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Thoughts in Worship 06.23.2019
Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, June 23, 2019
Audio Link: http://bit.ly/ThoughtsinWorship
This is devotional thought number 64 in our devotional series titled, “The Faith I Live By”
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19).
What if there were no heaven? What if there were no reward of eternal life or immortality? What if there were no promise to eat and drink with Jesus in the kingdom? What if this life were it, and after we die, that is the end of the long, sordid story? Banish the thought!
Sometimes we writers and lyricists pen emotive words that create an environment for those who enjoy words, cadence, pace, crescendo, movement, etc. to get lost in a state of blissful reflection. Where songs are concerned, this is especially the case. Coupling well crafted lyrics with vocal and instrumental mastery makes for a wonderful experience. However, our ecstatic experience is not always based on reason, even where Christian music is concerned. Here is a case in point. One of my all-time favorites from the late singer, song writer Andrae Crouch titled, “If Heaven Never Was Promised to Me” engenders rich emotions and a commitment to serving God, no matter what. Here are the lyrics from the chorus”
“But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God's promise to live eternally.
It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness,
You came along and brought me the light.”
I get it! Andrae Crouch was simply communicating how much he loved God. He was grateful for the blessing He had been to him, and the many years he lived beyond the release of the 1973 hit song were a testament of his appreciation for the light Jesus brought into his life and ministry. However, as much as I love, love, love that song, and am trying not to sing it in my head while I am typing this message to you, it does not pass the Bible filter. What saith the Scriptures? This should be our question to measure all things.
The apostle taught, as he was forming his argument against those who did not believe in the resurrection, that if there was no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus was not resurrected. If Jesus was not resurrected, then we can just go ahead and lock up shop, live recklessly, and await our certain death, because life would have no meaning. Our hope would be dashed to pieces. Our faith would be all for nought. Our faith would be in vain. Let me remind you, he said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I am fairly certain Andrae Crouch would have agreed with the apostle, but I am illustrating the point that words matter. Our words must be aligned with God’s words if we hope to inspire intelligent faith.
I will probably keep humming that old favorite of mine, at the risk of sounding contradictory, but I am glad that this life is not the end of the story. I am delighted that Jesus Christ is risen, and the when He comes, His reward will be with Him to give every person according to the deeds consistently done in the flesh. I am glad we will one day transcend this life and enter immortality with God to inherit the new Earth.
By God’s grace, this is the faith I live by, let this be the same for you, in Jesus’ name.—L. David Harris (http://bit.ly/BQuotable)
#thefaithiliveby
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, June 23, 2019
Audio Link: http://bit.ly/ThoughtsinWorship
This is devotional thought number 64 in our devotional series titled, “The Faith I Live By”
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19).
What if there were no heaven? What if there were no reward of eternal life or immortality? What if there were no promise to eat and drink with Jesus in the kingdom? What if this life were it, and after we die, that is the end of the long, sordid story? Banish the thought!
Sometimes we writers and lyricists pen emotive words that create an environment for those who enjoy words, cadence, pace, crescendo, movement, etc. to get lost in a state of blissful reflection. Where songs are concerned, this is especially the case. Coupling well crafted lyrics with vocal and instrumental mastery makes for a wonderful experience. However, our ecstatic experience is not always based on reason, even where Christian music is concerned. Here is a case in point. One of my all-time favorites from the late singer, song writer Andrae Crouch titled, “If Heaven Never Was Promised to Me” engenders rich emotions and a commitment to serving God, no matter what. Here are the lyrics from the chorus”
“But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God's promise to live eternally.
It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness,
You came along and brought me the light.”
I get it! Andrae Crouch was simply communicating how much he loved God. He was grateful for the blessing He had been to him, and the many years he lived beyond the release of the 1973 hit song were a testament of his appreciation for the light Jesus brought into his life and ministry. However, as much as I love, love, love that song, and am trying not to sing it in my head while I am typing this message to you, it does not pass the Bible filter. What saith the Scriptures? This should be our question to measure all things.
The apostle taught, as he was forming his argument against those who did not believe in the resurrection, that if there was no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus was not resurrected. If Jesus was not resurrected, then we can just go ahead and lock up shop, live recklessly, and await our certain death, because life would have no meaning. Our hope would be dashed to pieces. Our faith would be all for nought. Our faith would be in vain. Let me remind you, he said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I am fairly certain Andrae Crouch would have agreed with the apostle, but I am illustrating the point that words matter. Our words must be aligned with God’s words if we hope to inspire intelligent faith.
I will probably keep humming that old favorite of mine, at the risk of sounding contradictory, but I am glad that this life is not the end of the story. I am delighted that Jesus Christ is risen, and the when He comes, His reward will be with Him to give every person according to the deeds consistently done in the flesh. I am glad we will one day transcend this life and enter immortality with God to inherit the new Earth.
By God’s grace, this is the faith I live by, let this be the same for you, in Jesus’ name.—L. David Harris (http://bit.ly/BQuotable)
#thefaithiliveby
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Thoughts in Worship
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, June 23, 2019
Audio Link: http://bit.ly/ThoughtsinWorship
This is devotional thought number 64 in our devotional series titled, “The Faith I Live By”
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19).
What if there were no heaven? What if there were no reward of eternal life or immortality? What if there were no promise to eat and drink with Jesus in the kingdom? What if this life were it, and after we die, that is the end of the long, sordid story? Banish the thought!
Sometimes we writers and lyricists pen emotive words that create an environment for those who enjoy words, cadence, pace, crescendo, movement, etc. to get lost in a state of blissful reflection. Where songs are concerned, this is especially the case. Coupling well crafted lyrics with vocal and instrumental mastery makes for a wonderful experience. However, our ecstatic experience is not always based on reason, even where Christian music is concerned. Here is a case in point. One of my all-time favorites from the late singer, song writer Andrae Crouch titled, “If Heaven Never Was Promised to Me” engenders rich emotions and a commitment to serving God, no matter what. Here are the lyrics from the chorus”
“But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God's promise to live eternally.
It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness,
You came along and brought me the light.”
I get it! Andrae Crouch was simply communicating how much he loved God. He was grateful for the blessing He had been to him, and the many years he lived beyond the release of the 1973 hit song were a testament of his appreciation for the light Jesus brought into his life and ministry. However, as much as I love, love, love that song, and am trying not to sing it in my head while I am typing this message to you, it does not pass the Bible filter. What saith the Scriptures? This should be our question to measure all things.
The apostle taught, as he was forming his argument against those who did not believe in the resurrection, that if there was no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus was not resurrected. If Jesus was not resurrected, then we can just go ahead and lock up shop, live recklessly, and await our certain death, because life would have no meaning. Our hope would be dashed to pieces. Our faith would be all for nought. Our faith would be in vain. Let me remind you, he said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I am fairly certain Andrae Crouch would have agreed with the apostle, but I am illustrating the point that words matter. Our words must be aligned with God’s words if we hope to inspire intelligent faith.
I will probably keep humming that old favorite of mine, at the risk of sounding contradictory, but I am glad that this life is not the end of the story. I am delighted that Jesus Christ is risen, and the when He comes, His reward will be with Him to give every person according to the deeds consistently done in the flesh. I am glad we will one day transcend this life and enter immortality with God to inherit the new Earth.
By God’s grace, this is the faith I live by, let this be the same for you, in Jesus’ name.—L. David Harris (http://bit.ly/BQuotable)
#thefaithiliveby
Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sunday, June 23, 2019
Audio Link: http://bit.ly/ThoughtsinWorship
This is devotional thought number 64 in our devotional series titled, “The Faith I Live By”
“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:17–19).
What if there were no heaven? What if there were no reward of eternal life or immortality? What if there were no promise to eat and drink with Jesus in the kingdom? What if this life were it, and after we die, that is the end of the long, sordid story? Banish the thought!
Sometimes we writers and lyricists pen emotive words that create an environment for those who enjoy words, cadence, pace, crescendo, movement, etc. to get lost in a state of blissful reflection. Where songs are concerned, this is especially the case. Coupling well crafted lyrics with vocal and instrumental mastery makes for a wonderful experience. However, our ecstatic experience is not always based on reason, even where Christian music is concerned. Here is a case in point. One of my all-time favorites from the late singer, song writer Andrae Crouch titled, “If Heaven Never Was Promised to Me” engenders rich emotions and a commitment to serving God, no matter what. Here are the lyrics from the chorus”
“But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God's promise to live eternally.
It's been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness,
You came along and brought me the light.”
I get it! Andrae Crouch was simply communicating how much he loved God. He was grateful for the blessing He had been to him, and the many years he lived beyond the release of the 1973 hit song were a testament of his appreciation for the light Jesus brought into his life and ministry. However, as much as I love, love, love that song, and am trying not to sing it in my head while I am typing this message to you, it does not pass the Bible filter. What saith the Scriptures? This should be our question to measure all things.
The apostle taught, as he was forming his argument against those who did not believe in the resurrection, that if there was no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus was not resurrected. If Jesus was not resurrected, then we can just go ahead and lock up shop, live recklessly, and await our certain death, because life would have no meaning. Our hope would be dashed to pieces. Our faith would be all for nought. Our faith would be in vain. Let me remind you, he said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I am fairly certain Andrae Crouch would have agreed with the apostle, but I am illustrating the point that words matter. Our words must be aligned with God’s words if we hope to inspire intelligent faith.
I will probably keep humming that old favorite of mine, at the risk of sounding contradictory, but I am glad that this life is not the end of the story. I am delighted that Jesus Christ is risen, and the when He comes, His reward will be with Him to give every person according to the deeds consistently done in the flesh. I am glad we will one day transcend this life and enter immortality with God to inherit the new Earth.
By God’s grace, this is the faith I live by, let this be the same for you, in Jesus’ name.—L. David Harris (http://bit.ly/BQuotable)
#thefaithiliveby