of a tambourine!  It’s taken me nearly seven decades to figure it out, and I’m only now suspecting that it’s because I hate dancing! 

Again, only this time BIGGER:   I.  REALLY.  Hate.  Dancing!  After years and years of never-dancing we took some lessons (you KNOW that wasn’t MY idea)!  And it was confirmed – no rhythm and a total inability to match the movements of two left feet with the beat of guitar, drums or tambourine!  I’m a hopeless, non-dancing wallflower! 

Not only can I not-dance, I can’t find it in my heart to like the sound of a tambourine.  Every picture in my mind of a tambourine is connected to people merrily jumping around in big circles of crowded wedding reception dance floors; they’re ecstatic, having a wonderful (albeit sweaty) time, and one sure fact is – I’m NOT one of those people!

Which brings us to Isaiah’s prophecy – the tambourines in Jerusalem disappear! 

No – Russell didn’t steal all the tambourines and burn them in a twisted sense of some weird tambourine-jihad.  Isaiah was seeing the destruction of the Holy City, and with it the sound of music, joy, and laughter is circling the drain.  The party is over for God’s disobedient people; all that’s left is a living room full of emptiness, like the destruction-scene of a morning after the mother of all frat parties.  Not a pretty sight!

But then Isaiah does the strangest, most unconventional thing – he tells all those who still love the Lord to rejoice and to give praise and glory to name of the Lord, and sing songs.  He’s telling them to dig deep in their hearts to find the tambourines; he is telling them to play some music and get those feet moving.

Strange, eh?  No, not at all.  The prophet sees beyond the empty paper cups strewn all over the floor, empty beer bottles, broken dreams and shattered hope.  He sees the righteousness of God rising out of the destruction of man’s disobedience.  He’s looking down the long corridors of time, the carnage of misspent lives cast into the potter’s field.  He’s seeing God lifting up the tambourine to lead the band, and he sees the remnant beginning to dance to the tune of angel’s songs.  Even those of us with two left feet are invited, because he’s gonna teach us – even this non-dancing, tambourine- hating preacher.

For You Today

How’s life working for YOU?  Oh, wait…is that tambourine music I hear?

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road…have a blessed day!

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NOTES

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[i] Title image: By Pianosimon - Own work, via Wikimedia Commons

The "Each Other" Teachings of Jesus - Part 5: Teach and Counsel Each Other

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Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.    Colossians 3:16^(NLT)

Our study of the "each other" teachings of Jesus brings us to the need of the body of Christ to instruct – or teach and counsel each other in Christ’s love. 

Teaching assumes there is learning going on.  A favorite story of mine is about the particular church denomination that believed in baptismal sanctification (the moment you are baptized, you are sanctified, and therefore perfect – you won't ever sin again). 

One winter an older man got convicted, and decided to join the group.  It was winter time and he wanted to be baptized right away; but the creek was frozen over.  Well, he had a great desire to be pure, so he convinced the elders to baptize him. 

They cut a hole in the ice, took the old fellow and dunked him in the hole, all the way, twice for good measure.  As he came out the second time from the freezing water hole, the old man gushed:  Oh; it's so wonderful.  I'm sanctified.  I’m so blessed; I don't even feel the cold. 

The head elder said, Let's dunk him again boys, he's still lyin'!

Paul wanted to teach the believers at Colosse how to live as Christians.  In the first 15 verses of this chapter Paul lists the Christian virtues and vices; he advises us to:  Avoid the vices – live by the virtues. 

It is important that new believers learn these; it is important that all believers are reminded of these. 

Why?  Because the extent to which unbelievers will get a true impression of genuine Christianity is the extent to which we who claim to belong to Christ Jesus exhibit the virtues, and shun the vices. 

After all, are we not the only Bible most of the world will ever read?

So, if you want to help the body of Christ be obedient to the Lord’s command to be witnesses of His love to the world, you must make certain there are some basic factors working.  We do that by teaching, or edifying one another. 

The word “edify” means to build-up!  How do we build, or teach one another? 

Well, after listing the virtues and vices, Paul then told the folks what to do about them.  Consider these three ways we teach one another…

From The Heart

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly Colossians 3:16a^(KJV)

SURRENDERED TO CHRIST

The word dwell means reside.  Christ takes up residence in the believer's heart.  Christian virtues are not developed by practice and putting on a façade; they're a result of Christ dwelling richly, or effectively filling your heart. 

A teacher must teach from the heart, and in order to teach Christ from the heart, Christ must be living there.  And, as Christ takes up residence in our heart, our residence is changed as well; we become citizens of the Kingdom.

Some of you may remember comedian Yakov Smirnoff.  He said when he first came to the United States from Russia he wasn't prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores.  He says, On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk – you just add water, and you get milk.  Then I saw powdered orange juice – you just add water, and you get orange juice.  And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!^[2]

Well, Christians can get the wrong idea that it’s all that easy…accept Christ, and voilà, instant mature believer.  Not so; Jesus isn’t there just to be close to your heart like a friend, or a convenient vending machine to get your prayers answered; he’s there to take over your heart day by day, and change your heart so you’re less like you used to be, and more like Him!

Surrendered to Christ is a lot different than agreeing to the idea that Jesus is Lord and will take care of you.  And so, surrendered to Christ means you’re…

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

I'm certain that change is one of the least-liked words in the English language.  It seems people despise having their routines interrupted about as much as a baby complains about having the formula in his bottle changed. 

However, when it comes to teaching, you can only give out what you know. 

And you will only know Christ to the degree you have allowed Him free reign to change you into His image.

A teacher teaches from the heart, but also...

From the Head

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God…  Colossians 3:16b^(NLT)

YOU CAN ONLY TEACH WHAT IS PERSONALLY LEARNED

Notice that there are three categories of learning mentioned by Paul: 

1.     Psalms (scripture),

2.     hymns (New Testament praise songs),

3.     spiritual songs (like our contemporary gospel songs),

These are the primary teaching vehicles. 

Believers have always sung their faith.  However, it is important to recognize that knowing Christ ^{(Php 3.10)} is the object of the music.  Music is a means whereby we praise and honor the Lord; it is not the end to which we aspire. 

The presentation of the music is secondary – what’s primary, first is how that music praises God and communicates the gospel message to the congregation.

YOU CAN ONLY TEACH WHAT IS POSSIBLE TO KNOW

People learn differently.  A good teacher will recognize the fundamental differences in how people learn and adapt accordingly.  Helping the body of Christ remember the Christian virtues requires that you teach effectively. 

¨     To some you will simply live it, and they will get the message. 

¨     To some, it is necessary to speak out plainly, admonishing or warning. Frankly, some “teaching” just doesn’t take in our culture with its’ short attention spans and ADD. 

¨     And, with still others, learning only takes place via making mistakes and suffering the consequences. 

A student made a mistake of identification.  He was in the college chapel for a required lecture.  He looked at the order of service and groaned loudly.  The middle-aged lady next to him asked what was the matter.  The student replied, It’s the preacher. He’s my director of studies. I have to go to his lectures and he’s the dullest man alive, utterly boring.

Oh, said the woman, Do you know who I am?  The student looked at her and said he didn’t. Well, said the woman, I’m the preacher’s wife!

The student said, And do you know who I am?

No, said the professor’s wife.  Hallelujah!, said the student, and ran out the door.

We all make mistakes.  If you are going to help the body learn and remember Christian virtues, teach from the heart, the head, and...

With Humility

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  Colossians 3:16c^(KJV)

THE PLACE OF GRACE IS THE HEART

It is important to remember that as Christians, we operate entirely by grace.  We have nothing to offer the body of Christ apart from that which is first given to us.  Humility should cradle everything we do. 

A preacher told about [his] youngest daughter, Angi, [who] graduated from the university and started teaching in an area college.  One day, she went to a nearby restaurant for lunch.  The man who seated her asked, Are you a teacher? Surprised, Angi replied, Why yes, I am.

She enjoyed a warm feeling throughout the meal; she looked like a teacher!

As she was leaving the restaurant, she asked the man, How did you know I was a teacherYou have chalk dust on your seat, he replied.^[3]                 

Humility teaches us that you can find, memorize and recite facts, but wisdom must come from God.  If you are to help the body of Christ, grace must humble your heart. 

A young boy of 4 went to big church for the first time on Palm Sunday.  He heard of the suffering of Jesus, the cruelty of the soldiers and the mob.  He listened with rapt attention as the cross was described, and he sobbed when the minister said Jesus died for him.  And then the service was over; the boy expected the people to go out in hushed awe. 

This child, awed by the incredible gift of a king's son for him, but was even more amazed when the people broke into chatter, laughter and talk of mundane, everyday things. 

Didn't they know?  Hadn't they heard? 

But, that is the point, isn't it? 

Grace in the heart will humble you.  It will make you laugh after you've cried for a while. 

That is....THE PURPOSE OF GRACE – TO HELP WITH LIFE

Humble people are helping people. 

Booker T. Washington was the renowned black educator, and an outstanding example of what grace looks like when the heart has been touched...

Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when a wealthy white woman stopped him.  Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. 

Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested.  When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. 

A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady.  The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the institute and apologized profusely.  It's perfectly all right, Madam, he replied.  Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor.  Besides, it's always a delight to do something for a friend. 

She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart.  Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.^[4]

So, the Question Remains:  How Shall I Begin To Teach?

Let me assure you that you do not need a Ph.D. after your name to be a Godly teacher in the Kingdom. 

Harry Ironside was a great pastor and expositor of the Word.  He told of visiting a Godly man named Andrew Frazer who had come to southern California to recover from a serious illness. 

Though quite weak, Frazer opened his worn Bible and began expounding the deep truths of God in a way that Ironside had never heard before. 

Ironside was so moved by Frazer's words that he asked him, Where did you get these things?  Could you tell me where I could find a book that would open them up to me?  Did you learn them in some seminary or college?

The sickly man gave an answer that Ironside could not forget:  My dear young man, I learned these things on my knees on the mud floor of a little sod cottage in the north of Ireland.  There with my open Bible before me I used to kneel for hours at a time and ask the Spirit of God to reveal Christ to my soul and to open the Word to my heart.  He taught me more on my knees on that mud floor than I ever could have learned in all the seminaries or colleges in the world.^[5]

Friends, it is the same for us. 

God loves a contrite heart, a head that's teachable, and a spirit that's humble. 

Those are the things you need to teach one another.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

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[1] Carl Heinrich Bloch [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

[2] James Emery White, Rethinking the Church, Baker, 1997, p. 55-57

[3] David L. Roper, Judsonia, Arkansas, Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."

[4]H.G.B. Our Daily Bread

[5]The Bible Illustrator, (Hiawatha, Ia, Parson's Technology, 1990) Idx 2872