HARMONY IS REQUIRED

DAY 240 OF 365 IN 2021

When a musical group such as a choir or acapella quartet perform, besides the choice of songs and accurately hitting any required musical notes, ‘harmony’ is crucial. Simply, how well their vocals blend together. In a case where there is a clear lack of harmony, the music could easily be classified as ‘noise’, making it unappealing. In such moments, we can talk about ‘dissonance’ – the lack of harmony.

We are presented today with two elements which ought to marry and be in perfect harmony in worship of God: “the mouth and the heart”. Without agreement between these two, there is a missing link. So Jesus read the words of the prophet Isaiah back to his listeners

'These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their hearts aren’t in it. Because they act like they’re worshiping me but don’t mean it, (Isaiah 29:13)

Even hammering home the point further is the amplified version of the same text: “And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth and honour Me with their lips, but remove their hearts and minds far from Me, and their fear and reverence for Me are a commandment of men that is learned by repetition [without any thought as to the meaning],

Beloved, when Paul wrote to the Romans about salvation, he spoke thus,

'because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.'(Romans 10:9)

There is thus a harmony that ought to exist between the mouth and the heart for neither is sufficient on its own. Rather, both are complementary and necessary to perfect our walk with God.

#sly