The other day, the Grace University Saxophone Ensemble sent a quartet to a church to play for part of their worship service. So we grabbed some pieces out from our tour last April, blew the dust off of them, shook the rust out of the fingrers, and went to play. When we had finished the set right before the message, the pastor stood up and against any of our pryor knowledge had a question for us. I dont remember exactly what the question was word for word, but something along the lines of "why do you do what you do" or "why do you use music?" (could have been a combination of the two but i digress)
After we all kinda looked at each other, I finally took the mic thinking "Lord, give me something to say". Apparently, he already had something ready for me. My response was something like this (probably jumbled but something this effect)
"I think the group will agree with me in saying this, that the reason we do what we do is so that God can use us in ways that we would not have been able to otherwise. I think that God has given us all a specific set of skills in our abilities to use these tools to be used by him for his purpose. he has a plan for the use for all of those tools and will use them as he sees fit in the best way possible. why do we do music? because music is the words that words cannot express or explain. Music; with all of its melodies, chord structures, etc has this ability to penatrate the soul in ways that words cant. Its not that God could not use words from a sermon to grab a hold of a person's attention and turn it to himself, but sometimes he chooses to use music and musicians like ourselves to get someone's attention. Whether its him trying to start a relationship with, renew a relationship, or grow a relationship with himself, he uses it in ways that we cannot imagine. It is our prayer that those he is trying to get a hold of, that they will respond to his calling. Back to us. We as performers realize that this is not because of our efforts, our skills, etc. This has everything to do with what he has given us the ability to do. From reading the sheets of music, to remembering how to play that is all him. We are merely the instruments playing musical instruments that God has chosen to use to further his kingdom and draw his children to himself. Both believers and non-believers alike.
That got me to thinking. We all have a God given skill set. As a result of that we are called to use those gifts to further his kingdom and help God bring his lost children home. My question and challenge is this. What are our gifts and how are we using them? believe me when I say this, I need to step up my game and use what he has given me to a fuller extent of his grace and his glory. but my challenge is this: Don't be afraid of what tools God has given us. Be bold and more over: be willing and God will lead you to where he needs you to be. prepared? qualifed? doesnt matter. If you are willing, God will use you and he will show you a side of his grace and himself that will leave you not only in awe, but in a state of longing to walk with him in the abilities that he has given you to answer the question: what do you do what you do? when someone asks you that same question.
1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
"instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be readay to explain it."
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