Evidence of a Spirit-filled life?
Singing?
As I open, Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan, a hymnal-devotion, many a mornings to me, I acknowledge even in the first of the day, after moments to pray, that my song is lost to thorns and rocks hidden within the soil of my heart.
I read the hymn, In My Heart There Rings a Melody, written way back in 1923. Elton M. Roth penned the words: I have a song that Jesus gave me, It was sent from heav’n above, There never was a sweeter melody, ‘Tis a melody of love.
In my heart there rings a melody, . . .”
But God can clearly see, this morning, my heart is out of key.
But the Lord won’t give up on me, “O ye of little faith.” His voice rings out over and over again to the disciples throughout His Word, yet with such tenderness and grace. There is none like our Lord.
He knows my heart, which is sad, so many days. Worried, and heavy, “leaning on my own understanding.” He watches me wrestle and strain. The illustration of me, is Romans 7—completely. I confess. My heart is weeping:
I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.
This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (Romans 7:21-24).
Look at all those I’s! Truly, this is not to be ignored.
I thank God for the next words I read. May each word permeate my whole being, and Lord, please give me depth of understanding:
Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:25 ends only to bring me to Romans 8:
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, . . .
Yes, I belong to Him.
the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you, . . .
That’s what I need to be reminded continually. I am like a sheep, forgetting God’s promise of the Spirit in me:
the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you, from the power of sin that leads to death.
The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.
So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.
He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
God declared an end to sin’s control . . .by giving His Son . . . the requirement of the law would be fully satisfied . . .
This, yes, this brings back to me a song!
So I look on again at that age-old hymn, and yes, these are the words of praise I sing:
I love the Christ who died on Calv’ry, For He washed my sins away; He put within my heart a melody, And I know it’s there to stay.
‘Twill be my endless theme in glory, With the angels I will sing; ‘Twill be a song with glorious harmony, When the courts of heaven ring. In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven’s harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody of love.”
Thanks be to God. He will meet me today and work in my heart to trust in Him more. And lean on His Word, not my own understanding. To get rid of the “I’s” and look to the Lord!
Do we all agree with an Amen? “Amen.”