The Conductor

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A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other . . . It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. – 1 Corinthians 12:7,11

The stage was packed with eighty-five formally dressed musicians along with their flutes, oboes, bassoons, clarinets, saxophones, horns, trumpets, euphoniums, trombones, tubas, percussionists and a solo but soon to be beautifully played piano.

The blending of the sounds of the instruments, melodies, harmonies, crescendos, drum rolls, cymbals clashing, and even a little subtle triangle ringing in the background were magnificent. Equally entertaining, however, was observing the discipline of the highly talented musicians as they gave their complete attention to the tempo and musical score before them.

The performance was riveting and my wife and I came away with not only a wonderful Sunday musical experience but with an unexpected analogy of a musical concert and the church, as well. Here’s what we learned:

    • Every musician, like every believer was gifted (1 Corinthians 12:7,11).

    • Every musician, like every believer had no doubt been encouraged by someone along the way to practice and use their gifts (Romans 12:6-8).

    • Every musician, like every believer had learned how to keep their focus on the composition at hand in order to perform it well (2 Timothy 2:15).

    • Every musician, like every believer was determined to play together in harmony and unity to produce the very best sound (John 17:23).

The result that day was a beautiful and enjoyable concert. But there is one more element we must not leave out because it is the most important one of all. Without it the concert would have been a disaster.

It was the role of the conductor. We watched as the musicians all kept their eyes on him as he set the tempo, kept the performers together and in tune, determined the beginning and the end of each piece, and helped them perform the music with excellence.

From that we were reminded once again, that in the church, just as in a musical concert performance, there is only one Conductor. So we must always keep our eyes on Him in order to perform at our very best (Hebrews 12:2).

Now, just in case some of us may have forgotten who that One is, He will not be the one who gets to play the loudest horn but the One who directs us with a gentle baton in His hand. Maranatha! 

 

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