By Elizabeth Crawford
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise!” (Psalm 98:4).
God the Father has given us the most precious gift we could ever ask for: our life. He redeemed us and saved us from our sin by sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross and rise again to save us, so that we can enjoy life eternal with Him in heaven. One of the ways to thank and praise Him is to use our voices to sing to Him!
Music is powerful.
Music is one of God’s many gifts to us, and music is something to be enjoyed. Music can help us to recall memories; it can speak God’s word to us, reminding us of His promises. Music can even frame a special moment like a wedding day. Music is often a part of the worship of our Savior, both in worship services and in other settings. It is truly a joy to make music with fellow Christians as we lift up our voices to praise the God of the universe. Making music together encourages the building of relationships and community, which unites God’s people in the ways He intended.
Community is precious.
I enjoy singing. In fact, I have loved music since before I was born. My mom often tells others the story of how I would joyfully squirm and “dance” in the womb when I heard the organ, hand bells, or other special music during worship services. (It seems I was destined to become a musician!)
Music is a wonderful way to bring people together and praise God for His good gifts to us – the most important of which is our life! Even infants and small children celebrate God’s gifts with their voices as they sing back to God His truths and promises to us.
God’s gift of music thus lends itself to another good gift: community. God did not intend for us to live this life alone. He intended for us to “do life” alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. And in worship especially, music unites us into a family of believers, confessing our faith and praising our Creator.
Praising God with one voice
Although I’ve always liked it, I truly fell in love with choral singing when I auditioned for and was placed in Concordia University, Nebraska’s High School Honor Choir, an opportunity I enjoyed for three years during high school. Getting the chance to sing with other high school students under the direction of a college choral director really showed me that God gave all people the gift of singing. What a gift to come together and praise God with one voice! Even though we had never met before, I was able to praise God with fellow Lutherans though His gift of song.
As a current junior at Concordia University, Nebraska, I have had the opportunity to be a part of the university’s widely-acclaimed Christmas at Concordia holiday music event twice, and it is simply the best musical experience I have ever been a part of. Singing “Joy to the World” with hundreds of people of all ages singing alongside you is truly the best thing to listen to and be a part of. All ages gather together to sing the story of Christmas with others who believe in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. As my choral director says every year, “You are singing and proclaiming what you believe in. Not many college choirs can say the same.”
Making melody in your heart to the Lord
Music is a gift from God that allows us to proclaim all that He has done and give thanks for His good gifts. Music allows us to praise and honor Him. Singing and making music together also offers the gift of community, uniting us with others – regardless of age, language or situation in life. The gift of community is a valuable, life-affirming gift from God.
We are able to build each other up and praise God together in a community. We protect and uphold life in many different ways; something as simple as singing “Jesus Loves Me” to an infant or “Abide with Me” to an elderly person on their deathbed is a way Christians affirm the gift of life through music. Even today the Bible reminds us of the life-affirming gift of music: “Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)
Elizabeth Crawford is a Junior at Concordia University, Nebraska, where she is double majoring in elementary education and music performance. She is an active member of Bulldogs4Life, the Y4Life team on campus. She dreams of one day serving as a Lutheran Kindergarten teacher and professional musician.
All Bible translations taken from the King James Version (KJV).