The story is told of an auction. When the violin came up for auction it was old and didn’t look like it was worth much. The bidding began and the bids were extremely low, until a man walked into the auction house and picked it up and played it, exposing it’s true value. After he played, he laid the violin down, and the auctioneer started the bidding. The bids were in the thousands of dollars.

In the church, we can invest thousands of dollars into the latest and greatest technology. Have all the bells and whistles available in our quest to attract big crowds of people to participate in our phenomenal presentation of “worship.” Our intentions may be admirable. but the true mark of success in our services, will not be whether we put on an incredible music and light show for entertainment; it will be whether the people who were in the service who may have experienced an emotional high, will also still feel the Lord’s presence after the lights fade and be ready to draw closer to God through salvation.

Have you been changed?

We must be in tune with the leading of the holy spirit. Our instruments are used to create an atmosphere of worship, but that can only happen when we learn to listen to what the Lord’s will is for any given service.

I keep thinking about that violin at the auction. It was dusty, old, neglected, not seen as worthy of the times. Oh, in its day it was valued, but just like the antique styles of worship of our elders, it’s been buried as part of the past, an antique, not worthy of the price of oil to rosin the bow.

I think about the old hymns.

Some people balk at using them, complaining that they’re too old-fashioned, people don’t want to hear them anymore, because the hymns are outdated. It doesn’t appeal to young people who like a lively beat and blaring tantalizing lyrics to make their hearts pound with emotion.

Their posture demonstrates the attitude, as if to say: Make me cry in the moment, but whatever you do, don’t reach for my soul that I might be changed. As I leave this place, I want to pick up my problems in tact and wait to face them another day when it’s more convenient with my schedule.

It’s easy to leave the same way I came when I can listen to the songs of new and hear how empty they are. A few quick repetitious notes reminding me over and over again, about what it must have been like for my elders, when old phonograph needles skipped backwards, instead of moving forward to the next notes.

Change? I’m waiting for a reason to do it, but here I find that same familiar tune that the world gives, and when I close my eyes, I get confused about where I am: the club, or a church service. You sing about Jesus, but I can’t even hear it, because I close my eyes and the world’s pull is so strong in the beat of the drums, and lights warm on my face, that I miss his still small voice calling me to repentance.

Not anything like I used to hear when I was young and innocent. I remember that worship when I was young, produced melodious sounds that helped to remind me of where I had been, and where I was in the moment, (in the presence of Jehovah),  and what my future could be if I would take the time to really listen to those soft words of love and hope.

I realized that I needed God…

I’d hear Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see.

I could believe that I could always be standing on the promises of Christ my King, through eternal ages let his praises sing, glory in the highest I will shout and sing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

I knew that I had blessed assurance because Jesus is mine, oh what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of love, born of his spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior, all the day long.

It was okay to sing,  Oh how I love Jesus, O how I love Jesus, Oh how I love Jesus, because he first loved me. To me he is so wonderful.

Don’t forget that “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.” I want to serve him, today, and not forget the rich heritage that we have because someone took the time to reach for us through prayer.

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

In this week’s Lattereign we look at how important it is to have a strong root. Follow the link below.

The Strength of the Root