Week 1: Play the Love Song

Opening Questions

• What stood out most to you from the Scripture readings this week? Did you have questions? Did you gain insight to share with the group?

• If you were to choose a musical instrument that best represents how you are playing God’s love song right now, what instrument would it be and why? For example:

  • 1st fiddle, in the spotlight, belting out the melody

  • Drums providing the rhythm

  • Tuba whose music might not be very elaborate, but provides a foundation on which other instruments can build

  • Something else…?

God’s Love Song

God has been playing a love song over us, since the very beginning of time. It is a song composed by our, Father from the love that is at the very core of who He is. Jesus set the melody to playing when He spoke creation into existence. And the Holy Spirit enables us to hear the song and join in.

It is a beautiful song. The notes of the melody, woven together with rhythm and harmony, played expressively, as our triune God spills over into the diversity of the created world. God makes light, and He separates night from day. He gathers the waters together to separate land from sea. And He makes each created thing unique from all the rest. No plant or animal or human is ever made the same as another. Each part of creation is made to play God’s love song in a unique way. And it is in all of the parts playing together that God’s love song is made complete.

While one musician can play the notes of the melody, he can never single-handedly make the music of an orchestra on his own. A melody, no matter how beautiful, becomes richer with the addition of counter-melody and harmony. A group of musicians can play fortissimo in a way that a single musician simply cannot. And an orchestra provides musicians with opportunities to rest. To breathe and turn pages and adjust fingering, in the midst of the music. For while one group of musicians rests, the others continue to play.

Yet, it is not always easy to play in an orchestra. Rivalry can arise among the musicians. We have to remember that God is perfectly qualified to determine the correct instrument and chair position for each of us. Some of us will play loud, dominant parts, while others will play quiet, underlying ones. Second fiddle is the perfect position for the violinist that God chooses to place there.

It is easy to become so focused on other musicians, that we lose lose our place in the music. And there is also the danger that we might begin to enjoy practicing so much, that we fail to ever perform the music. In the end, the key to playing God’s love song is to keep our eyes on the conductor. He will carry us through, from the very first practice to the final performance.

And what enables us to keep our eyes on the conductor, despite the difficulties?

Our knowledge of God’s great love for us, as proven through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hear the love song of God, sung over us through Jesus. Hearing it sung over us, we are enabled to sing it over others.