Sunday, August 03, 2008
Student Choir Devotion for August 3, 2008
Alleluia Fugue
Praise the Lord and sing unto His holy name. Alleluia, sing alleluia!
O let us sing a song of joy!
O let us sing a song of joy!
Praise the Lord and let the joyful music ring. Alleluia, sing alleluia!
Read: Matthew 5: 13-16
Reflect: Who comes to mind when you hear the words, “Whassup dog?” What restaurant do you immediately associate with spotted black and white cows doing crazy things? What is your personal trademark?
Consider: Today we sing at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. This church is the congregation where Johann Sebastian Bach spent the last twenty-seven years of his life (1723-1750) as organist/choirmaster, “minister of music” in modern Baptist terms. During a three-year period in Leipzig he composed a full-length (20-30 minutes) cantata for choir and orchestra every week: nearly 150 cantatas (obviously, this was pre-computer, quill pen and ink stuff.) These compositions are still sung and played all over the world today as are his other masterpieces: St. Matthew’s and St. John’s Passion, the Brandenburg Concertos, Christmas and Easter Oratorios, Preludes and Fugues, and Sonatas for various solo instruments- just to name a few. All in all, during his life Bach composed thousands of pieces of music, and still managed to father twenty biological children between writings!
Despite the rhythmic excitement and intricate details of his compositions, the one thing that makes Bach’s music extraordinary is not the music itself. To me, Bach is a musical giant because of the three simple Latin words that he penned at the bottom of the last page of every composition he ever wrote. The words and the sentiment behind them are Bach’s eternal trademark: Soli Deo Gloria (To God alone be the glory.)
No matter what the talent, skill or knowledge, our gifts come from God. Developing these gifts and using them to their fullest is the best expression of a life well-lived. Whether it is in the classroom, baseball field, theatre stage, computer terminal, or orchestral chair, when we nurture our special abilities to be the best they can be, we glorify God. The wise person is the one who always acknowledges this and is full of gratitude to God. Nothing is more repulsive than someone who has outstanding ability and behaves like they themselves are “God’s gift to the world.” However, nothing is more engaging or powerful than someone who humbly shares their talent as God’s gift to the world.
A very central part to the Christian faith is discovering our own individual contribution to the kingdom of God. Each of us must determine what we do best and then direct that ability toward helping or inspiring others, toward figuring out solutions to the world’s problems, toward expressing God’s grace to all people everywhere. This is referred to as “our calling.” God equips us all and then calls us all to serve others to the glory of God. What is your trademark and your calling in life? This is perhaps the most crucial decision you can ever make.
Soli Deo Gloria.
Pray
(Written by Clark Sorrells)
