How did He do that?

When we were children, our mother hosted a music teacher and all four of us were signed up to take lessons. Two became proficient, one worked hard, and one would rather be outside riding her horse! That was me. Music is good for the soul and I love to worship God in song, but it is not my forte.

That said, I do have opinions about it, just as most people do. I love traditional jazz, likely because its randomness matches my thought patterns. I also am partial to worship music with good lyrics that I can understand. It does not have to be older, traditional hymns; some of them are dull, but the more God is lifted up, the better I like it.

Some of the modern tunes are okay, even the repetitive ones, as long as they glorify the Lord. Those I do not care for are mentioned in today’s devotional where Tozer says, “Somebody pointed out that hymnody took a downward trend when we left the great objective hymns that talked about God and began to sing the gospel songs that talk about us.”

I’ve tried not to talk about myself, to be a good listener and interested only in what others have to say. Anyone who can do it must be admired. Even more difficult is the challenge of speaking well of Jesus Christ without pushiness or sounding unnaturally pious. According to the gospel writer, Jesus mastered this challenge of unselfish speaking, just as the prophet Isaiah said He would. Quoted from Isaiah 42, Matthew wrote:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Matthew 12:18–21)

Compared to what happens in today’s world, it is impossible to imagine someone ‘proclaiming justice’ without ‘quarreling, crying aloud, or making their voice heard in public places.’ However, Jesus did it. This realization has me speechless. How is it possible to stand for any cause without drawing attention to one’s self? Yet He did.

^^^^^^^

Lord, the issues on my heart are many: abortion, child abuse, drug and alcohol addictions, violence, even the seeming absence of common sense often bring me to tears and always to prayer. I cannot think of any other way to make a big deal out of these things without putting myself in the limelight and diverting attention from the needs around me to myself — which would be totally unprofitable. I do know one thing; You did not address the crimes and abuses of Your day but pointed directly to the root of all problems — the sinfulness of our hearts. These days, that still seems the only answer, even though Your people are threatened and persecuted for honoring You. It seems the world, even the human heart would rather talk about ourselves rather than get to the bottom of our problems. So sad.