Lifesong Devotional - Lifesong.

In their album Lifesong, Casting Crowns have included several Bible passages with each song, along with a challenge to further investigate what the Bible says about the themes of the various songs. I have decided to take up their challenge. I have studied the passages that they included with their title track, Lifesong [1], and included my thoughts from each.

Worship is more than music. Our life should be a song to God that glorifies His name. If our life doesn't match what we sing, then the song is meaningless.

Matthew 15:8-9
The pharisees were honouring God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. Their worship was in vain and was not really worship at all. As Rob Bell might put it, "Their lives were not in tune with God's song". [2]

Matthew 23:25-28
The Parisees were more concerned with appearing Holy than actually being Holy. They cleaned their outside but inside were dirty. This is why Jesus called them hypocrites. Do we worship at church for appearances? Do we raise our hands so people will think we are spiritual? It's all in the motives.

Galatians 2:20
If we are saved then our life is no longer our own. Our old self has been crucified with Christ. Now it is Him who lives in us. Now if our life is Christ's and He lives in us, then by definition, our life must be lived in worship of and service to God. It is His life afterall.

Colossians 3:17
Everything we do in life - word or deed, is to be done in Jesus' name. This verse makes everything we do in life - big or small - an act of worship. Nothing is exempt. Nothing is too insignificant. God is glorified when we do the ordinary for Him. The spiritual is inseperable from the physical. We do it all for Him, thanking Him while doing it.

Lord, this life is yours. It is a gift from you. All I have I owe to you. Every good thing in my life is a gift from you. Thankyou that you value me enough to take an interest in my life. May my life - all of it - be lived as an expression of love, gratitude and worship to you.

May my lifesong sing to you.

[1] Lifesong. Written by Mark Hall. Performed by Casting Crowns. © 2005 Club Zoo Music (BMI) / SWECS Music (SMI) (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing.)

[2] In the short film NOOMA® Rhythm, Rob Bell compares God to a song, and descries how when we are living in a way that is concistent with God's teachings and honouring to Him, we are 'in tune' with the song; but when our life does not match what we believe, we are 'out of tune'.