Scripture and ...

Yesterday morning someone tweeted a request for me to do a song study on Symphony. Ironically, I had been listening to that song on the radio the other day and the words of the pre-chorus had struck me as being from Romans 8:28. The correlation to Bible verses for the rest of the lines isn't quite as easy. While the principles are scriptural, the words are original (and there's nothing wrong about writing a new song to the Lord - Psalm 149:1). While the idea that we are God's symphony is not in the Bible, there are other similar ideas. Isaiah and Jeremiah both talk about God as a potter forming us from clay. Paul talks in Ephesians about Christians being His workmanship. These expressions of us as God's artistic design (not only in our initial creation but also forming us throughout our lives) definitely relate to the idea of being God's musical masterpiece. If you are unfamiliar with this song, Below is a video of the song and here is a link to an intervi...

Lately, I have been posting verses on my social media accounts about the power of God. I spent a week on each of these themes: Power belongs to God. God has the power to save and sanctify. Man's power can do nothing compared to God's. God's power is tied to the Holy Spirit. God gives power to His people. God has power for resurrection. The last topic had me often breaking out in song. I was constantly singing either Chris Tomlin's Resurrection Power or Jeremy Camp's Same Power. What a blessed reminder of God's power these songs are! The story behind Jeremy Camp's song is encouraging. Also, the power of Christ's resurrection is in believers through Christ and the Holy Spirit has two main effects: It provides hope for our future physical resurrection. If Christ has been raised, then we who are in Him will also be raised. ( 1 Cor. 6:14 ). It enables us to live in godliness now. We are spiritually united with him in his death and re...

Lately, I have been posting verses on my social media accounts about the power of God. I spent a week on each of these themes: Power belongs to God. God has the power to save and sanctify. Man's power can do nothing compared to God's. God's power is tied to the Holy Spirit. God gives power to His people. God has power for resurrection. The last topic had me often breaking out in song. I was constantly singing either Resurrection Power or Jeremy Camp's Same Power . What a blessed reminder of God's power these songs are! The resurrection power that Chris Tomlin sings about has two effects on believers: It provides hope for our future physical resurrection. If Christ has been raised, then we who are in Him will also be raised. (1 Cor. 6:14). It enables us to live in godliness now. We are spiritually united with him in his death and resurrection which frees us from sin (Rom. 6:4-7). The power of God (the same power that resurrected Jesus) gives ...

As you have seen, I love songs that are rich in biblical truth. It encourages me when the lyrics to a song bring to my mind different passages in the Bible, each with their own precious, inspiring thoughts. When I first heard this simple yet profound song, I instantly knew I wanted to hear it regularly to remind me of the truth of Christ's worthiness and the hope that His death on the cross brings to us. Three main passages come to mind with this song: Romans 8:18-25  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers ...

Chris Tomlin wrote How Great Is Our God while contemplating Psalm 104 and the greatness and majesty of the Lord . The first verse definitely echoes that psalm, but then expands to some features of God's greatness. It beautifully brings together Old and New Testament truths about our great God. How Great Is Our God by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Jesse Reeves Verse 1 : The splendor of a King, Clothed in majesty, Psalm 104:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty , Let all the Earth rejoice All the Earth rejoice. 1 Chronicles 16:31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice ; And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” He wraps himself in light, And darkness tries to hide, Psalm 104:2 Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak , stretching out heaven like a tent curtain. And trembles at His voice Trembles at His voice. Joel 3:16 The Lord roars from Zion and utters His voice ...

The lion and the lamb are a classic image. We've all seen the pictures of a lion laying next to a lamb in peace. It's usually used as a symbol of the peace, specifically of Christ's coming millennial kingdom (though misquoted from Isaiah 11:6 where the wolf lies down with the lamb and the lion with the calf, but you get the idea). In Revelation 5, the lion and the lamb come together in a new way. They are both symbols of Christ. The Messiah is first introduced in verse 5 as the Lion of Judah, a reference to Genesis 49:9 when Jacob is blessing his twelve sons.  It seems to be clear that this Lion is the Christ by calling Him the root of David (Isaiah 11:1).  After being hailed as a lion, surprisingly, Peter turns and sees a Lamb standing as if he had been slaughtered. This is clearly Jesus (John 1:29).  That the powerful Lion and the meek, sacrificial Lamb can both refer to the Lord Jesus Christ seems contradictory. The attributes of God often are contrad...