We should engage our mind and heart in the song during our worship. As we sing, it should be that the theology of the song is what produces joy in our hearts—not the arrangement or the skill of the vocalist who is leading. How often do you miss the theology of the song you’re singing?

One of the great ways we’re called to worship God is by singing. All through the Old Testament, we find passages where God’s people are called to sing to the LORD. In Psalm 9:11, we find these words, “Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!” It’s a common theme through the Psalms. In Psalm 30:4, we find this call to worship, “Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.”

As a gathered church, we should engage in the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as we make melody in our hearts to the Lord. Since we have hundreds of great hymns and spiritual songs for worship that are filled with great theology, we should engage our mind and heart in the song during our worship. As we sing, it should be that the theology of the song is what produces joy in our hearts—not the arrangement or the skill of the vocalist who is leading. How often do you miss the theology of the song you’re singing?

When John Newton penned his famous “Amazing Grace”—he wrote, “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch; like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.” Although this is a familiar line to us, we must not miss the theology. Newton was pointing out the absolute inability of man to come to God on his own. Newton understood God’s marvelous grace and he put it on display in his song. Don’t miss this truth. We cannot move ourselves to God on our own—we are lost and helpless, and it’s God who comes to us.

Consider the words to the great hymn penned by Thomas O. Chisholm “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” In that first verse, he writes, “Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.” This is the grand doctrine of God’s immutability. Although a clunky theological term, the immutability of God means that he never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. As we sing this wonderful hymn, we must engage our mind and consider the never changing always faithful God who rules the entire universe.

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