What does music have to do with being a disciple? It’s part of our devotional life. Read these commands from the New Testament, and then read a couple examples of commands from the Psalms.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Psalm 33:1-3 Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Psalm 150:3-4 Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

That seems like a good collection covering a lot of areas: singing, playing music, and dancing.

I struggled to name this lesson, finally choosing “music” to try and encompass it all. For those who really feel like there’s nothing musical in you at all, I included Psalm 33 about shouting to the Lord. Everyone can find some emotional, exuberant expression of thanksgiving and praise.

By emotional, I mean heart-felt and joyful. I grew up among the group of Christians called “the frozen chosen.” It did not come naturally to me to shout in joyful adoration to the Lord of Hosts! If it’s uncomfortable for you to express such emotion in front of others, then find a place alone to sing and dance and make melody to the Lord. The more you do it alone, the easier it will be to do around others.

For those of you who are talented with music or singing, make sure to keep your heart focused on the Lord, rather than focused on being good at what you do. If you put yourself in front of others to lead in singing or to share your music, make sure your focus isn’t on how good you are and what people think of you. We are worshiping the Living God and giving Him just a bit of the glory and honor and praise and adoration and thanksgiving that He deserves.

And to those who feel they can’t sing: sing anyway. God is looking at the heart. And everyone can play the tambourine!

Full disclosure: I bought a lyre because of Psalm 33 and the Lord and I write psalms together.

Lesson Point: Sing. Make music to the Lord. Dance. Celebrate God with joyful praise.

Challenge Question: Is music part of your daily devotional life? How can you include it?