Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:17-21 NKJV
You know those moments when you’ve read something for years, but suddenly something grabs you that you hadn’t thought about before? Well, I had one of those moments this morning. I’ve been reflecting on this passage for a couple of months. The phrase ‘speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs’ just won’t leave me alone. Am I really supposed to sing to people?
This morning, I was sitting with my wife. She shared with me something that the Lord had shown her in Psalm 112. It was a great blessing. It showed how biblical truth can be applied to our daily lives. I thought, ‘Maybe this is it!’ Perhaps we are meant to learn from each other as the Spirit illuminates the Word.
So, some random thoughts on what this might mean for us.
- Whatever this is, we’re meant to do it together. It’s not just about me humming along to a Christian song on the car radio. It’s about communicating with other Christians. (I’m pretty sure it doesn’t mean I’m supposed to sing to the people at the supermarket.) This is addressed to the local church.)
- In order to achieve this, we must spend time together with other believers. No solos, please.
- Music has tremendous power. You remember things that enter your heart on the wings of a song. Advertisers know this. That’s why every commercial has a jingle. “You deserve a break today,” or “Nationwide is on your side.” Be careful what you sing. It might come out of your mouth when you really need something with substance. Sing the victory.
- To do this, we need to be exposed to psalms and hymns that either come from the bible, or are composed to express biblical ideas. We also need to be willing to let the Spirit inspire us with fresh songs. Fill your heart. Sing your heart.
- Whatever it means to speak to one another in musical ways, it surely implies that our speech should glorify God and move others in His direction. We are designed to inspire one another.
So, as we head for the gathering of the saints that we call “church,” let’s start tuning up. Being in the presence of other believers is an essential part of being a Christian. You just can’t “one-another” without it. Relish the opportunity. All music will invade your heart, so be careful what you hear and what you hum.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16 NKJV
Listen to the conversation of others. They may be singing your song. Speak to others out of the “grace in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16). You may have just the right tune to be music to their ears. Church is not a soliloquy, it’s a symphony. Play your part.
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