Turning In Your Old Song

Psalm 40-3Last night our church had a “Family of Families Picnic” and before we went outside to partake in the grand festivities, our pastor Bro Dennis read from the first three verses of Psalm 40 and he camped out at verse 3:

    “He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.”

After reading this verse, Bro Dennis asked if we were still singing the same old sad song. He then encouraged us to “turn in your old song for a new song.”

So many Christians today keep singing the old “Somebody Did Me Wrong” song, and if that is you I have some questions for you. What type of testimony are you providing to this lost world if you’re constantly singing an old song of lament? Where is the evidence of the abundant and new life Jesus promises? If you are trying to lead your friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors to Christ, what is it you’re actually telling them with your old song?

I am just as guilty as the next Christian of spending too much time griping about our struggles as a nation, and while it is true our nation will not become godly without a spiritual revival, it is not as though we are without out hope. Our hope is in Christ!

    “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” (Psalm 96:1-3)

We sing “Victory in Jesus” in church but live our lives in “Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me.” If our King Jesus has won the victory (and He has), and if He is sitting on His throne (and He is), then our song should sound as though it is true in our lives:

    “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.” (Psalm 98:1)

We can see throughout the Old Testament how God delivered His people from captivity and slavery. We can read in the Gospels of how Jesus changed Jerusalem and Judea through His presence and teachings. We can read in the rest of the New Testament how His disciples and the Apostle Paul changed the world in which they lived by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. Central to their message was how Jesus overcame sin and death through His life, death, and resurrection.

We have a great history of people receiving a new song. However, we also have a great future of triumph and victory when our King Jesus returns to receive His bride and rule this world. He will judge the unrighteous and remove evil once and for all. We sing “Worth Is the Lamb” and He is and will always be worthy:

    “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’” (Revelation 5:8-10)

Let us be a joyful people knowing that no matter what happens in this world, we are part of the Family of God because we have received the righteousness of His son Christ Jesus. We need to be encouragers to one another and lift each other up in song and in spirit:

    “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:19)

My God reigns needs to be the constant song of reminder that plays constantly in my mind to keep me from becoming overburdened by the cares of this world.

If you are singing that same old, sad song, turn it in for a new one.

Turn from your old life and turn to Jesus Christ!

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2014 David Jeffers

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