You Can't Fool a Musician

I was sitting on a chair in the living room. My family and I had just finished our daily family devotions and I, in jest, picked up my cane and put it up to my lips and blew across the holes (used for height adjustment) like I was playing a flute and whistled Yankee Doodle.

My daughter at first thought I was really “playing the cane.” But my wife who is a piano player knew instantly what I was doing. She is a true musician.

My wife said, “You can't fool a musician.” We all enjoyed the humor of the brief moment of insanity.

As I reflect on what happened, it occurred to me that there is a spiritual lesson to be learned. Just as you can't fool a musician, you can't fool a true child of God.

Becoming a musician takes time by practicing and playing appropriate melodies. In the same way spiritual growth comes through practice and reading (age and growth) appropriate material.

When I was young and just beginning to play trumpet, I told my dad that I was bored with just playing the exercises in my lesson book. Fortunately, he was an accomplished musician and arranger and wrote out for me melodies of songs that I was hearing on the radio. That made all the difference.  Playing and practice was no longer a bore, but enjoyable.

Make your time with God a time of rejoicing and pleasure.  It will make all the difference and you won't be fooled by spiritual imitations.

 

Proverbs_12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

God Supplies Our Need

Proverbs 20:4 – The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

When we avoid the necessary, greater problems grow.

Because of a physical ailment, I was not able to cut my grass. One day I feebly tried to mow the lawn, however, it had been so long since the last time the mower had been used, it wouldn't start. Problems...a lack of maintenance to the mower. One thing led to another. Problems included the oil was filthy, the gas was stale, the spark plug was old, and the carburetor needed adjustment.

It is the same thing spiritually. Many problems in life come as a result of a lack of Spiritual Maintenance. Sometimes we allow our minds to be cluttered with the filth of this world. We become stale because we haven't had a fresh filling of God's spirit. The spark that used to ignite us is gone because it become fouled, is old and too much gap has developed. Our carburetors that adjust the air and fuel need adjustment.  A few of us have too much hot air, and the words that we share are inappropriate for the occasion.

Sometimes the only solution is to take it to a professional mechanic who knows how to handle the problems. The same is true with our spiritual life. After struggling with the problems of life on our own and our inability to resolve the issues, our Lord stands waiting to hear from us.

Psalm 86:7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

Take responsibility...pray and ask for God's leading. Read His Word for appropriate instructions. Fellowship with others who have been there before and glean from their knowledge and wisdom.

Remember the source of your help (Philippians 4:19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

God's real blessing for supplying my need was that two dear friends in Christ came to the rescue by mowing and trimming the lawn for me. However, I still need to address the problems with the mower. God is so gracious.

Enjoy the Ride

Wise decisions are seldom made in a hurry. We live in a world that is "fast food" oriented. Their cry is "I want your answer right away!" "Quick, I'm in a hurry!" "Act now...this offer won't last forever!"

There are several verses in the New Testament where we find Jesus "sitting down." He wasn't in a hurry. Even before he threw the money changers out of the temple, Jesus was sitting working on the cords. John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Patience is a very difficult lesson, but it is the way of the Lord.

• Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
• Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
• Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
• Psa 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
• Psa 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
• Psa 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
• Isa 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

I remember as a young teen waiting for the bus to take me into downtown Cincinnati so I could take my trumpet lessons. The most trying times were when the bus was late. All kinds of things run through your mind. There was always such a joy and relief when I saw #11 round the bend and stop in front of me.   After I got onto the bus, I was then able to sit down and rest from all my anxiety and enjoy the ride.
Jesus is never late. If there is a delay in answered prayer, or no answer at all, there is a very good reason for it. Jesus is the bus driver of your life and He knows where you are going. When you've reached your stop, He will let you know, so sit back, relax, and Enjoy the Ride!

Opportunities

There was a piano tuner whose name was Opperknockity. He was called by the church to come and tune their piano. After having done so, he collected his money and left the church. A few days later the pianist tried out the piano and wasn’t happy with the job that he did. So, so she called him to complain and asked him to re-tune the piano, but he responded saying, “I’m sorry, but I won’t come back because...”Opperknockity only tunes once.” In life, we all face last opportunities that impact our life and the lives of others. It could be a conversation, a last meal like the last supper, a last meeting, or a last embrace. Life is always changing and opportunities come and go. We never know for sure what tomorrow will hold, however, in Christ we have hope. The true Biblical definition of hope is confident assurance. We have the confident assurance that our sins are forgiven, assurance that tomorrow will offer new challenges, and assurance that heaven awaits those whose faith and trust are in Christ. Hope is not looking in the rear-view mirror, but looking through the windshields of life toward the future while hopefully learning from the past.