It's amazing how we can learn to ignore the things which surround us, especially when we who are adults are constantly dealing with the demands of life. We often reach a point that much of what goes on around us is just blocked out. A few years ago we lived about one block from a train track. For the first few weeks we lived there we heard the train constantly, it would even wake us from our sleep at night. However after a relatively short time we learned to ignore the noise, some how we just blocked it out. Sometimes when people would visit and a train would pass they would ask how we could stand that noise. We of course never even noticed the trains passing.
I was reminded of this when our daughter-in-law shared this recent event with us. It seems that "Bing Crosby was on the radio crooning out: 'Remember Christ the Savior was born on Christmas day.' Upon hearing this song our 4 year old granddaughter Allison exclaimed excitedly: 'They're talking about Jesus!!'"
How many times have you heard that song (especially this time of the year) and not consciously though about the meaning? I know this is a problem in other areas of life also, but what about when you sing a hymn in a church setting? How often do you just sing the words from memory and not really contemplate the meaning?
The apostle Paul giving instructions to the church in Corinth wrote, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also," (1 Corinthians 14:15 KJV). That seems to say that it is important how we listen as well as how we sing.
Singing is a very important part of our Christian life and fellowship. Paul writes about this in Ephesians 5:19-20 where he says, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Our singing is in part speaking: "to one another," (this is group participation, exhortation and encouragement), as well as "to the Lord," (it is worship). He also says that the music is made "in your heart," (it is a personal involvement coupled with understanding).
So, the next time you join with the church, don't just sit there and be entertained. Participate in the worship of our Lord, encourage and exhort one another and stop and think about what you are doing or singing. After all, if a 4 year old can recognize that songs sometimes talk about Jesus, shouldn't we? Do you hear what I hear?
