November 20, 2018 ● 18-3
As part of the first funeral I officiated in as a pastor, I had to lead the congregation in singing. Our church member that had died loved the song, “I’ll fly away”, and requested it be sung at her funeral. Unfortunately, our music director was out of town the day of the funeral so I had to lead the singing. Needless to say, singing is not a talent of mine; and “I’ll fly away” is not a favorite of mine anymore!
The truth is, all of us have a song in our heart, a song of thanksgiving. In the Old Testament Book of Exodus 15, verses 1-19 are referred to as the Song of Moses. This “song” was composed and sung by the Hebrews to commemorate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt as God parted the waters of the Red Sea and they walked through on dry land. Probably one of the most powerful statements about this miracle of God was made in:
Ex. 14:29: But the sons of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
After 400 years of slavery and forced labor, the Hebrews saw their oppressors wash up dead on the shore of the Red Sea; so much for the power of Egypt!
If you are a child of God by faith in Jesus Christ, you have a song of thanksgiving in your heart. Your song is about how God saved you, forgave you, and has blessed, provided for, and sustained you all these years. When is the last time you sat down and thought about the “song of thanksgiving” that is in your heart because of what God has done and continues to do? My song is not your song, and your song is not my song, but all of our songs do have some common characteristics and important facts to remember:
Your song of thanksgiving is:
1. Your, “note to self” about what God has done in your life;
2. Your fuel for your trusting Him every day;
3. Your testimony to share with others.
4. Your song of praise and thanksgiving back to God for what He has done and is doing.
Remember this, if you focus on yourself, you will not have a song of thanksgiving in your heart; but if you focus on God and what He has done, you cannot help but have a song of thanksgiving in your heart.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Col. 3:15, NASB)