Like most things in this life, God uses music as an illustration of how powerful and beautiful harmony can be when an assembly of instruments are rightly expressing themselves towards the same end goal. Life for believers is like an orchestral concert, where being players is a special place to be.
According to Holy Scripture, we are sanctified to be “instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13), set apart to play our role in the Lord’s own orchestra. We are to sit in our assigned section, in the seat designed especially for us. We are to honor those who play the same instruments and bear the burden of “first chair” (e.g. lead trumpet), for they have greater wisdom in the moment (some day we may be called to that seat). We are to play our own sheet music, not looking to the left or the right. And, above all else, we are to abide in the timing and direction of our great conductor, Jesus Christ.
If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
- 1 Corinthians 14:7
We are all born with distinction, “wonderfully made”, according to the Word of God.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
- Psalm 139:13-16
On the grand stage of life, how will anyone know who you are if you don’t express yourself in the unique manner which God intended? How will your beautiful “notes” be heard if you’re reading off of someone else’s sheet music? How harmonious will your part be if you lose the beat given to you by our great conductor? Furthermore, might we agree that a person whose heart isn’t in it can be heard as degrading discouraging instead of uplifting by the audience? Or what if a person attempts to steal the show by playing too loud or adding notes to the arrangement?
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:3-8
If you’re a “tuba player”, embrace it, regardless if your fleshly response is a distaste for the “burp” sound the instrument makes compared to the more prestigious lead trumpeter, whose soloing delights the audience. The tuba gives an orchestra depth and mass, grounding a piece of music in a way that smaller instruments can’t. Learn to appreciate the simple fact that you have been invited to join the orchestra and the great conductor paid for your seat with His own blood. You are precious in the Lord’s eyes.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?
For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-19
Please be encouraged. It breaks my heart to see members of the Body of Christ malcontent in any way. I believe this one emotion is the reason for so much of the pain and suffering in their lives. Please remember how precious you are, and how very gifted you are, in Christ Jesus. The Spirit of Christ indwells you and He enables you to play your notes in such a way that it’s true beauty, even when the rest of the orchestra seems to drown your part out. Trust me, the rest of us can hear you, and it’s wonderful.
Be yourself. Play your music. Be blessed.
Please.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
