Friday, November 24, 2017

Who Do You Intimate?

Who Do You Imitate?
Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”
            The ASV renders verse one, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children” since the Greek word used here is mimetes (3402).  If a Christian musician is going to mimic someone it makes sense that he or she should try to be like God.  This passage says that Christians should mimic the actions of God with the simplicity of dear children.  They are not ashamed to mimic the actions of their earthly father, so St. Paul admonishes Christians to take on the pride-less simplicity that is not ashamed to try to be little shadows of our awesome God.
Notice that the Christians at Ephesus were to mimic Christ’s love for others by loving enough to become a living offering and sacrifice by being Christ-like in their love for people.  Note that such action is the opposite of humanism and its belief that everything that matters in life begins and ends with self.  St, Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus that love and sacrifice for others is a “sweet smelling sacrifice” to God.  Our all-wise God who is omniscient can discern the thoughts and intents of a musician’s heart and know immediately if a Christian’s music ministry is about self.
Thought from Scripture for the Day
Malachi 3:3, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” 

Song for the Day “He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi” by G.F. Handel


No comments:

Post a Comment