By: Bruce Nevin Haines
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
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My wife and I attended a Hand Bell Choir Concert at her parent’s church this past Sunday. They performed a variety of beautiful arrangements of Christmas Carols. There’s nothing quite so musically unique as the sounds of a Bell Choir. Watching the Bell Choir members patiently wait for their turn in the melody, and ring out the beautiful tone that they had been assigned was fascinating to see and mesmerizing to listen to. When the concert ended, I was having a conversation with one of the Hand Bell Choir members when she described to me a fascinating element of their rehearsal for one of the more difficult pieces they had performed. She explained that the first time they saw this particular piece of music written on the page, there was no title assigned to it. They did not know what song it was.
A unique aspect of a musical score written for a hand bell choir, is that is made up primarily of rests, or the silence between the notes. As a result, none of the Hand Bell choir members had any idea what the song was when they read their sheet music. It was not until the choir director had the group sight read the music for the first time, did the melody reveal itself.
As they read the sheet music and struck out the tones individually, at precisely the right time, the melody was easily recognized by everyone. There was a melody in place collectively across all of the pages, but it would not be discovered until each member followed the instructions on the page in front of them.
I could not help but see a parallel for our own lives and our obedience to the direction that God provides. His word, his “sheet music” for us, shows us how we should live our daily lives. His Spirit guides us to the perfect timing for the actions we take, and words of encouragement we may have for others in need. But here is the truth that we wish we knew; What is our part in God’s “big” plan? Do we have any part or influence in the larger plan that God has in place for all of mankind?
We do! But we do not know the “completed song”. We do not know how our obedience to God’s word, his “sheet music”, plays into the melody that is his plan. We do not understand the perfect timing as to why there is a delay, or a sudden prompting of the Spirit for us to act or speak at a specific time. But we can trust that the pages of his word, and the Holy Spirit’s “direction” will create a beautiful and meaningful melody. A melody that none of us may recognize in this life. But the melody is being played now, and our obedience to God’s direction will make the melody flow exactly as God has intended. We have been called according to his purpose. We all have a part in the melody that He has created.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
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