Today’s Scripture:    

Psalm 34:9-14 Proverbs 9:1-6            Ephesians 5:15-20      John 6:51-58

           

Operas and Musicals in Movies and Broadway Shows are so neat.  Whenever something significant is happening, the actors break into song.  How many times are memories brought back to mind when you hear the theme songs played?  As you go about your day’s business, how many times do you catch yourself humming the last tune you heard before you turned the radio, tape or CD off?  Do you catch yourself singing a verse of a favorite hymn that was sung during the service?

 

            Paul is telling Christians in today’s reading to live as wise people.  The reading from Proverbs depicts wisdom as one inviting others to her dinner party to partake of the choicest meats and drink.  Wisdom wants nothing but the best for her guests.  And Paul tells us today that as wise people, to make the best of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Now what does all of that have to do with breaking out in song? 

 

            “Be very careful how you live.”   The world watches very closely how Christians live.  Paul is calling on Christians, those who know the love of Christ, that just knowing about Jesus is not enough.  Being wise means to apply what we know in the management of our lives.  Jesus’ great commission is for all of his disciples to witness, making disciples of all other people of this world.  Wisdom tells us that making disciples depends on our being able to live and demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ in a way that is convincing and communicates clearly God’s love to them.   

 

            Paul reminds us that as we live in a wicked age, it is all too easy to be sidetracked by the foolishness of the world and its ways.  Paul uses an illustration here to not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery, morally corrupt living.  It is not just wine or alcoholic drink that Paul is writing about.  What are the things of this world that we can get drunk on, the things that take our thoughts and energy away from the wise use of our gifts that God gives us?  For starts we can look to a person’s selfish pride, serving self before all other things.  We find ourselves always thirsting for the next thing in life whether it be wealth, possessions, recreation, sports, lusts for whatever it is we chase after.  Those are the things that a person can “get drunk” on.

 

            Instead of these earthly passions, God calls on believers in Christ to “be filled with the Spirit.”  Jesus promised to send his Holy Spirit, the “comforter” to guide and lead the first disciples and all who follow him.  Paul calls on believers to “seize the opportunities” to witness the love of Christ with others.  He intends that for both amongst ourselves as a gathering, a congregation, and in our daily lives and witness with those who do not know Jesus, who have rejected him for various reasons, are those who have quietly slipped away from knowing and trusting him alone for forgiveness and eternal life.

 

             “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.”  So many times we do not know what to say to another to tell them the joys of knowing Jesus.  God has given his people throughout all time the gift of music, singing messages in song, using poetry with its rhyme and rhythm in unique and catchy ways so that people remember the messages those tunes and phrases carry.  We find in the Psalms the prayers and rejoicing for all predicaments in life.  Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you.  I look to the hills, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord.  Hear my cry O Lord.  You are my rock and my salvation.  But with you there is forgiveness, therefore you are feared.  Sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things.  His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 

 

            When I visit our members who are homebound, hospitalized, or in other circumstances, many times we share a hymn together.  The beauty of the Lutheran hymns and spiritual songs we sing is that they are based so resolutely in Scripture, in God’s word of salvation.  The texts bring out our cries for God’s mercy.  The joyous words of praise and thanksgiving are pleasing to God’s ears when we give him honor for all of the blessings he has given us.  The brightness and cheerfulness of song reaches deep into each other’s hearts and souls in refreshing and uplifting ways.  What a gift music is in each one’s life, as it stirs the emotions, sharpens the senses, and brings to heart the messages of God’s love to his people.

 

            When one is uncomfortable knowing what to say or how to say it, God has already given you those words to build each other up.  As you read the Psalms, you find many for each type of sorrow, conflict, rejoicing and sharing that you encounter in life.  As you think of hymns and spiritual songs, how easily they come back to mind as compared to rote memorization.  And how strong a witness it is to another to know you care, because God cares, when you share the messages of the love of Christ in these ways.  And how easy it is to continue to live witnessing God’s love in your words and actions by sharing in this way.

 

            A supervisor was walking through the office and heard one of the secretaries quietly singing as she was filing.  As he listened intently he heard her singing Mozart’s alphabet song.  She did it to keep focused on keeping her work accurate and gave a light and enjoyable moment to what otherwise could have been a pretty dry routine.  She brought a moment of lightness and joy to those around her as well.

 

            The hymns we delight in singing together strengthen each other in faith.  The hymns we sing so confidently communicate to others the joy of salvation in Jesus Christ.  The hymns we share today in our service are not limited to this service, but are a joy to all who hear you humming and singing to God both your pleas and your rejoicing.  It is a convincing message that sticks in the mind and in the heart.  Let’s not stop sharing God’s love in those ways.

 

            Amen.