"The pleasure we feel in music
springs from the obedience which is in it."
~ Henry David Thoreau
Day Ten: Way (walk)
'orach: masc noun, "the path one walks on; the path or rank one walks in"
from 'arach: verb, "to travel, to go, to wander; sharing or agreeing"
I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
~ Psalms 119:15 (NKJV)
Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common ... continuing daily with one accord ... they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
~ Acts 2:44,46-47 (NKJV)
Two different Hebrew words for "way" appear in Psalm 119. The word 'orach puts a slight emphasis on the manner of walking, or the rank in which one walks. The verb from which it stems can mean sharing or agreeing.
There is diversity of personalities and gifts among the members of Christ's body of believers. But if we all walk in agreement, in the way of the Lord's Spirit (love, joy, peace, patient longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentle meekness, self-control), we will also walk in harmony with one another.
Each member of a choir sings different parts, accompanied by an orchestra of different pieces, without thought of rank or status, following one leader. The result is beauty no solist can attain.
We'd hardly need to evangelize if we found such accord. The beauty in such harmony could hardly be resisted by those who observe. When the church was of one accord, it was not the apostles, but the Lord Himself who "added to the church daily those who were being saved."
Lord Jesus, You taught us to pray to 'our' Father, not 'my' Father. We can accomplish nothing apart from Your Spirit, nothing apart from one another. Please lead our hearts to the same unity Your Spirit has with You and our Father. Please make our hearts of one accord with Yours.
#churchunity
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Photo: Sanctuary Choir, Wellshire Presbyterian Church, Denver
I love how it is all the Lords and on all the Lord to bring people to his church. Don't get me wrong, I do love being a vessel for him to use as a testament to his greatness no matter how meek the job I am to accomplish. I just love the thought of being one of many under his careful watch, in which he has a plan of pin point precision just for me. Hope that made sense!
ReplyDeleteAmen! Blessings, Anne...
ReplyDeleteDifferent gifts, different talents, different skills, different ideas -- but one Lord. We celebrate our remarkable diversity -- and it is remarkable -- but we have one Lord.
ReplyDeleteOh, that the Lord would help us individually be the part and corporately be the body He desires us to be.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne, I thought about this post all morning. What an apt analogy, comparing the Body of Christ to a group of musicians. Here's a little tidbit you might enjoy: when harmonies achieve perfection, something called "overtones" become more pronounced. Overtones form a replication of the musical intervals at higher octaves. Most people perceive that as the music "ringing" in their ears or even, seemingly, through their entire bodies. Then the music seems to take on a life of its own. It shimmers. And the best way to create overtones is for each musician to concentrate on their note, find that perfect pitch, and ride right down the center of it.
ReplyDeleteIsn't God's world wonderful? And that is just earthly music. Imagine the music of heaven. :-)
T. Anne, I don't know how you're doing it, but your comments are consistently pointing exactly to the next day's post. "A plan of pin point precision just for me" is what tomorrow's post was already about. ;)) Honest.
ReplyDeleteNatasa, thank you so much for the blessing. Backatcha! :D
Glynn, one of my joys about this blog is the diversity of readers that shows up here. I'm truly blessed by your being a part of that.
Patty, I've no doubt He's steering us that way. Oh that we'd consistently listen to and heed Him with tender hearts! (Well, I speak for me at least.)
Gwen dearest, I thought about this comment all day. As much as I appreciate music, I just don't have the knowledge to understand what this means.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do understand is that music transports our souls into another realm that nothing else can touch. The book 90 Minutes in Heaven (a credible testimony of a Christian's life after death experience) describes the music there in some detail with incredible emotion.
I've no doubt that one of the things that will make Heaven uniquely heavenly is the music with which we become one.