Archives for June 2, 2019

Devotion

1My life flows on in endless song;
above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.

Refrain
No storm can shake my inmost calm
while to that Rock I'm clinging.
Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth,
how can I keep from singing?

2Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing? Refrain

3What though my joys and comforts die?
The Lord my Savior liveth.
What though the darkness gather round?
Songs in the night he giveth. Refrain

4The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart,
a fountain ever springing!
All things are mine since I am his!
How can I keep from singing? Refrain

Text: Robert Lowry, 1826-1899

Jesus is risen!—Now what? Now—we sing.

If you've read the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, you may remember a fun quirk about the wizarding school, Hogwarts: the school song has lyrics, but no official tune. When it's sung, everyone picks their own tune, and a cacophony ensues.

I imagine the "endless song" of our faith to be something like this—the words are consistent, but the melody changes. We remember God's promises. We sing of God's faithfulness. We praise God's awesome works. We pray for God's mighty intervention. And when our inmost calm is intact, when the peace of Christ makes fresh our hearts, our song is cheerful, upbeat. When the tumult and strife are too much, when darkness gathers round, our song is somber, quiet. Sometimes we fall silent altogether. But the lyrics, the promises, remain.

Whatever your song sounds like today, this truth has not changed: Christ is Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus died and rose from the dead for you. Jesus is risen!—Now what? Now—we sing.