I have a friend who loves and values spending time with older people. He’s observing the way we meet the challenges of our later years. I commended him for caring and preparing to finish well. One day, I received a hand-written letter from Pastor Arden Gilmer. The essence of the letter was Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus, words I’ve pondered many times (Ephesian 3:16-19): “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (NLT)
As we sink our roots into the soil of God’s marvelous love and He becomes more and more at home in our hearts, we are ready for everything God wants us to be and do. Knowing your final destination is also important. I’d like to share an unforgettable experience that made me aware of the importance of songs about heaven. I was in my mid-40s, serving as a worship pastor. As we were singing the final stanza of “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” several older people stood, with hands lifted and faces aglow: “In mansions of glory and endless delight, I’ll ever adore you in heaven so bright!” This was a teachable moment for me, as a young leader, for I had seldom included songs about heaven. We can show that we value seniors by including some traditional songs and, at the same time, provide an opportunity for younger people to become more inclusive.
As an octogenarian, 85 to be exact, my thoughts often turn to things eternal. I savor the meaning of the words I sing, especially the closing lines of songs: “Be thou my guide while life shall last and my eternal home” (O God Our Help, Isaac Watts); “When by his grace I shall look on his face, that will be glory, yes glory for me” (O That Will Be Glory, Charles Gabriel). The closing line of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” (Isaac Watts), calls for a response from my whole being:
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!” When the people of God worship with heart, soul, mind, and strength, we can sense that worship really matters to them. Worship is more than singing, for it includes responding to the words of scripture, prayer, and preaching, and includes the offering of ourselves and the building of a strong sense of community. Paul’s prayer is instructive for us who are called to preach, pray, teach, choose, and write songs. All of the above have more substance if scripture is the basis for our ministry. Interesting stories and the sharing of personal experiences can help to keep people’s attention when preaching or teaching, but those who desire spiritual growth deserve and desire more.
As a musician, I might use a few jazz chords or different rhythms to enhance our worship, but I want to guard against doing it for the sake of novelty. “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory and the honor” (Psalm 115:1). “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts” (Colossians 3:16, NLT), and as you lead, “Always be filled with joy.” (Philippians 4:4, NLT).
